Physical Therapist Assistant Student Testimonials from the Front Lines of Rehabilitation

If you are thinking about becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant, you are looking at a career where you can truly help people. Physical Therapist Assistants, also called PTAs, work with physical therapists to help patients recover from injuries, surgery, illness, and other health conditions.

At Central Penn College, students in the Physical Therapist Assistant program are preparing for careers in clinics, hospitals, and rehabilitation centers across Central Pennsylvania.

Here is what some of our students have to say about their experience.

Inspired by Family

After watching her mom go through physical therapy, Rosana Garcia became interested in becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant.

Garcia said she expected to encounter difficult material while studying to be a PTA, but she said she didn’t expect the in-depth knowledge she has, and she is grateful for her choice. Garcia feels that her experience at Central Penn has properly prepared her for working in the field, and that she has been supported through her time at the college. The 18-month program caught her eye because she didn’t want a long-term school commitment.

Learning More Than Memorizing

Melanie Rutt became interested in health care after a service mission trip where she saw children with disabilities receiving physical therapy. Now she is learning how the body works and how disease and injury affect movement.

“I like how I am not just given information and expected to memorize it,” Rutt said. “They want us to know why things work the way they do and use critical thinking.”

Finding the Right Career

Noah Cleck explored different careers before deciding to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. As part of the program requirements, he completed observation hours in physical therapy clinics.

“On my first day there, something clicked, and I could imagine doing this for the rest of my life and be happy with it,” Cleck said.

Cleck said Central Penn’s smaller campus feels like a better fit for him as he works toward his degree.

Pushed to Do His Best

Seth Little has always been interested in anatomy and how the human body works. That interest led him to the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

“I feel like I’ve definitely been pushed to my limits and found that I am able to overcome the difficulty of it,” he said.

He said resources like The Learning HUB and the PTA lab have helped him succeed in the program.

Turning Injury Into Inspiration

Landon Burns experienced physical therapy after sports injuries when he was younger. That experience helped him decide to pursue a career in health care. Now he is enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant program and plans to work in a clinical setting after graduation.

Fast and Career Focused

Central Penn College offers the only Physical Therapist Assistant program in Central Pennsylvania.

Students can choose:

Day classes for six terms plus an internship

Evening classes for seven terms plus an internship

All classes run in accelerated 11-week terms. Students can earn their associate degree in just 18 months.

Nearly 100 percent of Central Penn College Physical Therapist Assistant graduates find jobs in the field after graduation.

Physical Therapist Assistants play an important role in helping patients heal and regain strength and movement. At Central Penn College, students gain hands-on experience and the confidence they need to begin a rewarding career in health care.

This blog was created using excerpts from the original article by Central Penn College student Jules Quare. Read her full story here: