Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Degree
A CAPTE-accredited two-year associate degree that prepares you to support patients through physical rehabilitation — with classroom learning, lab work, and supervised clinical rotations.
Program Overview
At Shawnee State University, our Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree prepares you to support patients on their journey to recovery and improved mobility. As a PTA, you’ll work under the direction of a licensed physical therapist to assist individuals recovering from injury, surgery, or illness.
Whether you're launching your career or seeking a new direction, our PTA program equips you with the skills and credentials to make a difference in patients’ lives.
Career Outcomes
How to Apply
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Start your application
Free, takes about 15 minutes.
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Send transcripts
Have your high school guidance counselor send them to admissions@shawnee.edu
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Send Admissions your ACT/SAT scores
If you have a copy of your report, email it to admissions@shawnee.edu. Your high school counselor may also be able to include your ACT/SAT score on your transcript. You may also contact ACT or College Board to have your scores officially sent to Shawnee State. If you listed Shawnee State at the time that you took your test, we will receive your scores automatically.
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Submit the Selective Admission Application
Submit before the deadline to be considered.
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File the FAFSA
School code 009942. Required for Free Tuition.
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Get your decision
Most decisions in under 7 days.
Admission Requirements
This is a selective admissions program. To improve your chances of being accepted, review the requirements and schedule a meeting with an admissions advisor.
View program admission requirements
At A Glance
Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Degree
Degree
A.A.S.
Format
On campus, with clinical rotations at regional facilities
Length
Two years (five semesters) full-time
Class Size
12:1
Location
Main Campus, Health Sciences Building
Why Study Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Degree at Shawnee University
CAPTE-accredited and licensure-ready. Graduates qualify to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE).
Real clinical rotations at hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers across the region — coordinated by the program, not left to you to arrange.
Small classes and personal instruction. Faculty are licensed PT and PTA professionals who teach and advise the same students.
Affordable, with the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee locking your tuition for four years and Choose Ohio First scholarships available for qualifying healthcare students.
Recognized by the Carnegie Foundation as an Opportunity College — one of two public universities in Ohio with this designation.
The two-year curriculum sequences anatomy, kinesiology, and therapeutic skills with supervised clinical education.
- Anatomy and physiology
- Kinesiology
- Therapeutic exercise and modalities
- Rehabilitation techniques and patient care
- Pathology for physical therapy
- Professional issues and ethics in PT
- Multiple supervised clinical education rotations
You complete multiple supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers — coordinated by the program. Those rotations are how you build real clinical judgment and the confidence to step into a job after graduation.
Graduates of the PTA program are prepared to:
- Assist in implementing physical therapy interventions under a licensed PT's supervision
- Apply clinical reasoning and ethical decision-making in patient care
- Communicate clearly with patients, families, and healthcare teams
- Sit for and pass the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE)
On campus in Portsmouth, Ohio, in the Health Sciences Building, with clinical rotations at affiliated regional medical and rehabilitation facilities.
Graduates work as licensed PTAs in:
- Hospitals and rehabilitation centers
- Outpatient orthopedic and physical therapy clinics
- Home health agencies
- Skilled nursing and long-term care facilities
- Schools and pediatric settings
- Sports medicine and athletic training settings
PTA is consistently rated among the fastest-growing healthcare roles in the country.
Free Tuition and Financial Aid
Shawnee State's tuition is among the lowest in Ohio, and the Shawnee Advantage Tuition Guarantee keeps your rate flat for four years. Scholarships including Choose Ohio First and the Pell-Eligible Free Tuition Program may also apply.
See if you Qualify for Free Tuition
Ohio students can apply to receive a $1,500 scholarship up to full-tuition when you apply and are accepted.
Learn More about Choose Ohio FirstPhysical Therapist Assistant Associate Degree Frequently Asked Questions
Two years (five semesters) of full-time study, with classroom instruction, lab work, and supervised clinical experiences sequenced together.
Yes. The program coordinates clinical education at affiliated hospitals, outpatient clinics, and rehabilitation centers.
An Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in Physical Therapist Assistant, and eligibility to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE) required for state licensure.
Admission is selective. See current prerequisites and application steps at shawnee.edu/areas-study/college-health-human-services/rehabilitation-sciences/physical-therapist-assistant/admission.
Mission Statement
The mission of the PTA Program is to provide higher education using broad-based learning
experiences and transforming therapeutic principles into competent clinical application,
communication, scientific reasoning, and logical reasoning to enrich lives in the
community.
The PTA program develops life-long learners to be professional and sensitive to the
ever-changing healthcare environment.
The PTA faculty prepare entry-level PTAs to collaborate with the PT in a variety of
settings and patient populations. This training prepares students for the National
Physical Therapy Assistant Examination (NPTAE), which is required for licensure.
PTA Expected Student Outcomes
The PTA graduate will:
- Demonstrate technical competence, sound clinical decision making skills, and provide safe and effective healthcare under the supervision of a physical therapist.
- Value caring and respect for the individual needs while acting in the best interest of the client in an ethical and safe manner within the scope of practice as defined by the profession and licensure requirements.
- Demonstrate a commitment to professional growth through life-long career development and learning in order to promote physical therapy to better serve communities and consumers.
Program handbook
Current PTA Student Handbook (Class of 2026) and PTA Policy and Procedure Manual is available below.
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Shawnee State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Telephone: (703) 706-3245
Email: accreditation@apta.org
Website: http://www.capteonline.org
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (740) 351-3428 or email rwalker@shawnee.edu.
Shawnee State University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
