Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) are technically skilled health care providers who work under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist (PT). PTAs assist the PT in the treatment of individuals of all ages with a variety of medical problems or health-related conditions that result in loss of mobility or ability to perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs can find employment within local and surrounding hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities, home health companies, outpatient and sports clinics, and schools.
Effective April 29, 2025, Washington State College of Ohio 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: accreditationsupport@apta.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 740-885-5700 or email kvandergrift@wscc.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 courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website).
The program will begin accepting applications, complete the selection process, and notify students of acceptance into the technical phase of the program. The technical phase will begin in the fall semester [August 18, 2025] and conclude in the summer semester the next year [July 24, 2026]. During this time, the program will continue working toward achievement of initial accreditation. The expected timing of CAPTE’s decision to grant accreditation is expected in November or December of 2026, which occurs after program completion and graduation. Because Candidacy is considered an accredited status, the students completing the program as part of the charter cohort will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam for the PTA and for state licensure. The first test date scheduled after graduation is October 6 and 7, 2026.
Physical Therapist Assistant ProgramClinical Instructors, employers, employees of affiliating clinical facilities, patients, students, and the public are encouraged to discuss any issues regarding the PTA program with the Program Director or the Director of Clinical Education.
Program Director: Dr. Kimberly Vandergrift
Email: kvandergrift@wscc.edu
Phone: 740-885-5700
Director of Clinical Education: Dr. Kelsey Mullen
Email: kmullen@wscc.edu
Phone: 740-885-5629
If the individual has done so and/or is not comfortable doing so, an electronic form is available on the WSCO homepage https://www.wsco.edu/ , near the bottom under Contact Info [Submit Complaint]. WSWCO forbids retaliation against anyone for reporting of any complaints.
If needing to file a complaint with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), email accreditationsupport@apta.org or call 1-800-999-APTA.
PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT PROGRAM
PROGRAM ACCEPTANCE/MATRICULATION RATES
| YEAR | # OF APPLICANTS |
# OF ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS |
# OF STUDENTS OFFERED A SEAT |
# OF STUDENTS THAT STARTED |
| 2025 | 19 | 8 (42%) | 8 (100%) | 7 (87.5%) |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
PROGRAM OUTCOMES
| YEAR | GRADUATION RATE | NPTE PASS RATE
[FIRST TIME] |
NPTE PASS RATE
[ULTIMATE] |
NPTE PASS RATE
[2-year average] |
NATIONAL AVERAGE
[First time and Ultimate] |
EMPLOYMENT RATE |
| 2026 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
*First cohort starts August 18, 2025; First Cohort finishes July 24, 2026
Updated July 9, 2025; January 21, 2026
Definitions
Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who are matriculated in the first course in the professional program after the drop/add period and who completed the program. [Benchmark: 60% averaged over 2 years] [CAPTE Standard 1C1]
NPTE Pass Rate-First Time: The percentage of students in a graduating class that took the NPTE and passed on the first attempt. [CAPTE Standard 1C2]
NPTE Pass Rate-Ultimate: The percentage of students in a graduating class that took the NPTE and passed, no matter how many attempts it took. [Benchmark: 85% averaged over 2 years] [CAPTE Standard 1C2] [FSBPT]
NPTE Pass Rate-2 Year Average: The weighted average based on the ultimate pass rates and number of graduates in 2 graduation years. [CAPTE Standard 1C2] [FSBPT]
NPTE National Average: National averages for first time candidates and ultimately passing graduates for US accredited PTA programs. [FSBPT]
Employment Rate: The percentage of graduates who sought employment that were employed (full-time or part-time) as a physical therapist assistant within 1 year following graduation. [Benchmark: 90% averaged over 2 years] [CAPTE Standard 1C3]
CAPTE: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education; Standards and Required Elements for Physical Therapist Assistant Education Programs, 2024
FSBPT: Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
View course pathway here.
To learn more:
Admissions
740.568.1900
admissions@wscc.edu
Health Sciences office
740.885.5648
Dr. Kim Vandergrift, PTA EdD
PTA Program Director
740.885.5700
kvandergrift@wscc.edu
Schedule a time with a Student Success Coach
https://appointments.wsco.edu/
Text 740.847.2611
Email healthprograms@wscc.edu
Application Deadlines
Submission Dates: January 4, 2027 to June 4, 2027
Application Deadline: June 4, 2027***
***Acceptance decisions after the deadline
Information Packet
Physical Therapist Assistant Information Packet
Technology Use and Requirements for the PTA Program
PTA Program-Financial Fact Sheet 2026
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