Physical Therapist Assistant Overview
Physical therapist assistants are skilled technical health personnel who provide physical therapy services under the supervision and direction of a physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants help with data collection and must demonstrate the ability to modify intervention techniques as indicated in the plan of care designated by the physical therapist. Excellent communication skills are also necessary for the physical therapist assistant. The physical therapist assistant must be able to interact with patients and families in a manner that provides the desired psychosocial support and effectively teach them to perform selected intervention procedures. Physical therapist assistants also participate in discharge planning, document relevant aspects of the patient treatment, and promote effective interpersonal relationships.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Rhodes State College provides the student with an excellent physical therapist assistant education, encouraging personal and professional growth. The curriculum is a combination of general education, applied physical therapy sciences, technical skills and clinical education courses. The clinical rotations provide students with supervised clinical learning experiences in a variety of settings and with different patient populations.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program allows a maximum of 30 students to enroll each fall. Students who successfully complete pre-requisite courses and meet all eligibility requirements are permitted to enroll in the program.
Documents for Program Eligibility
Students will need to complete these items for program eligibility as explained in the Information Packet. Once completed, please submit these forms to the Program Coordinator at liles.a@rhodesstate.edu.
interview of licensed pt or pta form
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Briefing
We offer program briefing sessions to provide additional information for students interested in the program. This session will inform students of the steps needed to complete all program eligibility requirements and prerequisite coursework.
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Program Mission
The Rhodes State College Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares students to be competent, professional physical therapist assistants.
Physical Therapist Assistant Plan of Study
Student Outcomes
Program Cost
Physical Therapist Assistant Highlights
- Unique collaboration with the University of Findlay DPT students to develop intra-professional skills.
- Interprofessional retreats within the Division of Health Sciences to explore the dynamics of the healthcare team.
- Participation in service learning activities such as the Abilities Baseball League of Allen County, Tim Tebow’s a “Night to Shine,” Equestrian Therapy Ride-a-thon, any many other opportunities.
Career Opportunities
A licensed PTA may seek employment as a part of a dynamic health care team in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine clinics, and outpatient treatment centers.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow due to the increased demand for rehabilitation and long-term care services.
additional info about the career
Additional Resources
- Ohio Physical Therapy Association
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board
- The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
Scholarship Opportunity
Rhodes State has been awarded a Choose Ohio First (COF) Scholarship grant by the Ohio Department of Higher Education. The grant provides scholarships to students majoring in disciplines that significantly strengthen Ohio’s competitiveness in Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and Medicine (STEMM) education and industry.
Public Comment
Additional Resources
- Ohio Physical Therapy Association
- American Physical Therapy Association
- Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board
- The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
Professional Licensure Information
After successful completion of both the didactic and clinical components of the PTA curriculum, and attainment of the Associate in Applied Science degree from Rhodes State College, students seeking licensure as a PTA must make an application to register for the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Additionally, the student must make a separate application to the licensing authority of the jurisdiction (state) in which the applicant is seeking licensure. In the state of Ohio, the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board is the jurisdiction licensing authority. The state of Ohio requires licensure to practice physical therapy. Licensure enables the PTA to seek employment as a part of a dynamic health care team in a variety of health care settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, sports medicine clinics and outpatient treatment centers.
Accreditation Information
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Rhodes State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., 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 419-993-7420 or email: Liles.A@RhodesState.edu
Student Success Navigator
Crystal Snyder
Student Success Navigator
snyder.c@rhodesstate.edu
(419) 204-9885