Bridge program (higher education)

A Bridge program is a higher education program specifically designed to assist a student with an attained initial educational level (or an initial level of professional licensure) to attend college courses and achieve a terminal degree (or a higher level of professional licensure) in the same field of study and in less time than an entry-level student would require. Typically, a Bridge program student holds a two-year college degree, has been working in his or her chosen profession for a few years, and is seeking advancement in the profession by obtaining a four-year or graduate degree.

Examples of Bridge programs exist in the following healthcare fields: Nursing (Licensed Practical Nurse--LPN, to Registered Nurse--RN), Physical Therapy (Physical Therapist Assistant--PTA, to Physical Therapist--PT), and Occupational Therapy (Occupational Therapist Assistant--OTA, to Occupational Therapist--OT). As of 2008, Bridge programs are being actively considered for Physician Assistants (PAs) to transition to Medical Doctors (MDs), but no such program yet exists. Presently, only one Bridge program exists for RNs to transition to MDs; it is located at American Medical University, a primarily on-line educational institution which describes its RN to MD Bridge program as "the only program of its kind in the world." [http://www.americanmedicaluniversity.com/americanschoolofnursing/ourprograms.php]

ee also

* First professional degree
* Higher education
* Terminal degree
* Professional certification
* Education reform
* Credentialing
* Profession
* Distance learning

External links

* [http://www.lpn-to-rn.net/rn-to-msn.php On-line Bridge program for LPN to RN]
* [http://www.semo.edu/news/index_10143.htm LPN to RN Bridge program at Southeastern Missouri State University]
* [http://www.dslcc.edu/vpiss/tech_allied/tech_allied_programs/nursing/TheLPNBridgeProgram.html LPN to RN Bridge Program at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College]
* [http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=PT_Programs1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=27830 PTA to PT Bridge programs listed at and approved by the American Physical Therapy Association]
* [http://www.twu.edu/ot/entry_cota.htm OTA to Master of Occuational Therapy Bridge program at Texas Woman's University]
* [http://physician-assistant.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?CC=112861 Discussion of the need for a Physican Assistant to Medical Doctor Bridge program]
* [http://www.americanmedicaluniversity.com/americanschoolofnursing/ourprograms.php American Medical University lists "the only bridge program of its kind in the world" as its RN to MD program]