*80 Weeks, including prerequisites taken before enrolling in the 44 Approved Instructional Weeks of Technical Courses at Gurnick Academy
Student Tuition Recovery Fund (Non-Refundable)Â | $112.50 |
Registration Fee (Non-Refundable) | $100.00 |
Books (Non-Refundable, if accessed) | $400.00 |
Tuition Fee | $44,649.00 |
TOTAL PROGRAM COST* *Program Fees are subject to change |
$45,261.50 |
We have exciting news! If you do not have some or all of your General Education courses completed, a new A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant program is planned to start in July 2024 at our Fresno and San Jose Campuses.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is seeking CAPTE approval for the A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant program to include general education courses required for an associate degree as well as expansion to the Fresno Campus; however, Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts does not assure that CAPTE will grant accreditation.
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: (703) 706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. It is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available).
I appreciate your interest in Gurnick Academy’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Our accelerated curriculum offers students a unique learning opportunity in the Bay Area. Graduates complete their didactic and clinical coursework in 11 months, with many students earning their licenses within a year!
Prospective students must complete several prerequisites and clinical observations before starting the program. Individuals with previous college experience in exercise science and kinesiology are very successful, though we have graduated many other students with various educational backgrounds.
Our instructors are wonderful Physical Therapy professionals (PT/DPT and PTA), and each brings their rich clinical experience, knowledge, and expertise to the classroom. When they are not in the classroom, our instructors work professionally, meaning they will come to class with real-life examples to illustrate better how and when to use the techniques taught.
I’ve been incredibly honored to work with such incredible instructors. I am a giant proponent of establishing personalized relationships with my students and working with them to achieve their professional goals during and after the program!
Program Mission
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program aims to support the Academy’s mission and is based on the program’s philosophy. The Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts program will prepare and graduate students to meet our diverse community’s growing needs.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts will strive to provide students with the necessary skills to enter the workforce as competent, thinking, respectful, and compassionate individuals. They will provide legal and ethical care within the standards of practice for Physical Therapist Assistants under the supervision of Physical Therapists.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts Physical Therapist Assistant graduates join an in-demand career in the growing healthcare field. Physical Therapist Assistants provide physical therapy services under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist within the scope of practice for PTAs. They provide patients with instructions for therapeutic exercise and utilize therapeutic modalities that incorporate massage, stretching, selected manual therapy interventions, and the use of electrotherapies.
The program includes classwork, laboratory training, and clinical experiences correlating with theoretical education. The technical courses incorporate the minimum skills of Physical Therapist Assistant graduates at the entry level and the Standards of Ethical Conduct for the Physical Therapist Assistant developed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts considers clinical experience one of the essential parts of healthcare education. Accordingly, students are rotated throughout our affiliated clinical facilities while completing the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
PTAs must complete a 2-year associate’s degree and are licensed, certified, or registered in most states. [Source: American Physical Therapy Association.
Graduation from an accredited physical therapist assistant program allows the graduate to be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs and the California Law Exam (CLE). After successfully passing these exams, the student will be licensed to practice in California. Please see the Accreditation, Approval, Recognition, Membership section for Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ PTA program accreditation.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is an Associate of Science Degree program.Â
The program information, length, and schedule may change. Make sure to read the accompanying Addendum for changes and updates. Please get in touch with an admission advisor for details.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is an Associate of Science degree program. It follows the 1+1 model in which the General Education Courses are completed before enrolling into the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts technical education curriculum.
General education coursework, including Anatomy and Physiology, is transferred to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts from the student’s previous college coursework. This allows the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts program to be offered only 44 weeks of technical coursework.
Classes begin twice a year in January and July and are scheduled full-time Monday through Friday during the day. Clinical education assumes the Clinical Site hours during the day.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant Program at the campus has a 1,776 sq. ft. classroom/laboratory equipped with industry-standard equipment at typical Physical Therapy facilities. This includes cardio, modalities, balance, weights, and treatment tables.
The classroom lecture instructor-to-student ratio is 1:20, and in the laboratory sessions, the ratio is 1:15. Clinical education is a crucial part of the PTA Program. Students can have three full-time clinical rotations at various types of local and out-of-state physical therapy facilities.
The program will offer a technical curriculum that is sequential, integrated, and reflective of the contemporary Physical Therapist Assistant practice.
The program will prepare graduates to provide physical therapy interventions in various settings within the PTA scope of practice and under a physical therapist’s supervision.
The program will prepare graduates to demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors consistent with California State Law and Practice Acts and professional practice standards.
The program will employ faculty who demonstrate current knowledge in the areas they teach and are committed to the current professional standards of excellence.
The program will prepare graduates to utilize self-assessment and awareness in communication, skills, knowledge, and behaviors with patients/clients, caregivers, colleagues, and other healthcare team members.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts considers clinical experience one of the most critical parts of medical education.
Students must be rotated throughout our affiliated medical facilities while attending our physical therapy assistant school.
As reported in the CAPTE Annual Accreditation Report each December. The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) defines the graduation rate as completion within 150 percent of the program length. It does not include those students who left the program for reasons apart from an academic deficit.
Year | Graduation Rate |
---|---|
2020 | 95.6% |
2021 | 93% |
2022 | 93% |
2023 | 100% |
Pass rates for the Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ Physical Therapist Assistant Program are available on The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.
Year | Total % of Candidates in graduating class who took the NPTE and ultimately passed |
---|---|
2020 | 100% |
2021 | 78.6% |
2022 | 92.3% |
2023 | 90.5% |
Year | Total % of Candidates in Graduating Class who took the NPTE and passed on the first attempt |
---|---|
2020 | 81% |
2021 | 64.3% |
2022 | 69.2% |
2023 | 90.5% |
The employment rate for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program graduates is based on the percentage of those who graduated in a particular year, sought physical therapy employment (full-time or part-time), and were employed within one (1) year following graduation.
Year | Employment Rate |
---|---|
2020 | 91% |
2021 | 100% |
2022 | 85% |
2023 | 95% |
*The reported outcome numbers are based on CAPTE standards.
Please review the following requirements:Â General Admission Requirements for all programs. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program has a selective application process. There is a deadline for completed applications to be submitted. Please inquire with Admissions about the current deadline date.
Please review The Essential Functions for Physical Therapist Assistant Students in the Program Performance Requirements section.
Please review the following requirements:Â General Performance Requirements for all programs.
To succeed in the physical therapist assistant classroom, lab, and clinical settings, and ultimately as a physical therapist assistant, students must possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concerns, and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice physical therapy. At a minimum, students must have the following essential skills:
Critical Thinking — calculation, problem-solving, reasoning, and judgment
Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills — working with others, resolving conflicts, and offering support.
Communication Skills — verbal, nonverbal, and written
Motor Skills — gross motor, fine motor, coordination
Sensory Skills — visual, auditory, tactile
The following requirements must be met for a student to graduate from the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts:
Please review the following requirements:Â General Admission Requirements for all programs. The Physical Therapist Assistant Program has a selective application process. There is a deadline for completed applications to be submitted. Please inquire with Admissions about the current deadline date.
Please review The Essential Functions for Physical Therapist Assistant Students in the Program Performance Requirements section.
Please review the following requirements:Â General Performance Requirements for all programs.
To succeed in the physical therapist assistant classroom, lab, and clinical settings, and ultimately as a physical therapist assistant, students must possess the intelligence, integrity, compassion, humanitarian concerns, and physical and emotional capacity necessary to practice physical therapy. At a minimum, students must have the following essential skills:
Critical Thinking — calculation, problem-solving, reasoning, and judgment
Interpersonal and Behavioral Skills — working with others, resolving conflicts, and offering support.
Communication Skills — verbal, nonverbal, and written
Motor Skills — gross motor, fine motor, coordination
Sensory Skills — visual, auditory, tactile
The following requirements must be met for a student to graduate from the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts:
Please review the PTA Admission Point System table to help you prepare. Applicants not selected may re-apply. The following point system evaluates and ranks each applicant, showing the maximum score achievable.
Point Category | Points |
---|---|
Completed Application Form | Required |
Proof of Prerequisite GPA | |
Average 2.50-2.59 | 1 |
Average 2.60-3.00 | 2 |
Average 3.01-3.59 | 3 |
Average 3.60-4.00 | 4 |
Anatomy Grade of B or A | 2 |
Physiology Grade of B or A | 2 |
College Degree | |
Associate Degree | 1 |
Bachelor's Degree | 2 |
Higher Degree | 3 |
Attend Informational Session | Required |
More than 40 hours observation/experience at a physical therapy outpatient facility (must be documented) | Required |
More than 40 hours observation/experience at a physical therapy inpatient facility (must be documented) | Required |
Paid Experience in a Physical Therapy Facility | |
0-249 Hours | 1 |
250-499 Hours | 2 |
500-749 Hours | 3 |
750-999 Hours | 4 |
1000+ Hours | 5 |
Basic Anatomy Assessment Test | |
0-5 | 0 |
6-10 | 1 |
11-15 | 2 |
16-20 | 3 |
21-25 | 4 |
CCAT Assessment Test | |
0-15 | 0 |
16-20 | 1 |
21-22 | 2 |
23-25 | 3 |
26 or Greater | 4 |
Interview Scored by Rubric | 12 |
Essay and Pre-admissions questionnaire scored by Rubric | 4 |
Total Possible Points | 40 |
Course Subject | Course Title(s) | Equivalent Clock Hours | Quarter Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
Humanities, English | Reading and Writing Composition | 50.0 | 5.0 |
Humanities, Oral Communication | Speech or Interpersonal Communication | 40.0 | 4.0 |
Sciences | Anatomy and Physiology with Lab Note: 100 lecture hours with 40 laboratory hours | 140.0 | 12.0 |
Mathematics | Minimum Algebra 1 | 50.0 | 5.0 |
Social Science | Introduction to Psychology or Lifespan Psychology | 40.0 | 4.0 |
Social Science Elective | History, Economics, Political Science, Geography, Sociology, Anthropology, or General Psychology | 40.0 | 4.0 |
General Education Total | 360.0 | 34.0 |
Course Number | Title | Clock Hours | Quarter Credit Hours |
---|---|---|---|
PTA 100 | Introduction to Physical Therapist Assistant | 22.0 | 2.0 |
PTA 110 | Fundamental PTA Procedures with Lab | 77.0 | 4.5 |
PTA 120 | Clinical Kinesiology with Lab | 77.0 | 4.5 |
PTA 130 | Pathology | 44.0 | 4.0 |
PTA 210 | Procedures II with Lab | 66.0 | 4.0 |
PTA 220 | Orthopedic Management | 66.0 | 4.0 |
PTA 222 | Patient Care Skills I | 22.0 | 1.0 |
PTA 225 | Clinical Education I | 184.0 | 6.0 |
PTA 226 | Clinical Education I Seminar | 11.0 | 1.0 |
PTA 230 | Professional Behaviors | 33.0 | 3.0 |
PTA 233 | Patient Care Skills II | 22.0 | 1.0 |
PTA 235 | Clinical Education II | 240.0 | 8.0 |
PTA 240 | Applied Neurology | 66.0 | 4.0 |
PTA 245 | Clinical Education III | 280.0 | 9.0 |
PTA 250 | PT Aspects of Growth, Development, and Aging | 44.0 | 3.0 |
PTA 260 | Selected Topics | 44.0 | 3.0 |
PTA 280 | Senior Seminar | 33.0 | 3.0 |
PTA 290 | Licensure Exam Preparation | 22.0 | 2.0 |
Technical Total Degree Total | 1,353.0 1,713.0 | 67.0 101.0 |
Read the A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant Program course descriptions.
Degree Total Program: General Education, Technical Courses: 1,713 clock Hours, 101 Quarter Credit Hours
View the O*Net Online 31-2021.00 Physical Therapist Assistants job profile for general information about the profession. Find information about the salary data in California and the major cities near the campus where the program is offered.
Local Wages for Physical Therapist Assistants in California
*Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts has not determined if any programs fulfill the educational requirements for specific professional licensure or certification required for employment outside California unless identified by the program below. It is recommended that students in or plan to relocate to a state besides where the physical campus offering the program is located research any certification or employment requirements for their intended state.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts holds national institutional accreditation by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES). ABHES accreditation does not include continuing education courses.
ABHES Mailing Address:
6116 Executive Blvd., Suite 730
North Bethesda, MD 20852
ABHES Phone:Â (301) 291-7550
ABHES Email:Â Info
ABHES Website: abhes.org
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is a private institution approved to operate by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education. Approval to operate means the institution is compliant with the minimum standards in the California Private Postsecondary Education Act (CPPEA) of 2009 (as amended) and Division 7.5 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations. CPPEA governs the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
The Office of Student Assistance and Relief is available to support prospective students, current students, or past students of private postsecondary educational institutions in making informed decisions, understanding their rights, and navigating available services and relief options. The office may be reached by calling (888) 370- 7589, option #5, or by visiting osar.bppe.ca.gov.
BPPE Mailing Address:
1747 N. Market Blvd., Suite 225
Sacramento, CA 95834
BPPE Phone:Â (888) 370-7589
BPPE Email:Â General
BPPE Website: bppe.ca.gov
The A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (650) 425-9387 or email Catherine Ammenti.
CAPTE Mailing Address:
3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
telephone: (703) 706-3245; email:Â accreditation@apta.org; website:Â http://www.capteonline.org.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts aims to help every student obtain Financial Aid* to attend their chosen program. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs.
The financial aid programs are designed to assist students with inadequate financial resources to meet their education’s total cost. Each campus has a Financial Aid Advisor who can help students with any financial aid questions.
For more information, please visit our Financial Aid page.
*for those who qualify
Please choose from the dropdown to review a category of FAQs
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) provides an overview of choosing a PTA program.
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work under the direction and supervision of licensed Physical Therapists.
We may assist with job placements for all students who complete the program. However, we cannot guarantee employment.
Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts offers only the technical portion of the program. All prerequisites are to be taken at other schools recognized by the Department of Education and have either Regional or National accreditation. Transfer of general education courses will be reviewed for transferability.
Please find more info about the Program Length and Schedule.
Please see this page for more info about Accreditation.
The program is designed to be offered sequentially as one course builds upon the other. Please find more info about the Program Length and Schedule.
You can have the final prerequisites you require in progress when you apply. But you must complete them before beginning the program with the required grade. Please find more information in the Admission Requirements.
Financial Aid is available for those who qualify. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs.
More information can be provided by contacting the Admissions Department.
If you are a person who is deaf, hard of hearing, or speech-disabled, please Dial 711 to place a call through California Relay.
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