Bridge program (higher education)
Encyclopedia
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). , Bridge programs are being actively considered for Physician Assistant
s (PAs) to transition to Medical Doctors (MDs), but no such program yet exists.
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
program specifically designed to assist a student with an attained initial educational level (or an initial level of professional licensure
Licensure
Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives a "permission to practice." Such licenses are usually issued in order to regulate some activity that is deemed to be dangerous or a threat to the person or the public or which involves a high level of specialized skill...
) to attend college courses and achieve a terminal degree
Terminal degree
A terminal degree is, in some countries, the highest academic degree in a given field of study. This phrase is in common use in the United States, but is not universal in an international context: the concept is not in general use in the United Kingdom, for example, and the exact definition varies...
(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
Community college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, has been working in his or her chosen profession
Profession
A profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
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
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....
(Licensed Practical Nurse--LPN
Licensed Practical Nurse
Licensed practical nurse is the term used in much of the United States and most Canadian provinces to refer to a nurse who cares for "people who are sick, injured, convalescent, or disabled under the direction of registered nurses and physicians. The term licensed vocational nurses is used in...
, to Registered Nurse--RN
Registered nurse
A registered nurse is a nurse who has graduated from a nursing program at a university or college and has passed a national licensing exam. A registered nurse helps individuals, families, and groups to achieve health and prevent disease...
), Physical Therapy
Physical therapy
Physical therapy , often abbreviated PT, is a health care profession. Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximizing quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, diagnosis, treatment/intervention,and rehabilitation...
(Physical Therapist Assistant--PTA, to Physical Therapist--PT), and Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is a discipline that aims to promote health by enabling people to perform meaningful and purposeful activities. Occupational therapists work with individuals who suffer from a mentally, physically, developmentally, and/or emotionally disabling condition by utilizing treatments...
(Occupational Therapist Assistant--OTA, to Occupational Therapist--OT). , Bridge programs are being actively considered for Physician Assistant
Physician assistant
A physician assistant/associate ' is a healthcare professional trained and licensed to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.-General description:...
s (PAs) to transition to Medical Doctors (MDs), but no such program yet exists.
See also
- Terminal degreeTerminal degreeA terminal degree is, in some countries, the highest academic degree in a given field of study. This phrase is in common use in the United States, but is not universal in an international context: the concept is not in general use in the United Kingdom, for example, and the exact definition varies...
- Professional certificationProfessional certificationProfessional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
- Education reformEducation reformEducation reform is the process of improving public education. Small improvements in education theoretically have large social returns, in health, wealth and well-being. Historically, reforms have taken different forms because the motivations of reformers have differed.A continuing motivation has...
- CredentialingCredentialingCredentialing is the process of establishing the qualifications of licensed professionals, organizational members or organizations, and assessing their background and legitimacy...
- ProfessionProfessionA profession is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain....
- Distance learning