Physical Therapist Assisting Program
Area of Study: Physical Therapist Assisting Technology
Degree/Certificate: Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assisting Technology
Academic School: Nursing and Health Professions
Program Location: Metropolitan Campus
Program Start: Each new cohort of PTA students starts in the fall semester. The program currently accepts up to 24 new students each year.
Application Deadline: There is no application deadline. The PTA program accepts applicants with ALL application requirements completed, on first-come basis, into the next available cohort.
If you are not already an active Tri-C student, you must first apply to the College. If you are interested in more than one health careers program, click on the Get Started Here button above and indicate all programs of interest on the form.
What is a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)?
- A PTA is a licensed healthcare professional who helps people to recover from accidents, injuries, illnesses, strokes and other debilitating events by providing skilled physical therapy treatment.
- A PTA helps people by promoting wellness, easing pain, improving mobility, increasing strength and restoring function.
- A PTA uses treatment interventions such as therapeutic exercise, gait and balance training, transfer training, heat and cold therapy, mechanical and electrical modalities and manual techniques.
What kind of person makes a good PTA?
- If you have an interest in anatomy, exercise and physical fitness, you might enjoy the physical therapy field.
- If you like to help people and enjoy working with body movement, this would be an active and rewarding career.
- If you have good critical thinking skills and strong study habits, you will be able to handle the rigorous PTA program curriculum.
Why should I choose Tri-C’s PTA program?
- Tri-C students get clinical experience with real patients at more than 75 clinical sites throughout Northeast Ohio, including all major medical centers.
- The Tri-C PTA program has a brand-new, state-of-the-art laboratory facility with the latest equipment and technology.
- The Tri-C PTA Program participates with other health care programs in our on-campus Preventative Care Center (PCC), giving students the unique opportunity to learn in a supervised environment while providing physical therapy treatment to members of the community, while also collaborating with doctoral physical therapy students and faculty from Cleveland State University.
Career Outlook
See which states this program meets licensure/certification requirements.