If yes, you should strongly consider a career as a physical therapist assistant. Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist helping people of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Care provided by a PTA may include teaching patients/clients exercise for mobility, strength and coordination, training for activities such as walking with crutches, canes or walkers, massage and the use of physical agents and electrotherapies such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
CT State's PTA curriculum is challenging yet exciting. After you graduate, you'll be prepared to enter one of the most promising and rewarding career fields in health care. See our frequently asked questions for more information about the program.
Curriculum
See learning outcomes and required courses for the Physical Therapist program.
Selective Admissions
Physical Therapist Assistant is a selective admissions program. To be accepted, you must meet additional requirements beyond general acceptance to the college.
Program Information and Resources
If you are interested in the Naugatuck Valley program, please attend an information session sponsored by the Naugatuck Valley campus. If you are interested in the Norwalk program, please attend an information session sponsored by the Norwalk campus. All on-campus information sessions at the Norwalk campus will be held in W005/PTA lab.
Learn More About Your Campus Program
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is available at the Naugatuck Valley and Norwalk campuses. Learn more about each program below.
Naugatuck Valley Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Resources
- Student Manual of Academic and Clinical Policies for the Naugatuck Valley PTA Program
- Observation Hours Description
- Observation Hours Log
- Technical Standards, Naugatuck Valley PTA Program
- Complaint Form
- Naugatuck Valley PTA Program Information Sheet
- Naugatuck Valley PTA Information Session
- PTA Program Financial Fact Sheet 2024-25
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at CT State Naugatuck Valley is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), American Physical Therapy Association, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email:
With respect to code 668.43 (a)(5)(v), the program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:
CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
Program Effectiveness Data
As a PTA student at CT State Naugatuck Valley, your two-year curriculum starts in January and concludes the following December. Admission to the program is selective and competitive; up to 30 students are admitted per cohort.
- Ultimate National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Pass Rates
- Two-year Average: 96.7%
- Class of 2022 (cohort beginning spring 2021): 94.1%
- Class of 2023 (cohort beginning spring 2022): 100%
- Two-year Average: 96.7%
- First-Time NPTE Pass Rates
- Two-year Average: 93.3%
- Class of 2022 (cohort beginning spring 2021): 88.2%
- Class of 2023 (cohort beginning spring 2022): 100%
- Employment Rates:
- Two-year Average: 100%,
- Class of 2022 (cohort beginning spring 2021): 100%
- Class of 2023 (cohort beginning spring 2022): 100%
- Two-year Average: 100%,
- Graduation Rates*:
- Two-year Average: 88%
- Class of 2022 (cohort beginning spring 2021): 100%
- Class of 2023 (cohort beginning spring 2022): 76%
- Two-year Average: 88%
*as reported to CAPTE
Norwalk Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Contact
Jennifer Bresnick
Program Director
Phone: 203-857-7198
Email: jennifer.bresnick@ctstate.edu
Denise Walsh
Program Advisor
Phone: 203-857-7120
Email: denise.walsh@ctstate.edu
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at CT State Norwalk is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), American Physical Therapy Association, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 203-857-7198 or email jennifer.bresnick@ctstate.edu.
With respect to code 668.43 (a)(5)(v), the program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following:
CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.
Program Effectiveness Data
- Ultimate National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) Pass Rates
- Two-year average: 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2019 (graduating by May 2022): 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2020 (graduating by May 2023): 100%
- First-Time NPTE Pass Rate
- Two-year average: 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2019 (graduating by May 2022): 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2020 (graduating by May 2023): 100%
- Our Students' Employment Rates
- Two-year average: 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2019 (graduating by May 2022): 100%
- Cohort beginning fall 2020 (graduating by May 2023): 100%
- Graduation Rates
- Two-year average: 69.5%
- Cohort beginning fall 2019 (graduating by May 2022): 82%
- Cohort beginning fall 2020 (graduating by May 2023): 58%
Additional Information
Complaints regarding the program may be received by any staff or faculty member within the program. Staff and faculty are charged with attempting to resolve that complaint within their capabilities. If they are unable to resolve the complaint immediately, or it falls outside the scope of the person receiving the complaint, it should be brought to the attention of the program director.
Any serious complaint from any source shall be logged by the program director. The program director shall take complete information from the source of the complaint, and preside over the complaint until a solution is obtained and implemented. It shall be the policy of the program to swiftly implement solutions that benefit all parties whenever possible.
All facts and events with regard to the complaint shall be documented. The source of the complaint shall be offered the opportunity to complete a complaint form to describe the complaint in his or her own words. All staff and faculty are authorized to offer a complaint form to the source of the complaint. Completed forms must be given to the program director as soon as possible. The program director shall keep all complaint forms on file in a secure location.
Clinical Education Sites
Any complaint from a clinical education site may be received by any staff or faculty member, but must be brought to the attention of the ACCE and program director as soon as possible. The ACCE shall handle the complaint as outlined above.
Clinical sites shall be informed that their complaints will be taken seriously by the program and handled appropriately. Whenever possible, solutions that benefit all parties involved shall be the goal of all complaint resolutions.
Employers of Graduates
Any complaint from an employer of a graduate of the program may be received by any staff or faculty member, but must be brought to the attention of the program director as soon as possible. The program director shall handle the complaint as outlined above.
It shall be the policy of the program to periodically survey employers of graduates to gather information in accordance with CAPTE regulations. Staff or faculty involved in this process shall inquire as to whether employers of graduates have any complaints regarding the program.
The General Public
Any complaint from a member of the general public may be received by any staff or faculty member, but must be brought to the attention of the program director as soon as possible. The program director shall handle the complaint as outlined above.
Other Sources
Complaints received from sources other than the aforementioned groups shall be treated in the same general manner.
Please contact us at any time with regard to complaints about the PTA program.
Jennifer W. Bresnick, PT, DPT, MPT
Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
- Masters of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
- Bachelor of Arts in Communications, Marist College, Poughkeepsie, NY
- Associate of Science in Allied Health, Howard Community College, Columbia, MD
- Dr. Bresnick’s ePortfolio
Dr. Bresnick earned a master's degree in Physical Therapy and a doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Maryland at Baltimore. Prior to that, she attended Marist College, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a concentration in public relations.
Dr. Bresnick’s clinical experience is in inpatient facilities, including hospitals and skilled nursing facilities, in the Baltimore and Boston areas. Special interests and experience include wound care, post-operative total joint care and geriatrics.
Dr. Bresnick is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and served on the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Physical Therapy Association for seven years. She is an APTA-Credentialed Clinical Instructor.
Dr. Bresnick is the inaugural director of the PTA program at NCC, having started in this position in 2007. The program was successfully accredited in April 2011.
Dr. Bresnick lives in Shelton with her husband and two daughters. She enjoys skiing, hiking, and, oddly, computer programming and web design.
L. Roger Silva, PT, DPT
Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
- Masters of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine, St. Augustine, FL
- Bachelor of Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA
Dr. Silva graduated from the University of Massachusetts, in Amherst, MA, with a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science in 1996. He also received his Massage Therapy degree from the Massage Institute of New England in Boston, MA, in 1997. In 1998, while pursuing his dream of being a physical therapist, Dr. Silva enrolled at the Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies, in the school’s first Master of Physical Therapy Program. After completing the first semester of studying with the medical students, Dr. Silva returned to the mainland and enrolled at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, FL. There, he earned his Master's and Doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy in 2000 and 2001, respectively.
Upon graduation, Dr. Silva practiced in various outpatient physical therapy facilities in the Fairfield County area. He enjoyed working with patients of all ages, but his specialty included treating young athletes recovering from orthopedic sports injuries and post-operative joint replacement. As a Certified Manual Therapist, his treatments focused on joint and soft-tissue manual therapy and functional training exercises.
In 2009 Dr. Silva joined the staff at Norwalk Community College (now CT State Norwalk) in the newly developed Physical Therapist Assistant Program. Dr. Silva is involved in both the didactic and clinical components of the program. He is the lead instructor in six PTA courses and is the Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education (ACCE) for the program, where he coordinates and manages the student internship placements in various in-state and out-of-state Physical Therapy facilities, such as hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools, private practice, etc.
Dr. Silva lives in Norwalk with his wife and 2 children. His interests include sports (hockey, soccer, and golf), traveling and spending time with his family and friends.
Katherine Robshaw-Turnbull, PT, DPT, MS
Adjunct Faculty
- Doctor of Physical Therapy, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
- Advanced Masters, Adult Neurology, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, SUNY Health Science Center, Brooklyn, NY
- Bachelor of Science in Liberal Arts, SUNY at Stony Brook, NY
Dr. Robshaw-Turnbull graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Downstate Medical Center in 1992 and continued my education with an advanced Master's from Long Island University with a concentration in Adult Neurology and ultimately with a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Long Island University. She has been teaching since 1998 as an adjunct instructor at Hunter College, Long Island University, Columbia University and Touro College. She took over as the Chairperson of the PTA program at Touro College in 2006 and then became the Associate Director of the DPT program at Touro College in 2009. After leaving Touro College, she began teaching at Norwalk Community College (now CT State Norwalk) in the fall of 2010 for the PTA program. Her clinical expertise is in adult neurology, with experience in outpatient, acute care, inpatient rehabilitation and subacute care.
Denise Totura, PT, MSPT
Laboratory Assistant
Denise Totura graduated from New York University in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy. She completed an advanced Master’s degree in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy from Long Island University in 1991.
Ms. Totura worked at the Hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopaedic Institute for over five years. She then worked as a clinician and administrator at two different outpatient facilities. Her clinical expertise is in orthopedics and geriatrics.
Since moving to Fairfield County over 10 years ago, she has worked as a homecare PT at Visiting Nurse Services of Connecticut. She is a member of the APTA.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs help people of all ages who have medical problems, or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Care provided by a PTA may include teaching patients/clients exercise for mobility, strength and coordination, training for activities such as walking with crutches, canes, or walkers, massage, and the use of physical agents and electrotherapies such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation.
The national median income for a physical therapist assistant is $66,503, depending on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location, and practice setting. According to salary.com, in CT, PTAs earn, on average, $71,403.
PTAs provide health care services to patients of all ages and health conditions in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics or offices, hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing, extended care or subacute facilities, patient’s homes, education or research centers, schools, hospices, industrial, workplace or other occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities.
Physical therapist assistants must complete a two-year education program, typically offered through a community or junior college. Candidates receive an associate’s degree upon graduation. The course of study usually includes one year of general education and one year of technical courses on physical therapy procedures and clinical experience.
PTAs are licensed or certified in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Licensure or certification is required in each state/jurisdiction in which a PTA works and must be renewed regularly (APTA.org).
According to the bureau of labor and statistics, PTAs are one of the top ten fastest growing occupations. Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014.
The PTA degree program at CT State Community College consists of general and technical education requirements. General education requirements include but are not limited to, courses in anatomy and physiology, psychology or arts and humanities and English. In technical education courses, you will learn about kinesiology, pathophysiology and therapeutic exercise for rehabilitation.
High school diploma, GED or equivalent, successful completion of math and English placement exams (and/or prerequisites identified by the placement exams), General or Cell Biology with a C+ or better, Statistics, ENG 1001 and PSY 1111 with a C or better. Please speak with your PTA program faculty for more information.
Upon completion of the program, graduates receive an associate of science. With your degree, you are eligible to sit for the national licensure exam. More than 40 states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. The state of Connecticut requires PTAs to be licensed after passing the national exam. Check with the state you plan to work in to find out specific requirements.
Even if all of the general education courses are completed prior to the technical phase, the PTA program courses are considered full-time work given the time commitment, rigor and psychomotor skills that need to be acquired. There may be multiple lab courses each semester. While not full-time credits, the PTA technical phase is considered a full-time program.
To become a PT, you must earn a bachelor's degree in a health science field and then a doctorate in physical therapy from an accredited institution, which typically takes 6-7 years. PTs perform patient/client examinations and evaluations, which lead to a diagnosis, prognosis and plan of care. The PTA follows the plan of care, working under the direction and supervision of a PT. Courses from an associate-level PTA degree do not typically transfer to a graduate-level PT program. However, general education courses, such as math and English, will count toward the bachelor’s degree required for admission to a PT program.