Especially in the world of healthcare, practitioners trained in other countries often find that they need additional training before they are permitted to practice in the United States. For foreign-trained physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, Kent State University has a way to bridge that gap.
Tiffany Kiphart, director of the Kent State PTA program, recognized a need for such a bridge and started the program on the Ashtabula Campus two years ago and, for the past two semesters, the East Liverpool Campus has offered the program. This is the only such program for physical therapists in the U.S.
The five-week program is offered online; however, participants are required to attend a day-long competencies day on campus.
Dr. Darryl Hancock, associate professor of PTA at East Liverpool, is the course instructor. “This course is the education they are required to have beyond their own foreign-trained PT or PTA programs and what they must complete to sit for their respective state licensure exams,” he explained. “Without it, they may not be able to work as physical therapists or PTAs in this country.”
Recently, Hancock welcomed a class of seven students to the East Liverpool Campus, where they spent a day of hands-on training to test their competencies and skills. “All of the individuals live in the United States and are seeking to gain licensure in either PT or PTA,” he noted. “This was a great group of professionals who are already highly-skilled and all anxious to put their skills to use helping patients in this country.”
Cutline A: Darryl Hancock stands behind foreign-trained PTs and PTAs who were on the East Liverpool Campus to receive additional skills training so they can practice in this country. The students were (from left) Sailesh Balanagu, Anshoo Jayendra Shah, Kamalpreet Kaur, Ishaniben Shah, Devangi Patel, Namrata Mehta and Sebastian Jose.
Cutline B: Darryl Hancock demonstrates techniques used in traction treatments.