Lakeland faculty member Deepesh Dani, PT, DPT instructs PTA students on applying electrical stimulation for muscle strengthening.

Lakeland is pleased to announce the recent accreditation of its physical therapist assistant (PTA) program by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Led by full-time faculty membersLaurie Daigle, PT, MAandKimberley Blauch, PT, DPT, the PTA program prepares graduates for a career as a licensed physical therapist assistant, to help individuals of all ages maximize mobility and decrease pain and other limitations. Students who graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program may sit for the national licensure exam.

Lakeland first introduced the five-semester PTA program in January 2022. The program is a welcome addition to the many health technologies programs offered at Lakeland. A new cohort of 20 students begin the technical portion of the program every January.

“The first cohort of students earning the Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assisting degree graduated in spring 2023,” says Daigle, PTA program director at Lakeland. “We are excited to add Lakeland graduates to the area’s physical therapy workforce. These graduates are passionate, caring and highly skilled. They will have a profound effect on the community and in health care.”

If you are interested in becoming a Lakeland student to pursue a PTA degree, apply to Lakeland for the opportunity to start the PTA program spring 2024. Lakeland has a wide variety of financial aid available, plus scholarships and grants including the Choose Ohio First Scholarship for qualified students.

Learn more about our program and apply at lakelandcc.edu/pta, or contact program director Laurie Daigle at ldaigle1@lakelandcc.edu.

By: Adam Continenza, Marketing & Communications Specialist