Program Description

The Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant trains entry-level professionals with the skills and competencies required to work under the supervision and direction of a Physical Therapist. The Physical Therapist Assistant helps the Physical Therapist in treatment of people on any stage of growth and development, who shows health problems or conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities of their everyday life. Graduates from this program are prepared to take the board exam from the Puerto Rico Examining Board of Physical Therapy.

American Physical Therapy Association

Asociación Puertorriqueña de Fisioterapia

COBIMET

International Journal of Physiotherapy

Journal of the American Physical Therapy Association

PEDro Physiotherapy Evidence Database

PT in Motion

Terapia Física

Institute of Medicine

TeamSTEPPS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Society for Simulation (SSH)

Asociación de Simuloeducadores de Puerto Rico (ASEPUR)

Download Curricular Sequence

This policy was established to provide a clear, transparent, and non-discriminating process to select candidates for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. The following is the established procedure:

Procedure

1. Before applying for admission to the program, candidates must meet all requirements established in the Institutional Admission Policy.

‍
2. Atenas University Dr. Maria Luisa Hernandez guarantees equal opportunity in all its programs, services, and benefits. The institution does not discriminate for reason of race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, age, marital status, physical appearance, political affiliation, or any other classification protected under the provision of Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and any other state or federal law or regulation applicable.

‍
3. Candidates must meet all admission requirements to be able to apply for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Admission requirements to the Associate Degree Program in Physical Therapist Assistant are the following:
‍

a. Obtain 2.50 minimum overall average.
b. Provide College Board test results or be willing to take an entry evaluation
exam, and if the need is identified, be willing to participate in a tutoring
program in English or Spanish, science or mathematics.
c. Candidates that obtain an admission index under 300 will be referred to an
individualized tutoring program to satisfy their needs.
d. Participate of an interview with program faculty members.
e. Write an essay on a given subject such as future goals, student life, and
professional aspirations, among others, to evaluate reasoning ability.
f. Specific score will be distributed as follows:

GPA (General Point Average) 50%

Interview 20%

Essay 10%

Reading Comprehension in English 20%

Total 100%

5.Maximum value of interview (100) Maximum value of essay (100)
The Program Evaluating Committee shall evaluate all participants and choose twenty-five (25) applications from the best results according to the admission formula.

‍
6. Candidates will receive notification from the Admissions Director and the Program Coordinator, reporting the decision made concerning their application for admission.

‍

Policy on the requirements for clinical education

Atenas University Dr. Maria Luisa Hernandez has developed a policy to establish the minimum requirements to participate of the clinical practice experience and the procedure to ensure compliance. This policy also helps ensure the wellbeing and health of students and patients/clients. All students must meet the requirements established by this policy to be able to participate in the clinical education experience.

‍

The requirements and procedure are as follows:

• Certificate of immunization: Original and copy
• 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine
• 2 doses of Varicella or serological test
• Influenza
• Current CPR Certification (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
• Original and certification copy
• Health certificate
• Original and copy
• Certificate of negative criminal record
• Original and copy
• Copy of Atenas University Dr. Maria Luisa Hernandez student identification card
• Three 2 x 2 photos
• Copy of Certification of Law No. 300
• Resume

Additional requirements may be requested by the clinical education/practice site; these requirements may include a drug test and/or N95 Mask Test. The process will take place in accordance with the clinical education/practice site.

‍

Puerto Rico requires practice license under the provisions of the Regulations of the Physical Therapy Profession, Law 114 of 1962. License is required before the candidate can practice as Physical Therapist Assistant. The Puerto Rico Examining Board of Physical Therapy is responsible of administering the licensure exam.

‍

Contact:
Junta Examinadora de Terapia Física de Puerto Rico

Oficina de Reglamentación y Certificación de los Profesionales de la Salud PO Box 10200 Santurce, P.R. 00908-0200
Tel. (787) 999-8989 ext. 6593
mmlugo@salud.gov.pr

‍

The student is responsible of requesting the licensure exam and becoming familiar the board’s requirements. Students will receive related information in the course: Clinical Practice II (Seminar).

‍

Atenas University Dr. Maria Luisa Hernandez Physical Therapist Assistant program utilizes standardized computerized exams to prepare students for the licensure exam. Cost of standardized exam will be attached to the course enrollment.

‍

The outcomes reached per graduated class from the Atenas University Dr. Maria Luisa Hernandez Associate Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant will be presented in the table below. Outcomes will be shown in terms of percentage per each graduated class, considering the following: student satisfaction with the program of study; graduation rate; employability rate; and licensure exam pass rate. The years provided are the actual years of graduation for each class.