Blinn College Physical Therapist Assistant Program posts perfect licensure pass rate for the eighth consecutive year

Based at the RELLIS Campus, Blinn’s 60-credit-hour PTA Program prepares students for employment in high-demand healthcare field

November 19, 2021

Like many students in the Blinn College District’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, a personal recovery experience drew second-year student Taylor Tschirhart to the field.

“I underwent physical therapy in high school after I had surgery and I fell in love with it,” Tschirhart said. “If you have a good experience, you want to go back and give that good experience to other people.”

After a visit to the Blinn PTA Program’s new lab space at the RELLIS Campus, Tschirhart knew she had found the right place to pursue her goals.

“The lab is set up similar to an outpatient physical therapy clinic,” Tschirhart said. “It is also right next to the nursing labs so you can pop over there to gain experience like you would at a hospital.”

In addition to its top-notch facilities, Blinn’s PTA Program has helped students like Tschirhart post a 100% first-attempt pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for the past eight years. The program has maintained a 100% employment rate since 2019.

“We are extremely proud of our perfect licensure pass rates and the employment success of our graduates,” PTA Program Interim Director Kelly Yendrey said. “Students are the driving force behind this program and our faculty go above and beyond to make sure they are supported and receive the best training available to embark on successful and meaningful careers.”

Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, Blinn’s two-year program 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.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the national demand for PTAs is expected to grow 32% between 2020 and 2030, creating an additional 44,900 new jobs with a median salary of $49,970 per year.

The Blinn PTA Program is located at the RELLIS Academic Alliance Complex at the RELLIS Campus in Bryan. 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.

Tschirhart initially thought she would apply her skills to sports medicine, but after a recent clinical rotation at a local hospital, she is considering a shift to acute care.

“Each day goes by so fast,” Tschirhart said. “What I love about being a PTA is working so closely with patients and providing them with treatment. I really enjoy the patient interaction and watching and helping them get better.”

The 100% job placement rate of Blinn program graduates is a testament to the variety of jobs available. PTAs can gain employment in 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 2022 application cycle for Blinn’s PTA Program opens on Jan. 1. To learn more about the program, visit www.blinn.edu/physical-therapist-assistant.