Making PTA Education Work for Real Life (Not the Other Way Around)

About this episode

This episode discusses the evolution of PTA education and innovative approaches to make programs more accessible and aligned with real-world needs.

Physical Therapist Assistant education is evolving, and this episode explores exactly how. Recorded live at CSM, Katie sits down with PTA educators Kelly Terry and Adelle Nicholas to discuss innovative approaches designed to make PTA programs more accessible, flexible, and aligned with real-world student needs. They break down new program models including decelerated pathways, clinic-based skill validation, and hyflex learning environments, all aimed at supporting working students and expanding access to the profession. This conversation also highlights a critical issue: PTA shortages in rural communities and how education innovation may be the key to solving it. If you're a PTA student, educator, or clinician invested in the future of the profession, this episode offers practical insight and a fresh perspective. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN: Why traditional PTA education models are being challenged How flexible pathways support working students The role of clinicians in early student skill development How innovation can help solve PTA workforce shortages What the future could look like for PTA → DPT pathways Subscribe & Follow (PTA+) Website: https://www.ptapluspodcast.com/ YouTube…

People in this episode

Host: Katie Sutton

Guests: Kelly Terry, Adelle Nicholas

Topics covered

• PTA education
• flexible learning
• workforce shortages
• student needs
• innovative approaches

Keywords

• PTA education
• flexible pathways
• clinic-based skill validation
• hyflex learning
• PTA workforce shortages

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: US Physical Therapy

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