I have a friend whose 20-something daughter did a physical therapy assistant program at one of our state’s technical colleges. Below is the message I received from my friend, with identifying details taken out:
"D has job interviews already lined up,
is past graduation, and has received her PTA license from the state-note
that the secretary of the state PTA board who is one of the signatories on her license, is D’s adviser at [school] and reportedly saw to it that D’s requirements were
met for the program:
‘Wooooow… [school] isn’t gonna let me graduate until I take intro sociology and developmental psych.’"
Any suggestions for how the young woman should deal with this?
Are those new requirements, or were they originally required for her program?
If she has already received her diploma, I don’t see how they could require it, but I have known cases where students are allowed to walk at graduation, but it is contingent on finishing their program.
But if she has her license, then the state must have received her transcript, so I think she is done.
I am surprised she hasn’t already taken those courses though.
She should take sociology and developmental psych
What she probably has is a provisional license. She will not receive a permanent license, certification until she meets the requirements; if that is having a degree and she can’t complete the degree until she takes 2 classes, then take the 2 classes over the summer or find out if she can take them at her local CC. as far as interviewing for a job, she could say that she will be receiving her degree in august/(late july depending on when summer school ends).
See if she can take those online somewhere.
mom2collegekids’ advice is perfect.
She should be sure to be totally upfront with employers about the missing 2 classes.
I’d suggest that she take the two classes over the summer either at her school or at a school that her institution will accept credit from (if taking classes elsewhere be sure to have this arranged/approved in advance in writing) and she should be able to apply for jobs that begin in the fall. She should tell potential employers the truth.
While an adviser should have caught it, in the end it is up to each student to be sure he/she has finished the requirements for the degree. Most places have the requirements for each program on checklists, online etc. It is a shame this happened, but it is not a disastrous or insurmountable obstacle – instead it is just a slight delay in plans.
I’d tell the mom and daughter to take a deep breath, have her finish the requirements as soon as possible and get on with life.
It is possible that the PTA program is not a full degree. She may well have all of the requirements for licensing for that career, but need the other classes in order to complete degree requirements.