Physical Therapist Assistant
About this program
From accidents to sports injuries, physical therapy gets patients back on track, doing the things they love. At Penn College, you’ll explore theories and concepts and put techniques to the test in modern labs outfitted with equipment just like you can expect to find in the field. Then, apply your skills in the real world with three clinical experiences, which can be completed in 65+ diverse sites across Pennsylvania and beyond. Through immersive hands-on experience and with insight from faculty who bring experience across diverse specialties, you’ll learn how to thrive in this growing field.
Acceptance in this major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission.
Cohort size may vary based on clinical site availability and alignment with accreditation requirements. Students who are not selected into their desired program may be eligible for selection into another NHS program depending on seat availability. For additional information, please contact the appropriate program director.
Next steps...
You're on your way to becoming a tomorrow maker.
Get Involved
Be in the know.
Follow the PTA program on Facebook to stay up-to-date on what our students and alumni are doing.
19%
Growth in Demand for Physical Therapist Assistant is Expected through 2030
65+
Diverse Clinical Sites
Two-Year Program
Careers
- Acute care
- Outpatient orthopedic setting
- Inpatient skills nursing facility
- Rehabilitation center
Courses
At Penn College, we believe your educational experience should go beyond specialized skills. Real-world ready means taking a broader approach that builds communication skills, inspires collaboration, and encourages exploration of arts, history, and science.
Specialization requires in-depth knowledge and high-level proficiency. Students learn and apply major-specific concepts, skills, and methods.
- Medical Terminology Survey (MTR100)
- Introduction to Physical Therapy (PTA100)
- Clinical Kinesiology (PTA121)
- PT Procedures I (PTA130)
- Pathology for the PTA (PTA210)
- Level 1 Clinical Experience (PTA215)
- Therapeutic Exercise (PTA220)
- Clinical Neurology (PTA230)
- Physical Agents (PTA226)
- PT Procedures II (PTA250)
- Rehabilitation (PTA260)
- Orthopedics & Sports in PT (PTA265)
- Ethics & Law for the PTA (PTA240)
- PTA Professional Seminar (PTA245)
- Level 2A Clinical Experience (PTA270)
- Level 2B Clinical Experience (PTA275)
Perspectives are points of view, offering a variety of ways of understanding, interacting, and influencing the world. Students identify, explain, and utilize the approaches used by academics and professionals to study, analyze, or understand problems, and offer solutions.
Maker Profiles
Alumni
Lindsay Dunkle
Physical Therapist Assistant
She traded working in a chemistry lab for a hands-on career.
Faculty
Sheryl Snyder-Everitt
Physical Therapist Assistant
Sheryl brings hands-on experience as a working physical therapist assistant and instructor.
Industry
UPMC
Construction Management
Electrical
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Nursing
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physician Assistant
Radiography
Surgical Technology
Facilities
Physical Therapy Lab
Expansive lab space inspires collaboration and partner work while optimizing the hands-on learning experience.
Expansive lab space inspires collaboration and partner work while optimizing the hands-on learning experience.
Expansive lab space inspires collaboration and partner work while optimizing the hands-on learning experience.
Tour Schedule
Seeing is believing.
Think Penn College might be a good fit for you? Make plans to visit and discover what hands-on learning is all about.
Mar 1
Undergraduate Open House
Saturday, March 19 AM - 3 PM
Apr 6
Undergraduate Open House
Sunday, April 69 AM - 3 PM
Industry Partners
Work with experts to become an expert
Penn College's strong partnerships impact every step of your journey – from your first day in the classroom and labs, to career placement (oftentimes before graduation) and beyond.
Career Fair Connections
Penn College graduates are in high demand. Employer participation at the Career Fair is proof. Attracting 400+ organizations, this popular event is hosted twice per year and introduces students to all types of businesses from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Student Life
Stay active in and out of the classroom
Physical Therapist Assistant Club
The PTA Club provides opportunities for professional and personal development through interaction with and service to the community.
Student Organizations at Penn College
Your college experience is about more than the classroom. Join one of 65+ clubs and organizations, or create your own.
Penn College News
Penn College Community Physical Therapy Clinic planned
Students celebrate Physical Therapy Month with service project
Physical therapist assistant program’s accreditation reaffirmed
Study Abroad
Gain global experience
See the world via Williamsport. Take your education abroad and get hands-on experience learning about your industry on a global scale.
Clinical Experience
Your knowledge in practice
Explore what’s to come through three clinical experiences. During this two-year program, students participate in one part-time clinical along with two back-to-back, full-time clinical experiences with one of our many partners.
Dual Degree
Take two
Healthcare Leadership & Administration
Students who have earned an associate’s degree from Penn College in radiography are eligible to pursue a bachelor’s degree in healthcare leadership & administration. Students currently enrolled in the radiography program may work with their advisor to declare this major as dual degree, taking both radiography courses and healthcare leadership & administration courses simultaneously. Proof of the appropriate credential or associate degree in radiography will be required to be eligible for graduation in the healthcare leadership & administration major.
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology 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 570-320-4439 or email pta@pct.edu.
More Information
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 570-320-4439 or email pta@pct.edu.
Anyone desiring entrance into this major must first gain admission to Penn College. Acceptance into this selective admission major is based upon additional requirements beyond College admission. Details are available on the Selective Admission Criteria and Process webpage.
Students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant major must earn at least a “C” (2.0) in an applicable math course (MTH123 or higher), ENL111, MTR100, BIO115, PSY111, and all PTA courses.
The following grading system is applied to all PTA courses (there is no rounding of grades):
A = 90-100
B = 80-89.99
C = 75-79.99
F = 74.99 and below
Child abuse clearance and criminal background checks are required by agencies involved in clinical education experiences. Agencies can bar students from their sites if a criminal record exists or a positive drug test is noted. By virtue of contract for Penn College students to be at clinical sites, drug testing is required for admission and students will be subject to random drug testing while in the Physical Therapy Assistant Program. The Pennsylvania State Board of Education and Licensure and APTA advise that a drug-related conviction and/or conviction of a felonious act may result in denial and/or revocation of a license to practice physical therapy. Inability to gain clinical education experiences results in inability to meet program objectives and outcomes, and will have a negative impact on a student's ability to progress through the curriculum. For additional clarification, students should speak with their program director.
Penn College complies with the federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1989. Pursuant to this Act, all forms of marijuana, including medical marijuana, are classified as prohibited controlled substances. Additionally, alcohol, illegal drugs, and legal drugs obtained without a prescription or which may impair a student’s ability to perform his/her educational responsibilities are strictly prohibited. Students are subject to drug screening at various phases of the program. Please note that a positive drug screening for marijuana will be deemed a positive test and will result in a student being dismissed from the program, even if the student has been lawfully certified to use medical marijuana and/or possesses a valid medical marijuana identification card issued in accordance with applicable state law.
This major is subject to the transfer standards established by the College (see http://www.pct.edu/catalog/TransferringCredits).
International health credentials/licensure, science courses, and most math courses will not be accepted to satisfy requirements of this major. Please see additional information for international students applying to Health Science majors.
Alternative Credit refers to academic credits earned through means other than traditional college course completion, including: credit by exam, articulation, proof of competency gained in high school, work/life experience, and advanced placement.
Visit the Alternative Credit Options page for requirements and procedures and for information on credit through Advanced Placement.
Students will be required to purchase a PTA tool kit, available at the College Store. Included in the program tool kit; Adult size blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, reflex hammer, bandage scissors, goniometers (small, medium and large), tape measure. Students will also be required to purchase designated Penn College polo shirts and a name tag for use on clinical experiences.
A laptop computer is required for this program. Refer to full list of estimated expenses under Tools, Uniforms and Supplies.
Some items are available for purchase through The College Store.
- Students must meet Essential Functions for the Physical Therapist Assistant as established by the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, as well as health and safety requirements including, but not limited to, immunizations (MMR, hepatitis B, varicella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, annual influenza vaccination, PPD), medical examination, 10 panel drug screen, CPR certification, and background clearances as established by clinical affiliation agreements.
- Clinical Observation Form
- Complaints from the public
- Program Review Executive Summary
The physical therapist assistant program at Pennsylvania College of Technology has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at fsbpt.org.
- Mr. Aaron Barner, PT, DPT, OCS, Outpatient Clinical Coordinator, Evangelical Community Hospital
- Ms. Ellen Detweiler, PT, Director of Clinical Services, UPMC Susquehanna Home Care
- Mr. Zachary Kurtz, PT, DPT, Physical Therapist, UPMC
- Ms. Denise Lorson, PT, Supervisor, UPMC Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Mr. Matthew R Martin, MSPT, OCS, Manager of Rehabilitation Services, UPMC Susquehanna
- Dr. Donald Shipe, PT, DPT, Facility Director/Physical Therapist, Phoenix Physical Therapy
- Ms. Jodi Stiner, MPT, GCS, Physical Therapist, Evangelical Community Hospital
- Dr. Joseph F Wood, PT, DPT, Director of Therapy Operations, UPMC Susquehanna
- Dr. Barry M Wrench, PT, DPT, Facility Director, Phoenix Physical Therapy