To meet the needs of students and the community by offering quality instruction using theory and evidenced-based practice to achieve academic excellence and success as a Physical Therapist Assistant. Through compassionate care, EFSC students will provide the local community with competent care to restore function through physical therapy interventions.

1. Communicates verbally and non-verbally with the patient, the physical therapist, health care delivery personnel, and others in an effective, appropriate and capable manner.
2. Recognizes individual and cultural differences and responds appropriately in all aspects of physical therapy services. 
3. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of members of society receiving health care services. 
4. Exhibits conduct that reflects a commitment to meet the expectations of members of the profession of physical therapy. 
5. Exhibits conduct that reflects practice standards that are legal, ethical and safe. 
6. Communicates an understanding of the plan of care developed by the physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes. 
7. Demonstrates competence in implementing selected components of interventions identified in the plan of care established by the physical therapist. 
8. Demonstrates competency in performing components of date collection skills essential for carrying out the plan of care. 
9. Adjusts interventions within the plan of care established by the physical therapist in response to patient clinical indications and reports this to the supervising physical therapist. 
10. Recognizes when intervention should not be provided due to changes in the patient's status and reports this to the supervising physical therapist. 
11. Reports any changes in the patient’s status to the supervising physical therapist. 
12. Recognizes when the direction to perform an intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for a physical therapist assistant and initiates clarification with the physical therapist. 
13. Participates in educating patients and caregivers as directed by the supervising physical therapist. 
14. Provides patient-related instruction to patients, family members and caregivers to achieve patient outcomes based on the plan of care established by the physical therapist. 
15. Takes appropriate action in an emergency situation. 
16. Completes thorough, accurate, logical, concise, timely and legible documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies. 
17. Participates in discharge planning and follow-up as directed by the supervising physical therapist. 
18. Reads and understands the health care literature.

All accepted physical therapist assistant students are required to participate in three, six-week clinical practicums. Students will be required to travel to different clinical facilities. ALL costs associated with clinical practicums (i.e. food, housing, travel, parking, etc.) are the responsibility of the student. The program will try to assign students to a clinical site closest to their geographical area. Please note, each practicum will require the student to be at the facility 40 hours per week. The schedule will be at the discretion of the clinical affiliate. 

Graduation rate, licensure examination pass rate and employment rate are averaged over the most recent two years. 

Graduating Class of 2023

Grad Rate: 83.3%
Licensure First-time Pass Rate: 100%
Licensure Ultimate Pass Rate: 100%
Employment Rate: 100%*

Graduating Class of 2022

Grad Rate: 75%
Licensure First-time Pass Rate: 81.8%
Licensure Ultimate Pass Rate: 100%
Employment Rate: 100%*

Two-Year Average

Grad Rate: 79.15%
Licensure First-time Pass Rate: 90.9%
Licensure Ultimate Pass Rate: 100%
Employment Rate: 100%*

*Only able to report on students who have been in contact with the program.

55 students applied by the May 15, 2022 application deadline. 16 students were accepted into the fall Physical Therapist Assistant cohort.