Jul. 8—Lakeland Community College officials this month announced that the school's physical therapist assistant program has received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
The agency is nationally recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Led by full-time faculty members Laurie Daigle and Kimberley Blauch, the PTA program prepares graduates for a career as licensed physical therapist assistants 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, officials confirmed.
Lakeland first introduced the five-semester PTA program in 2022.
There are currently 10 students enrolled in the program, Daigle noted, adding the program is a welcome addition to the many health technologies programs offered.
"By receiving this accreditation, the PTA program aims to increase its enrollment to the allotted size of 20 students per year, beginning the technical portion (of the program) every January, and to produce graduates who provide exceptional physical therapy services in the region," she said.
"The first cohort of students earning the associate of applied science in physical therapist assisting degree graduated in (the) spring," Daigle added. "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."
The "long and laborious process" began with the hiring of a program director.
Daigle said the self-study report, 115 pages long, covers a comprehensive array of topics, including a detailed proposed curriculum, detailed course objectives aligned with accreditation requirements, college resources, thorough policies and faculty competency.
"The result wasn't a surprise, but the program did receive a commendation from the commission, for the thorough, succinct and professional accreditation process," she added. "This commendation speaks not only to the work of the PTA faculty but also to the quality of the college as a whole."
Those interested in becoming a Lakeland student to pursue a PTA degree can now apply at lakelandcc.edu/pta to start the program next spring.
Lakeland offers a wide variety of financial aid, plus scholarships and grants, including the Choose Ohio First Scholarship for qualified students.
For more information, contact Program Director Laurie Daigle at ldaigle1@lakelandcc.edu.