CONTRIBUTED BY
SHONDAE BROWN / SUSCC
Southern Union State Community College is pleased to announce that its Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Accreditation from CAPTE signifies that the Southern Union PTA program meets or exceeds standards and criteria for educational quality in physical therapist assistant curriculum and prepares students to work successfully in the profession upon graduation.
PTA Program Director Dr. Jeff Leatherman, who spearheaded the efforts of the program’s accreditation, said he looks forward to the opportunities that the accreditation will bring to the program.
“This solidifies our commitment to excellence for the program and will make our students even more marketable as they start their careers,” Leatherman said. “Accreditation is a tedious process that requires a team effort and dedication to make it successful. I appreciate all the hard work that everyone put in to make this a reality.”
SUSCC’s PTA program is a two-year program that provides instruction in lecture, lab and clinical courses. The program is designed to allow students to enter the job market after graduation. The PTA program will celebrate its first graduating class this year. Leatherman, along with Clinical Coordinator Anne Hughes, have nothing but praise for their first class.
“I could not be more proud of our graduates,” Leatherman said. “They are a special group who has kept their focus and met their goals. We are proud to call them graduates of our program,”
Employment for Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow substantially over the next few years. There are employment opportunities for PTA’s in a variety of settings including hospitals, acute care and rehabilitation facilities, home health and outpatient clinics.
The next cohort of students has the opportunity to begin classes in January. PTA Orientation will be held on the Valley Campus Jan. 4, 2022, with classes starting the following day.
For more information on SUSCC’s PTA program, contact Leatherman (jleatherman@suscc.edu) or Hughes (ahughes@suscc.edu).