Mendocino College is pleased to announce the upcoming application period for the second year of its Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program. The application period will be open from August 15 until October 15, 2020 and students accepted into the program will begin their studies in January of 2021. Admission to the program will be based on the results of a random, computer generated lottery system. All qualified applicants will be included in the lottery.

“When I heard that Mendocino College was opening up a PTA program, I was overjoyed,” said current PTA student Matt Arlich. “The nearest college with an accredited PTA program when I applied was either in Sacramento or Oakland. I was unable to come up with a way to commute, work, and pay the bills for my wife and I. I have always wanted a career where I am helping others and making a difference in their lives, and I cannot wait to start!” 

"We are preparing future PTAs to be an active part of a dynamic profession. This program is a great opportunity to earn a living wage while providing a needed service in the healthcare field," says Program Director Sara Bogner.

PTAs provide Physical Therapy (PT) services under the direction and supervision of a licensed PT. PT is a dynamic profession full of variety, activity, and human interaction. PTs and PTAs are movement experts who help to relieve pain, prevent disability, and restore the basic movements that we take for granted every day by improving balance, posture, strength, and flexibility. PTAs are an integral part of the healthcare industry and work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, sports facilities, and more.

Even with current social distancing requirements due to COVID-19, the program has been able to continue without interruption because the curriculum is delivered through both online and limited face to face meetings.

“During the COVID-19 crisis, our instructors and faculty at Mendocino College have come up with clever and creative ways for us to finish our labs online,” said Arlich. “They would spend countless hours recording videos to assist us with our skill checks, and thanks to Zoom, we were all able to still meet up together as a group online.”

"The hybrid model of the Mendocino College PTA Program, with many of our courses already taught online, allowed us to make a smooth transition into online learning during these challenging times,” stated Bogner. “Students have successfully completed the first semester of this new program, and we continue to develop innovative teaching strategies as we prepare for the fall. It is truly exciting to see these students learn and grow as they develop their knowledge and skills in the field of physical therapy.”

For more information about the Mendocino College Physical Therapist Assistant Program and accreditation status, visit www.mendocino.edu/PTA or contact the Program Director, Sara Bogner, PT, MS PT at: sbogner@mendocino.edu.