Blinn College Physical Therapist Assistant Program's perfect graduation and licensure pass rates reflect a commitment to student success
Program has maintained a 100% licensure pass rate since 2013 and 100% matriculation to graduation rate since 2016
December 14, 2020
After 24 years as a dancer, Kingwood native Ruth Lee was no stranger to the benefits of physical therapy. When her own treatment inspired a passion to enter the field, Lee chose the Blinn College District’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program and its perfect graduation and licensure pass rates.
“Everyone I talked to said Blinn is the top physical therapy assistant school in Texas,” Lee said. “With my first interview, I knew this is where I wanted to go. They have high standards, they have that 100% pass rate, and I knew the program would help me become a benefit to the field.”
For the past eight years, Blinn PTA graduates like Lee have posted a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), the test that must be completed successfully to practice in the United States. In addition, the program has maintained a 100% matriculation to graduation rate since 2016, meaning every student who has entered the program has gone on to successfully graduate.
“We have made it a goal to creatively and intentionally work with every student in the program to ensure that they have a great career ahead of them and become compassionate caregivers,” said Blinn’s PTA Program Director Dr. Christy Gantt. “Alumni like Ms. Lee reflect the enthusiasm, leadership, and training we try to instill in all of our students through in-depth coursework and extensive simulation in the lab.”
After completing Blinn’s program in 2019, Lee pursued a specialization in women’s health, culminating in her recent relocation to Rhode Island for her dream position as a women’s health physical therapist. She credits her experience at Blinn and the dedication of her instructors with setting her on this course.
“Blinn’s instructors made sure we knew that they cared about us and what we were going to become as therapists,” Lee said. “My training did a great job of preparing me for the licensure exam and for real life.”
Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, Blinn’s PTA Program is a two-year program that instructs students in various treatment procedures, including rehabilitation techniques, therapeutic exercises, and patient training and education.
PTAs help people of all ages with medical issues or health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Among their responsibilities, PTAs teach patients exercises to improve mobility, strength, and coordination; train patients to walk with crutches, canes, or walkers; and provide treatments, such as ultrasound, electrical stimulation, heat, cold, and massage.
“Physical Therapist Assistants are licensed medical professionals,” said Jay Anderson, Vice Chancellor of Health Sciences, Technical Education, and Community Programs. “Their role is to encourage personal empowerment and assist their patients in overcoming physical barriers.”
The Blinn PTA Program is located at the RELLIS Academic Complex Building I at the RELLIS Campus. Part of a 16,000-square-foot health sciences simulation center, Blinn’s physical therapy lab provides students with innovative instruction and training. Through the physical therapy lab, students have the opportunity to put their coursework into practice immediately through hands-on simulation. Blinn students also participate in clinical rotations to gain experience prior to graduation.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national demand for PTAs is expected to grow 29% between 2019 and 2029, creating an additional 43,000 new jobs with a median salary of $48,990 per year.
Jobs abound in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, education or research centers, schools, hospices, workplace environments, fitness centers, sports training facilities, and military settings.
The 2021 application cycle for Blinn’s PTA Program opens on January 1. To learn more about the program, visit www.blinn.edu/physical-therapist-assistant.
