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Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program in Modesto, CA

Start your career helping patients improve mobility and motion.

If you want to prepare for a career in health care, our physical therapist assistant (PTA) training program in Modesto could be right for you. As a PTA, your goal is to help patients return back to their prior level of mobility and function. The work is rewarding because you have the chance to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives on a regular basis.

Curriculum is designed to teach you the skills employers are looking for in a physical therapist, medical or rehabilitation office. During the program, you’ll learn how to implement selected components of patient/client treatment, record data related to the treatment, and make modifications in selected treatments either to progress the patient/client as directed by the physical therapist or to ensure patient/client safety and comfort.

Some classes within the PTA program contain distance education coursework. Distance education coursework is completed at a location determined by the student.

As a graduate of our physical therapist assistant program in Modesto, CA, you can pursue careers at:

  • Hospitals
  • Private physical therapy offices
  • Rehabilitation centers
  • Community health centers
  • Nursing homes
  • Home health agencies
  • Sports Facilities
  • And more

Please review our Prospective Student Handbook.

Our Educators

Jimmy Pacini, Program Director
Jimmy Pacini, PTA, MAEd, is a licensed physical therapist assistant and the Program Director for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program. He has clinical experience in hospital-based outpatient care, specializing in orthopedic and neurological conditions. While working for Community Regional Medical Centers at Community Outpatient Rehabilitation Center, he was responsible for organizing clinical staff in-services as well as managing physical therapy aides. He became an American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Credentialed Clinical Instructor and supervised PTA students for three years during his time at Community Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. His master’s degree is in adult education and training and he has previous experience in post-secondary education as he was an instructor for an aide training program as well as served as the Director of Clinical Education for two other PTA programs. Jimmy has been active in the APTA which has led to positions at the local district, state, and national levels. He has served in various roles such as San Joaquin Valley District PTA Representative, California PTA Caucus Representative, PTA Caucus Delegate, APTA Advocacy Awards Committee Member, and several other elected and appointed positions. He is also a member of the APTA Education, Neurology, and Orthopaedics Sections. His passion for professional advocacy has led to participation in several lobbying days at the state and national level as well as several speaking opportunities on current professional issues and ethics in physical therapy including at national APTA conferences.

Kate Salamon, Director of Clinical Education
Kate Salamon, PT, DPT, MPA has been a licensed physical therapist since 1972 and presently serves as Director of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since she was a student PT. At present, she is also a member of the Geriatric Section and has been a member of other clinical specialty groups in the past. She has published research and had the opportunity to present a research project at an APTA Combined Sections Meeting. Kate began her career as a pediatric physical therapist at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, where she also worked per diem for California Children’s Services. She has also practiced in acute care, outpatient departments, for school districts, home health, and has management experience from two different rehabilitation hospitals as well as owning her own physical therapy business. After achieving a master’s degree, Kate began her career in teaching. Prior to coming to IOT, she was part of both distance education as well as on ground PT programs which included serving as the Director of Clinical Education for two different PT educational programs. There have been changes in physical therapy since she began but the basic desire to care for others has always been foremost in practice for Kate. She continues to practice in home health on a per diem basis. Kate is excited to be part of IOT’s PTA program in Modesto. She is always eager to share knowledge of and enthusiasm for the profession to help students develop into excellent practitioners.

Hours of Instruction/Program Length

This program is 1,573 hours and 65.5 semester credit hours. Classes are held Monday through Thursday for 75 weeks. An Independent Study component is included. See your admissions representative for available class times.

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To learn more about our program, contact us today. We can help you prepare to become a physical therapist assistant and launch your career in Madera, Kerman, Fresno & surrounding areas.

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Campus Performance

ACCSC Graduation Rate: N/A%
ACCSC Placement Rate: N/A%
Placement Rate Methodology: This is a new program at this campus.

Credit Hours: 65.5 semester credit hours

For a breakdown of program costs, view our Tuition and Expenses page.

The performance numbers listed here represent the 2020 Completion and Placement Rates for the Clovis Main Campus. The PTA program at the Modesto and Redding Branch Campuses are new and do not have data to report in 2020.

ACCSC Graduation Rate: 94%
ACCSC Placement Rate: 68%
Placement Rate Methodology: All students who completed the program and started between March 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 are included in this calculation. 0% of the graduates (or 0 graduates), have been included in the placement rate calculation, which have been waived for placement for one of the following reasons: death, incarceration, active military service deployment, the onset of a medical condition that prevents employment, or they were an international student who returned to their country of origin, or they continued their education in an accredited institution of higher education (postsecondary) on at least a half-time basis. These waivers have been included in the calculation in compliance with ACCSC Standards of Accreditation for calculating programmatic placement rates.

ACCSC License Examination Pass Rate: 75%

BPPE 150% Graduation Rate: 92%
BPPE Placement Rate: 56%
Placement Rate Methodology: All students who completed the program within 150% of normal program length and were scheduled to graduate in 2019 are included in this calculation. 0% of the graduates, (or 0 graduates), have been included in the placement rate calculation, which have been waived for placement for one of the following reasons: death, become incarcerated, are called to active military duty, are international students that leave the United States or do not have a visa allowing employment in the United States, or are continuing their education in an accredited or bureau-approved postsecondary institution. These waivers have been included in the calculation in compliance with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education regulations for calculating annual programmatic placement rates.

BPPE License Examination Pass Rate: 44%

Graduates of this program are trained for employment in any of the following Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes.

SOC Code Occupation
31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants
Program Cost

Credit Hours: 65.5 semester credit hours

For a breakdown of program costs, view our Tuition and Expenses page.

Program Performance

The performance numbers listed here represent the 2020 Completion and Placement Rates for the Clovis Main Campus. The PTA program at the Modesto and Redding Branch Campuses are new and do not have data to report in 2020.

ACCSC Graduation Rate: 94%
ACCSC Placement Rate: 68%
Placement Rate Methodology: All students who completed the program and started between March 1, 2017 and February 28, 2018 are included in this calculation. 0% of the graduates (or 0 graduates), have been included in the placement rate calculation, which have been waived for placement for one of the following reasons: death, incarceration, active military service deployment, the onset of a medical condition that prevents employment, or they were an international student who returned to their country of origin, or they continued their education in an accredited institution of higher education (postsecondary) on at least a half-time basis. These waivers have been included in the calculation in compliance with ACCSC Standards of Accreditation for calculating programmatic placement rates.

ACCSC License Examination Pass Rate: 75%

BPPE 150% Graduation Rate: 92%
BPPE Placement Rate: 56%
Placement Rate Methodology: All students who completed the program within 150% of normal program length and were scheduled to graduate in 2019 are included in this calculation. 0% of the graduates, (or 0 graduates), have been included in the placement rate calculation, which have been waived for placement for one of the following reasons: death, become incarcerated, are called to active military duty, are international students that leave the United States or do not have a visa allowing employment in the United States, or are continuing their education in an accredited or bureau-approved postsecondary institution. These waivers have been included in the calculation in compliance with the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education regulations for calculating annual programmatic placement rates.

BPPE License Examination Pass Rate: 44%

Occupational Outcomes

Graduates of this program are trained for employment in any of the following Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Codes.

SOC Code Occupation
31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants

Program Accreditation

Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE),3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Institute of Technology – Modesto is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on June 1, 2021. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

File a Comment or Concern

If you would like to file a formal complaint about our Physical Therapist Assistant program, please use this form.

Program Disclosures

Physical Therapist Assistant Fact Sheet

Disclosure for Program Lending to Professional Licensure

What our graduates say

Best experience I’ve ever had. Dedicated Staff! Taught more than facts, but a new age concept of believing in myself. IOT was perfect place for me and helped guide my way and see me through.

LD – Medical Administrative Assisting