Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Dr. Cindy Vaccarino, DPT, Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Hodges University
The path to becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) varies, but the passion for helping others enjoy their lives more is a shared thread. Those who pursue a career as a PTA have a few additional things in common: an interest in health, the outdoors, sports, or an active lifestyle.
Becoming a PTA combines that passion for helping others with lifestyle interests for a career that is rewarding. The name of the program may be a little misleading with the word “assistant.” PTAs are very much involved in the planning and care of their patients, from that first meeting to the last session.
PTAs work under the direction of a licensed physical therapist. Like a PT, the PTA works closely with their patients to help them reach their goal. That could mean regaining full range of motion after shoulder injury or surgery, walking without crutches or a walker, to regaining mobility and strength for an athlete.
I can say firsthand that the feeling you get when you see your patient reach their goal is incredibly satisfying. It’s something that never gets old. From where your patient starts, the hard work it takes to make progress, and yes, there can be setbacks too, but when they reach their goal and you see the smile on their faces, it’s inspiring.
The journey to become a PTA is a goal you can achieve in less than two years. Our program at Hodges University is intense, and you do work hard, but you have the support of your instructors, and the comradery of your classmates, to help you along the way. Our instructors are all experts in the field, so our students learn even more than what’s taught in class. We have two, modern labs that are equipped with all that that students need to practice what they learn. From there, they do clinical rotations at area hospitals and physical therapy centers. All of this is done to prepare them for their license exam, and give them the knowledge, skills, and confidence to make a positive impact on their patients’ lives.
Overall, our students pass the license exam on the first try at an average rate of 94 percent. I’m proud to say that our most recent graduating class accomplished this at 100 percent. And 100 percent of our graduates are working in the field within a year of graduating.
The need for PTAs on a national level is exponential. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary for a PTA in Florida is nearly $65,000, and the demand for PTAs is expected to grow 26 percent through the year 2031. That’s over 25,500 jobs!
In two years or less, you could be helping others improve their lives as a PTA. You can learn more about our program by visiting Hodges.edu, calling (239) 938-7744 or visiting our campus on the corner of Colonial and Winkler in Fort Myers.
239-938-7744 | Hodges.edu
