Physical Therapist Assistant
This program is available at the Springfield - Leffel Lane location.The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program combines didactic and clinical learning experiences that are within the legal scope of responsibility of physical therapist assistants.
The physical therapist assistant delivers services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist who completes an initial examination and determines the appropriate treatment plan and goals for the patient. The physical therapist assistant shares the responsibility for administering treatments, instructing patients in exercises and activities of daily living, and documenting the patient’s response to therapy. Graduates will be prepared to function in their role to provide treatment in a variety of settings such as inpatient, outpatient, and home care services.
Upon successful completion of all aspects of the PTA program, graduates are eligible to take the state licensing examination. Licensure is mandatory for practice as a physical therapist assistant in the State of Ohio. The Ohio OTPTAT Board requires FBI and Ohio BCI criminal records checks as part of the Ohio licensing application process. Visit the Board website at http://otptat.ohio.gov for more information.
Applications will begin being accepted December 1. The application deadline for any given year is February 1. All application materials must be received on or before February 1 of the application year. If February 1 falls on a weekend, the packet must be received by the next business day. Any application materials received after this date will be classified as late and will be processed after the applications that were received on time are processed.
In addition, the Program must be able to verify that the applicant has made application to CSC, and that
official transcripts from other institutions have been received, by February 1. Transfer students should submit their CSCC applications and official transcripts early enough to avoid problems.
Program Mission
In accordance with the mission of Clark State College, the mission of the Physical Therapist Assistant program is to provide didactic and clinical learning experiences which are excellent in quality and reflective of evidence-based physical therapy practice, in order to prepare graduates to pass the state licensing examination and subsequently practice as competent and responsible physical therapist assistants within the scope of the law.
Program Goal
To provide a technical program that gives students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to become successfully employed as a physical therapist assistant.
Technical Standards
All applicants accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program must be able to meet the essential functions, skills, and abilities required to provide safe patient practice with or without reasonable accommodations. The essential functions, skills, and abilities are listed in the PTA Application Handbook which is linked to the program page on the College's website. Applicants are required to sign a form indicating they have reviewed these essential functions, skills, and abilities and submit that form as part of the program application process.
Course Format
Most PTA courses are composed of two components, an online lecture component and an onsite lab component, which may be taught at the Leffel Lane campus or another College approved site. Onsite labs are currently only offered in Springfield and Columbus, Ohio. Directed practices are in clinical facilities in the greater Springfield, Dayton, Columbus, and Cincinnati, Ohio regions. The College has national contracts with several organizations and may consider clinical placements outside of these regions.
Liability Insurance
Students will be billed for liability insurance for the academic year of directed practice courses.
Graduate Statistics
Information reported is from the December 2023 Annual Assessment Report to CAPTE. Additional information about graduation rates can be requested from the program coordinator.
- Graduation rate*: 80.25%
*Graduation rate includes the graduating classes of 2022 and 2023. Graduation rate is defined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) as the percentage of students who matriculated in the first term after the drop/add period and who completed the program.
- First time Licensure Pass Rate **: 56.1%
- Ultimate Licensure pass rate**: 72.65%
**Licensure pass rates include the graduating class of 2021 and 2022 as reported by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Ultimate pass rate is defined by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) as the percentage of graduates who take and pass the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam, regardless of the number of attempts.
- Employment rate***: 100%
***Employment rate includes the graduating class of 2021 and 2022 and reflects employment rate of graduates who were eligible for and sought employment as a PTA within one year of graduation.
Comments and Suggestions
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program engages in continuing assessment and improvements. Comments, suggestions and constructive criticism from students and the public are welcome and are part of this process. Comments must be submitted in writing to the PTA program coordinator at the following address.
Clark State College
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Coordinator
P.O. Box 570
570 East Leffel Lane
Springfield, OH 45505
The PTA program coordinator will respond to all written comments that include the name and contact information for the individual submitting the comments within ten (10) business days.
Explore CareersOutcomes and Curriculum
Upon completion of an Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant, a graduate will be able to:
- Demonstrate proficient entry-level knowledge and skill in implementing treatment practices appropriate to the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
- Demonstrate proficient entry-level knowledge and skill in utilizing testing and measurement techniques appropriate to the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
- Communicate effectively with patients, families, colleagues and other health care providers.
- Demonstrate behavior that reflects respect for and sensitivity to individual differences when working with patients, families, colleagues, and other health care professionals.
- Adhere to ethical and legal standards throughout the provision of physical therapy services.
- Provide patient care in a safe manner that minimizes risk to patient, self, and others.
- Practice physical therapy in an effective manner making judgments consistent with the physical therapist plan of care and the role of the physical therapist assistant.
- Practice lifelong learning that reflects social responsibility and career development.
Academic Requirements
Program Admission Requirements
The Physical Therapist Assistant program must restrict the number of students accepted into the program each year due to the limited availability of clinical sites. The program is currently able to accept a maximum of 36 students each year; (26 students in Springfield and 10 students in Columbus.) Acceptance into the PTA program is a competitive process and application does not guarantee admission.
In addition to completing the standard procedures for admission to the College, students must apply to the PTA program separately. The PTA program application process, criteria, selection process and time line are provided in the PTA Application Handbook; which can be found on the program page on the college website.. Abbreviated information about this admission process is also provided here.
Students must have completed the following academic requirements to be eligible to apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant program:
1. Reading
College-ready reading skills are required and may be demonstrated in one of the following ways.
- Testing out of preparatory reading via ACT, SAT, or College’s reading placement test*
- College’s reading placement test was waived for:
1) College English composition course with a grade of C or better
2) Recent high school senior English course with appropriate grade
- Completion of preparatory reading course; ENG 0900 or ENG 0980 with a grade of C or higher.
2.Writing
College-ready writing skills are required and may be demonstrated in one of the following ways:
- Testing out of preparatory writing via ACT, SAT, or College’s writing placement test*
- College’s writing placement testing was waived for:
1) College English composition course with a grade of C or better
2) Recent high school senior English course with appropriate grade
- Completion of preparatory writing course; ENG 0900 or ENG 0980 with a grade of C or higher
3.Math/Algebra
College-ready math/algebra skills enabling the student to enroll in their desired college math course may be demonstrated in one of the following ways.
- Testing out of appropriate preparatory math level via ACT, SAT, or College’s math/algebra placement testing*
- College’s math placement testing was waived for:
1) College Ohio Transfer Module (OTM) equivalent math course with a C or better within 5 years
2) Recent high school senior algebra II course with appropriate grade within the last 5 years
- Completion of the math course(s) required to enroll in desire college level math course with a C or better within 5 years
*Students who need to take the College’s placement testing should contact the Student Academic Support Center at 937-328-6049 to schedule an appointment for ACCUPLACER testing. The College’s Placement Testing web page, https://www.clarkstate.edu/admissions/placement-assessment/, provides additional helpful information for preparation and scheduling of the testing.
4.Biology**
Students who have not completed BIO 2121, Anatomy and Physiology (or the equivalent), must meet the biology prerequisites for BIO 2121 to apply. To see the current prerequisites for BIO 2121, view the current College catalogue https://www.clarkstate.edu/academics/academic-catalog/)
5.Chemistry**
Chemistry is no longer required as pre-requisite for BIO 2121, except when students are using high school credit to meet the BIO 2121 prerequisite requirements. In this case both high school chemistry and biology are required to meet the pre-requisites. If students are taking BIO 1410 at Clark State to meet pre-requisites, a separate chemistry course is no longer a requirement. To see the current prerequisites for BIO 2121, view the current College catalogue (https://www.clarkstate.edu/academics/academic-catalog/)
**Note: Students who plan on taking BIO 1410 at Clark State need to make sure they meet the prerequisite and co-requisite requirements for this course. Please see the College catalogue
(https://www.clarkstate.edu/academics/academic-catalog/) for details. Those requirements include passing all appropriate placement tests or taking the appropriate college preparatory or college level pre or co-requisite courses.
**Students may apply for fall admission if they are enrolled in the Biology pre-requisite at the time of application. Any acceptance decisions will be contingent on the successful completion of the pre-requisite courses no later than Spring semester prior to the Fall for which the student has been accepted.
- GPA of 2.5 in the required curricular courses; the GPA includes fundamentals of biology ONLY when no other courses in the PTA curriculum have been taken.
In order to be accepted into the physical therapist assistant courses, students must maintain the required cumulative grade point average in the required courses in the curriculum. College preparatory courses and other courses, which are not listed as part of the curriculum, are not included in calculating the GPA. However, a minimum grade of C is required in the prerequisite and college preparatory courses. Please refer to the PTA Application Handbook for additional information on courses in which a C is required. While students are waiting to be admitted they may take any of the non-core PTA courses in the curriculum. (BIO 1119, Muscle Anatomy and Biomechanics, is considered a core PTA course).
Students are required to complete a total of 30 hours of observation/volunteer/paid work experience in two different settings under the supervision of a PT or PTA, with a minimum of 10 hours at each location, within five years prior to application to the PTA Program. (I.e., Students can do 15 hours in one and 15 hours in another, or 20 in one and 10 in another, but NOT 28 in one and 2 in another). Students are advised to begin their Observation/Volunteer/Paid Work Experience hours while working on their academic application requirements. All 30 hours must be completed at the time of application.
Graduation Requirements
A 2.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.0 scale and grades of C or better in the major courses in the PTA curriculum are required to graduate. Refer to the PTA Application Handbook for a list of courses that require a grade of C or better.
Clinical Requirements
Prior to summer between the first and second year, a physical exam, a two-step Mantoux test, Hepatitis B immunization or waiver, a health history including record of childhood immunizations or adult titers, a flu shot, professional CPR, and First Aid training are required. A criminal records check must be completed within the three months immediately prior to entry into clinical courses in the summer semester. At a minimum, a civilian (BCI) background check is required. A federal (FBI) background check may be required. Additional medical tests, including drug screens, and other requirements may be necessary depending upon clinical site
Accreditation
Accreditation
The PTA Program at Clark State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone 703.706.3245; e-mail: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 937.328.6102 or email dinsmoret@clarkstate.edu.
Validation of current program accreditation is available on Clark State's Accreditation and Approvals page.
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Terri Dinsmore Professor Health Technologies