Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Adult Career Education > Medical Certificate Programs > Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
The PTA program is a five-semester program with students earning an Associates of Science degree and eligibility to take the National Physical Therapy Exam for licensure as a PTA upon completion. The program requires students be on campus in Ukiah at least two days per week for laboratory courses during the spring and fall semesters. The program is a hybrid design with theory courses offered online and laboratory courses offered on the Mendocino College campus.

 

Applications to the program are accepted each year between August 15 and October 15, with a new cohort of students beginning the program each January. The link to the application can be found under the “Home” and “Admissions” tabs of the MC PTA website beginning August 15: https://www.mendocino.edu/PTA

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to modify our face-to-face instruction and continue to hold labs on campus, giving students the best possible education experience. The safety and health of our students and instructors is our number one priority as we plan for future semesters.

 

Description: Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist (PT). Physical Therapy is a dynamic profession full of variety, activity and human interaction. PTs and PTAs are movement experts who help to relieve pain, prevent disability and restore the basic movements that we take for granted every day by improving balance, posture, strength, flexibility and so much more.

PTAs are an integral part of the healthcare team and work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, sports facilities, and more.

Contact: Sara Bogner, MS PT: (707) 467-1062; sbogner@mendocino.edu

Time: 28 months. There is a pre-requisite semester followed by four semesters of program coursework. General education requirements for graduation are included within the five semesters

Annual Mean Wage: $70,570

Cost: $6,500; financial aid may be available

Physical Therapist Assistant Pre-Requisites

  • Human Anatomy
  • Human Physiology or Human Biology/Biology Lab
  • Medical Terminology
  • Introduction to Physical Therapy

Accreditation Status: Effective October 29, 2019, the Mendocino College PTA Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706- 3245; email: accreditation@apta.org).

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please contact PTA Program Director, Sara Bogner, MS PT, at 707-467-1062 or email sbogner@mendocino.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

For more information or to sign up for classes go to https://www.mendocino.edu/ and click Apply Now in the upper right hand corner of the home page. Science classes fill quickly so be sure to register early.