Flying Into a New School Year

Kent State University plane in flight.

Kent State University’s College of Aeronautics and Engineering opened a new building expansion this fall after a record-breaking enrollment year for the flight school.  WFMJ-TV in Youngstown, Ohio, recently produced two segments about the school’s record enrollment and what it means for the industry. Christina Bloebaum, Ph.D., dean of the College of Aeronautics and Engineering at Kent State, told WFMJ-TV about the new building and how the pilot shortage is affecting enrollment.      “This is a field that is going to continue to grow for quite ...

Physical Therapist Assistant Technology - A.A.S.

Join one of the fastest-growing healthcare fields with Kent State's Physical Therapist Assistant Technology A.A.S. program. With a blend of classroom instruction and hands-on experience, you'll learn the skills needed to provide high-quality patient care and support.

Contact Us

Apply Now
Request Info
Schedule a Visit
Find All Majors

Program Information for Physical Therapist Assistant Technology - A.A.S.

Program Description

Program Description

On This Page

Full Description

The Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant Technology provides students with the knowledge, skills and behaviors necessary to become licensed or certified as a physical therapist assistant, working under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. Licensure or certification in most states requires graduation from an accredited program, background clearances and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination.

The integrated curriculum includes lecture, laboratory, seminar and practicum courses. Major course content is cumulative and taught in four sequential semesters in a two year cycle. The technical study curriculum requires student to be on campus or in the clinic three to five days per week each term.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Technology major includes the following optional concentration:

  • The Athletic Trainers Transition concentration is for board-certified athletic trainers and may be completed, at minimum, in 15 months. The concentration adds the skills and knowledge of a physical therapist assistant to the certified athletic trainers knowledge and skill competency. The concentration is offered primarily online, but requires six three-day in person on the Ashtabula Campus to conduct laboratory assignments. In addition, students must complete a minimum 640 hours of clinical education, which, typically, can be arranged anywhere in the country.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for Physical Therapist Assistant Technology - A.A.S.

Admissions

Admission Requirements

The university affirmatively strives to provide educational opportunities and access to students with varied backgrounds, those with special talents and adult students who graduated from high school three or more years ago.

Kent State campuses at Ashtabula, East Liverpool, Geauga, Salem, Stark, Trumbull and Tuscarawas, and the Twinsburg Academic Center, have open enrollment admission for students who hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent.

Some programs may require that students meet certain requirements before progressing through the program. For programs with progression requirements, the information is shown on the Coursework tab.

International Students: All international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning a minimum 71 TOEFL iBT score, minimum 6.0 IELTS score, minimum 47 PTE score or minimum 100 DET score, or by completing the ELS level 112 Intensive English Program. For more information on international admission visit the admissions website for international students.

For more information on admissions, contact the Regional Campuses admissions offices.

Admission to the Athletic Trainers Transition concentration: Applicants must be board-certified athletic trainers.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Provide appropriate and effective physical therapy interventions within the plan of care established by a physical therapist.
  2. Effectively communicate with others, teaching or instructing when appropriate.
  3. Produce legal and ethical documentation to meet professional expectations and the needs of third party payers.
  4. Ethically manage fiscal and human resources to provide high-quality, efficient and cost-effective physical therapy services.
  5. Consistently demonstrate the core values of the physical therapist assistant; accountability, altruism, collaboration, compassion and caring, duty, excellence, inclusion, integrity and social responsibility.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
PTST 10000INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT (min C grade)1
PTST 10001PRINCIPLES OF PATIENT CARE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY (min C grade) 14
PTST 10003CLINICAL CONDITIONS I (min C grade)2
PTST 10011INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE (min C grade) 21
PTST 11005PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE I (min C grade)2
PTST 11092CLINICAL EDUCATION I (ELR) 1
PTST 20003CLINICAL CONDITIONS II (min C grade) 22
PTST 20004PHYSICAL THERAPY PROCEDURES II (min C grade) 24
PTST 20006PHYSICAL REHABILITATION PROCEDURES (min C grade) 14
PTST 20008CLINICAL CONDITIONS III (min C grade)2
PTST 20011PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT OF THE MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENT (min C grade)2
PTST 22005PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE II (min C grade)2
PTST 22007PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE III (min C grade)2
PTST 22092CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM II (ELR) 2
PTST 23092CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM III (ELR) 2
Additional Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
AHS 12005CONCEPTS IN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT (min C grade) 33
AHS 12010PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTHCARE (min C grade)1
AHS 24010MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY (min C grade)1-3
or HED 14020 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
PSYC 11762GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
UC 10001FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Composition3
Kent Core Mathematics and Critical Reasoning3
Kent Core Humanities and Fine Arts3
Additional Requirements or Concentration
Choose from the following:14
Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration
Athletic Trainers Transition Concentration
Minimum Total Credit Hours:65
1

For PTST 10001 and PTST 20006, students in the Athletic Trainers Transition concentration will be required to complete two three-day laboratory weekends on the Ashtabula Campus

2

Students in the Athletic Training Transition concentration will earn transfer credit (no grade) for PTST 10011 and PTST 20003 and PTST 20004 after completing PTST 10010 with minimum C grade.

3

Students who have successfully completed NURS 20950 may use it in place of AHS 12005.

4

UC 10001 is waived for students declared in the Athletic Trainers Transition concentration who hold a bachelor's degree.

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Major Requirements (courses count in major GPA)
PTST 10004PHYSICAL THERAPY PROCEDURES I (min C grade)4
Additional Requirements (courses do no count in major GPA; min C grade required in all courses)
AHS 22002CLINICAL KINESIOLOGY 3
AHS 22003CLINICAL KINESIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
BSCI 11010FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 13
BSCI 11020FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) 13
Minimum Total Credit Hours:14
1

Students who have successfully completed ATTR 25057 and ATTR 25058 (or EXSC 25057 and EXSC 25058 or BSCI 21010 and BSCI 21020) may use those courses in place of BSCI 11010 and BSCI 11020.

Athletic Trainers Transition Concentration Requirements

Concentration Requirements (courses do not count in major GPA)
PTST 10010TRANSITIONS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY (min C grade) 1,28
Additional Requirements (course do not count in the major GPA)
Kent Core Basic Sciences3
General Elective (possible transfer coursework)3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:14
1

For PTST 10010, students will be required to complete two three-day laboratory weekends on the Ashtabula Campus.

2

Students in the Athletic Training Transition concentration will earn transfer credit (no grade) for PTST 10011 and PTST 20003 and PTST 20004 after completing PTST 10010 with minimum C grade.

Progression Requirements

To be able to register for Physical Therapist Assistant Technology (PTST) courses, students must be accepted to technical study. Acceptance to technical study is a selective process. Criteria for acceptance are the following:

  • Completion of observation hours in a physical therapy clinic
  • Minimum 2.700 overall GPA from the most recent academic experience of 12 credit hours or more
  • Completion or placement out of all Kent State University prescribed developmental education coursework (ENG 01001 and READ 00006)
  • Submission of application to technical study, separate from the university application
  • Program Applicant Assessments as noted in the program application information packet for each cohort

Graduation Requirements
Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
2.000 2.000
  • Minimum C (or S) grade may be required in some courses.
  • Three practicum courses require students to complete a minimum of 640 off-campus clinical education hours under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. Under certain circumstances, students in practicum courses are required to attend clinicals on days outside of the academic calendar. These circumstances may occur on scheduled or unscheduled campus closures or on days when classes are cancelled. Examples include: certain holidays, spring recess, snow days and/or prior to the start of semesters. Students are notified in advance of the clinical education schedule.
  • Contracted clinical education sites normally require students to demonstrate both medical and background clearances, as well as the ability to perform the core tasks and essential job functions of a physical therapist assistant. Students who are unable to perform the core tasks and essential job functions, or who cannot demonstrate medical and background clearance may not be able to complete the requirements for the degree program.
Roadmaps

Roadmaps

On This Page

Roadmaps

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester PrerequisiteCredits
BSCI 11010 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY I (KBS) (KLAB) 3
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours10
Semester One
AHS 12010 PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTHCARE 1
AHS 24010
or HED 14020
 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
or MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
1
BSCI 11020 FOUNDATIONAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY II (KBS) (KLAB) 3
PTST 10000 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT 1
!PTST 10001 PRINCIPLES OF PATIENT CARE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 4
!PTST 10003 CLINICAL CONDITIONS I 2
PTST 10011 INTRODUCTION TO THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE 1
 Credit Hours13
Semester Two
AHS 12005 CONCEPTS IN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT 3
!AHS 22002 CLINICAL KINESIOLOGY 3
!AHS 22003 CLINICAL KINESIOLOGY LABORATORY 1
!PTST 10004 PHYSICAL THERAPY PROCEDURES I 4
!PTST 11005 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE I 2
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours16
First Summer Term
PTST 11092 CLINICAL EDUCATION I (ELR) (East Liverpool campus only) 0-1
 Credit Hours0
Semester Three
!PTST 11092 CLINICAL EDUCATION I (ELR) (Ashtabula Campus only) 0-1
!PTST 20003 CLINICAL CONDITIONS II 2
!PTST 20004 PHYSICAL THERAPY PROCEDURES II 4
!PTST 22005 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE II 2
!PTST 22092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM II (ELR) (East Liverpool Campus only) 0-2
Kent Core Requirement 3
 Credit Hours14
Semester Four
!PTST 20006 PHYSICAL REHABILITATION PROCEDURES 4
!PTST 22007 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE III 2
!PTST 20008 CLINICAL CONDITIONS III 2
!PTST 20011 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT OF THE MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENT 2
!PTST 23092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM III (ELR) 2
 Credit Hours12
Second Summer Term
PTST 22092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM II (ELR) (Ashtabulua Campus only) 0-2
 Credit Hours0
Third Summer Term
PTST 22092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM II (ELR) 0-2
 Credit Hours0
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:65

Athletic Trainers Transition Concentration

This roadmap is a recommended semester-by-semester plan of study for this program. Students will work with their advisor to develop a sequence based on their academic goals and history. Courses designated as critical (!) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation.

Plan of Study Grid
Semester PrerequisiteCredits
UC 10001 FLASHES 101 1
Kent Core Requirements (possible transfer coursework) 12
General Electives (possible transfer coursework) 3
 Credit Hours16
Semester One
PSYC 11762 GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY (DIVD) (KSS) 3
PTST 10000 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT 1
!PTST 10010 TRANSITIONS IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 8
Transfer credit (no grade) for PTST 20003, PTST 20004 and PTST 10011 after completing PTST 10010 (min C grade) 7
 Credit Hours19
Semester Two
AHS 12005 CONCEPTS IN LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT 3
AHS 12010 PROFESSIONALISM IN HEALTHCARE 1
AHS 24010
or HED 14020
 MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
or MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY
1
!PTST 10001 PRINCIPLES OF PATIENT CARE IN PHYSICAL THERAPY 4
!PTST 10003 CLINICAL CONDITIONS I 2
!PTST 11005 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE I 2
 Credit Hours13
Semester Three
!PTST 11092 CLINICAL EDUCATION I (ELR) 1
!PTST 20006 PHYSICAL REHABILITATION PROCEDURES 4
!PTST 20008 CLINICAL CONDITIONS III 2
!PTST 22005 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE II 2
 Credit Hours9
Semester Four
!PTST 22007 PHYSICAL THERAPY PRACTICE III 2
!PTST 22092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM II (ELR) 2
!PTST 23092 CLINICAL EDUCATION PRACTICUM III (ELR) 2
!PTST 20011 PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT MANAGEMENT OF THE MEDICALLY COMPLEX PATIENT 2
 Credit Hours8
 Minimum Total Credit Hours:65

Program Delivery

Program Delivery

  • Delivery:
    • Mostly online (Athletic Trainers Transition concentration only)
    • In person
  • Location:
    • Ashtabula Campus
    • East Liverpool Campus (Athletic Trainers Transition concentration not offered)

Accreditation for Physical Therapist Assistant Technology - A.A.S.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Kent State University at Ashtabula and East Liverpool, and the PTA program for NATA-BOC Certified Athletic Trainer's are 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. 

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for Physical Therapist Assistant Technology - A.A.S.

Physical therapist assistants

32.6%

much faster than the average

98,700

number of jobs

$59,770

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Subscribe to
© 2025 Kent State University All rights reserved.