The goal of the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Finlandia University is to enable the graduate to function effectively as a physical therapist assistant in any practice setting.
Finlandia is proud to offer the only PTA program in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Our fully equipped PTA lab focuses on hands-on learning and gives you the opportunity to work with modalities you would see in a clinical setting. Even with the distinction, Finlandia’s PTA program boasts a 6-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, ensuring you are taught using proper techniques and form when working with patients.
The healthcare industry in the U.P. is growing. Home health agencies are proliferating due to the large elderly population. Acute-care hospitals are changing to “systems”, which provide physical therapy at all levels. Nursing homes are seeking (often through contracts) skilled rehabilitation services.
Physical therapy is a profession within the healthcare industry which promotes optimal human health and function. The licensed physical therapist assistant applies scientific principles to prevent, identify, alleviate, correct, or reduce acute or prolonged movement dysfunction.
The accelerated PTA program gives exceptional students the choice to complete their degree in five semesters; two semesters of general education classes and three semesters of PTA technical training.
In addition to academic coursework, clinical education is a significant part of the physical therapist assistant’s education, helping you to apply the learned skills, professional behaviors and academic knowledge to the practice of physical therapy.
The FinnU PTA program has a strong clinical education component with an emphasis on rural healthcare experiences and flexible clinical locations. During clinical education, PTA students complete 14 weeks of full-time clinical experience at three different clinical affiliation sites, totaling 560 hours of on-site clinical experience before they graduate. You are required to gain exposure to diverse physical therapy settings and patient populations as well as multiple pathological conditions.
Students interested in advancing their associates degree into a bachelor’s degree, like Catlin, have the opportunity to enroll in Finlandia’s 2+2 completion degrees.
Tailored for students who have completed an associate degree in the physical therapist assistant program, the two-year BBA in either Healthcare Management or Sports Management builds a solid business background. This is a great option for student-athletes looking to compete in a sport while furthering their education.
This 2+2 program was designed specifically for students who are interested in continuing their education to obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy or Medical Doctor license. It has been carefully crafted so you can complete all pre-requisites for a DPT or Medical program while at Finlandia, saving you time and money.
Other PTA programs place students on a waitlist. Currently, the physical therapist assistant program does not have a waitlist. Once the January 1st application deadline has passed, we accept students on a space-available basis for the upcoming year. Interested students will then be placed on a one-year or two-year track provided all admission requirements have been met.
Another great benefit of a physical therapist assistant degree is the range of patient interaction experienced in the workforce. Unlike athletic trainers who work closely with athletes, physical therapist assistants tend to work with athletes and individuals of all ages with varying injuries and illnesses. Athletic trainers must also pursue a higher degree than a physical therapist assistant, which means a PTA degree can be completed in a shorter amount of time.
May 20, 2022
Finlandia University was recently named among the best for bachelor’s degrees in the State of Michigan in 2022 by University Headquarters.
Among the most important factors in the ranking system of University HQ is accreditation and the Higher Learning Commission provides that to Finlandia University with institutional accreditation. Physical Therapy Assistant and Nursing programs at Finlandia are also accredited. This is factored into ranking in addition to admission and retention rates, tuition costs, degree options and graduation rates. As a […] Read More
April 07, 2022
Applications are now being accepted for the Portage Health Foundation Scholarship opportunity to Finlandia University students studying healthcare and coming from Houghton, Keweenaw, Baraga or Ontonagon counties. The scholarship can be awarded to the same person for up to four years.
This scholarship is open to returning and incoming FinnU students.
If you would like to fill out a paper application instead, you can find that here:
Portage Health Foundation Finlandia Scholarship Application 2022
Portage Health Foundation Scholarship Eligibility Requirements origin […] Read MoreMarch 24, 2022
Massage by Donation is April 5!
Recently announced by FinnU Student PTA Club Advisor Sami Dowling, this year’s Massage by Donation event will be held from 3 – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 5. Students, faculty and staff are invited to attend.
Massage by Donation is both a fundraiser and an experiential learning opportunity for FinnU students. Money raised through the fundraiser will fund additional PTA Club events in the future while the students of PTA 235 Massage and Patient Handling […] Read More
Upon successful completion of the PTA program at Finlandia University, the PTA graduate will demonstrate the values and behaviors recognized by the APTA that most influence the PTA in providing safe, effective patient care as a member of the physical therapy team for the following:
We make the application process as easy as possible. The entire process is completely free.
Step One: Your first step is to apply for admission by filling out the free application at finlandia.edu/apply.
Step Two: Once accepted, you must fill out this PTA Program application (PDF) and submit it to Anne Halgren.
– Achieved a grade of 2.0 (C) (or above) in all prerequisite courses (listed below) completed to date (excluding BIO 171 & 172 or equivalent).
– Achieved a grade of 2.7 (B-) (or above) in BIO171 or equivalent and in BIO172 or equivalent.
– Achieved a cumulative 2.5 GPA in the required prerequisite courses completed to date.
– Most incoming freshmen will complete the PTA application during their time as a student. Some transfer students complete this prior to starting at FinnU. Please work with your admissions officer / PTA staff to determine the right timing for you.
– You must meet the minimum requirements (listed above), or be in the process of completing the minimum requirements, for admission. Your application will be considered only if you have completed all the minimum requirements or have completed BIO 171 (Anatomy & Physiology I) or an equivalent course and are registered in the remaining courses.
– The deadline for this application is January 1 of the year that you intend to enter the technical phase of the PTA program, not before a student begins at Finlandia. Those interested should apply early as there are a limited number of positions available in the PTA Program.
– Prerequisite courses include BIO171 Anat. / Physiology I (4 credits), BIO172 Anat. / Physiology II (4), ENG103 College English I (3), ENG104 College English II (3) Religion/Finnish Elective (3), MAT144 Quantitative Reasoning (4) (or above), PHL212 Ethics: Theory & Practice (3), PSY101 Introductory Psychology (3), HSC112 Medical Terminology (1) *PTA101 Intro to P.T. (1) and **UNS115 Sisu Seminar (1).
– *PTA 101 Introduction to Physical Therapy may be taken concurrently with first semester PTA classes. However, because of the demands of the PTA program, it is highly recommended it be taken as a prerequisite.
** Required for students with less than 24 earned college-level credits
Class | Graduation Rates | Employment Rates of graduates, who sought employment, that were employed (full-time or part-time) as PTAs within 1 year of graduation (2 year averages) |
---|---|---|
1998/1999 | 94% | 94% |
1999/2000 | 88% | 100% |
2000/2001 | 88% | 100% |
2001/2002 | 89% | 100% |
2002/2003 | 88% | 100% |
2003/2004 | 90% | 100% |
2004/2005 | 96% | 100% |
2005/2006 | 90% | 100% |
2006/2007 | 90% | 100% |
2007/2008 | 97% | 100% |
2008/2009 | 97% | 97% |
2009/2010 | 84% | 96% |
2010/2011 | 86% | 100% |
2011/2012 | 98% | 98% |
2012/2013 | 100% | 97% |
2013/2014 | 97% | 100% |
2014/2015 | 89% | 100% |
2015/2016 | 90% | 100% |
2016/2017 | 94% | 100% |
2017/2018 | 85% | 100% |
2018/2019 | 86% | 96% |
2019-2020 | 86% | 92% |
2020-2021 | 81% |
Physical Therapist Assistant program at Finlandia University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (906)-487-7368 or email melanie.thurmond@finlandia.edu.
CAPTE grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. CAPTE is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). Specialized accreditation is a system for recognizing professional education programs for a level of performance, integrity, and quality that entitles them to the confidence of the educational community and the public they serve. Accreditation status signifies that the program meets established and nationally accepted standards of scope, quality, and relevance. Once awarded accreditation status, a program must submit reports regularly to the Commission ensuring continuing compliance with the evaluative criteria. Each program is formally reviewed every five to 10 years.
National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam
Based on information received from The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)
PTA Program graduate passing rate NPTAE: (2 year average 2019-20): 92%
First-time pass rate: 77%
Ultimate pass rate: (within 1 year of graduation): 92%
To file a complaint with the Finlandia University PTA program, please refer to procedures outlined in the document found here.
Fill out the form below and our staff will be in touch with you shortly to help you schedule a visit, start your application process or answer questions!
Administrative Assistant, Physical Therapist Assistant Program, Medical Assistant Program, Medical Billing and Coding Program
anne.halgren@finlandia.edu