The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at Stark State prepares students to work under licensed physical therapists to help patients recover mobility, manage pain, and improve daily functioning through hands-on treatments and therapeutic exercises. Students gain a mix of classroom, lab, and clinical experience and, upon graduation, are eligible to take required licensure exams to begin working in healthcare settings supporting patient rehabilitation and education.
Major code: 3150 Pre-code: 3151 Health and Public Services Division Therapy & Wellness Programs Department
The catalog in force is assigned to students based on the academic year they first applied to the college, and changes only when students change their major or request the change in writing. Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-28.
2026-27 Catalog
Effective Summer 2026
Some courses listed within the program may require a prerequisite or co-requisite.
Pre/Co-requisites will be listed within each course hyperlink below.
Refer to Policy No. 3357:15-13-04 and 3357:15-13-05
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Technical | ||
| PTA118 | Principles of Patient Care | 4 |
| PTA119 | Professional Values and Ethics | 1 |
| PTA120 | Introduction to Orthopedics | 3 |
| PTA125 | Professional Clinical Practice for the Physical Therapy Assistant | 1 |
| PTA126 | Pathophysiology | 1 |
| PTA128 | PTA Procedures I Clinical Interventions | 4 |
| PTA136 | Neurological Foundations for Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PTA138 | Data Collection | 3 |
| PTA224 | PTA Procedures II Orthopedics | 3 |
| PTA225 | PTA Procedures II Neurologic | 4 |
| PTA228 | Seminar I | 1 |
| PTA230 | Seminar II | 1 |
| PTA247 | Clinical Experience I | 1 |
| PTA248 | Multisystems | 2 |
| PTA257 | Clinical Experience II | 1 |
| PTA267 | Clinical Experience III | 2 |
| Non-technical | ||
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| BIO123 | Principles of Human Structure and Function (lab) 1,2 | 5 |
| BIO124 | Human Diseases | 3 |
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| EXS110 | Anatomy of Exercise | 4 |
| EXS120 | Exercise Applications | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Math for Allied Health | ||
| Statistics 3,4 | ||
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PSY123 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PTA110 | Therapy Science | 2 |
| PTA111 | Personal Health and Wellness | 1 |
| Total Hours | 65 | |
- 1
BIO121 Anatomy and Physiology I and BIO122 Anatomy and Physiology II can be substituted for BIO123 Principles of Human Structure and Function.
- 2
“B” or better in BIO101 Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology or High School Biology (must be within 5 years)
- 3
MTH124 Statistics should only be taken by students planning to transfer to a four-year institution.
- 4
MTH125 College Algebra can be substituted for MTH124 Statistics.
Full-time Student Advising Notes
Academic Advising
Students should make an appointment to see their advisor before registering for classes each semester. They should have prepared a completed registration form, including courses they wish to take, prior to this meeting.
Course Sequence
The semester-by-semester listing below provides the normal scheduling option for full-time associate degree students who plan to finish in two years.
| First Semester | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| SSC101 | Student Success Seminar | 1 |
| BIO123 | Principles of Human Structure and Function 1,2 | 5 |
| EXS110 | Anatomy of Exercise | 4 |
| PTA110 | Therapy Science | 2 |
| PTA111 | Personal Health and Wellness | 1 |
| PTA118 | Principles of Patient Care | 4 |
| PTA119 | Professional Values and Ethics | 1 |
| Hours | 18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| ENG124 | College Composition | 3 |
| EXS120 | Exercise Applications | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Math for Allied Health | ||
| Statistics 3,4 | ||
| PTA120 | Introduction to Orthopedics | 3 |
| PTA128 | PTA Procedures I Clinical Interventions | 4 |
| PTA126 | Pathophysiology | 11 |
| Hours | 27 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| BIO124 | Human Diseases | 3 |
| PSY121 | General Psychology | 3 |
| PTA125 | Professional Clinical Practice for the Physical Therapy Assistant | 1 |
| PTA136 | Neurological Foundations for Rehabilitation | 2 |
| PTA138 | Data Collection | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fourth Semester | ||
| PSY123 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PTA224 | PTA Procedures II Orthopedics | 3 |
| PTA225 | PTA Procedures II Neurologic | 4 |
| PTA228 | Seminar I | 1 |
| PTA247 | Clinical Experience I | 1 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Fifth Semester | ||
| PTA230 | Seminar II | 1 |
| PTA248 | Multisystems | 2 |
| PTA257 | Clinical Experience II | 1 |
| PTA267 | Clinical Experience III | 2 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 75 | |
Minimum grade of “C” in all technical and non-technical courses in the program curriculum is required.
This program requires an application (separate from the College). Please see your advisor to discuss the application process.
Program Learning Outcomes
This program is designed to prepare students to demonstrate the following learning outcomes:
- Adhere to practices that are safe, ethical, and legal, and will provide competent treatments and data collection based upon the plan of care.
- Apply the knowledge to successfully complete Physical Therapist Assistant licensure examinations.
- Graduates will gain employment as a Physical Therapist Assistant.