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 therapeutic interventions. Physical therapist assistants document relevant aspects of the patient treatment and participate in discharge planning.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Rhodes State College provides the student with an excellent physical therapist assistant education, encouraging life-long 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 standards of the profession are established by the American Physical Therapy Association and are regulated by state licensure (in Ohio, the Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Athletic Trainers Board).
Therefore in order to provide a program that promotes student success, it is essential to admit students who meet rigorous curriculum requirements.
Visit the Borra Center!
Getting Started
- New to Rhodes State: contact Admissions
- CCP students: College Credit Plus
- Current Rhodes students: contact the PTA Program Coordinator at liles.a@rhodesstate.edu
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
PTA Program Eligibility Requirements
Each spring semester, the PTA program accepts the first 30 students who meet all program eligibility requirements. (NOTE: Program admission is based on DATE(s) each requirement is received by the program coordinator or faculty.)
Students must contact the Program Coordinator at liles.a@rhodesstate.edu to schedule the required personalized program advising session.
Please use the required forms below and submit to the Program Coordinator at liles.a@rhodesstate.edu.
Observation form (*Refer to these "Tips for setting up Clinical Observation")
Interview of licensed PT or PTA form
*IMPORTANT PTA Program Informed Consent Information for prosepective and enrolled students. (Signed informed consent is required of all students at the time of program orientation.)
Student Outcomes
Program Cost
Physical Therapist Assistant Highlights
- Unique collaboration with the University of Findlay DPT students to develop intra-professional skills.
- Interprofessional events within the Division of Health Sciences to explore the dynamics of the healthcare team in the delivery of services that meets the diverse needs of patients.
- Participation in community service learning activities
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.
The complete Revised Code regarding physical therapy practice and licensure may be accessed through the Physical Therapy Section, Laws & Rules.
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