Dr. Maureen Raffensperger, professor emerita, pins 2023 physical therapist assistant graduate Kennedie Kieffer during a May 2023 ceremony. All 14 of the PTA graduates who took the national board exam in 2023 passed on their first attempt.
Sept. 27, 2023–All 14 students who graduated from the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at Missouri Western State University this year passed the national board exams on their first attempt.
“A 100% pass rate on a national exam is an exceptional achievement, and I am proud to congratulate our students for their outstanding performance and our faculty who prepared them so diligently,” said Dr. Laura Reynolds, provost and vice president of academic affairs. “The PTA program is an outstanding example of the way Missouri Western prepares our students for life after graduation.”
Missouri Western’s 100% pass rate on the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) compares to a national average of 83.6%. The students’ success is the result of some deliberate changes the program has made to better prepare graduates for a career in physical therapy.
Dr. Maureen Holtz
“We have been working very hard the past three years to make curriculum changes to reflect the needs of the workforce and to better prepare students for the board exam,” said Dr. Maureen Holtz, assistant professor and director of the PTA program. “The attainment of a 100% first-time pass rate underscores the legacy of quality and commitment to excellence that the MWSU PTA program has demonstrated since its beginning 25 years ago.”
Missouri Western PTA students not only do well on the board exam, they earn employment in the field. Holtz says the program has had a 100% job placement rate after one year in each of the last three years, and she expects that to continue with the Spring 2023 class.
“While the success of our graduates on the board exam certainly demonstrates the high level of knowledge attained in the program, we as a program are most proud of the level of professionalism that our students have developed, which prepares them to continue to grow as health care professionals,” Holtz said.
Missouri Western offers an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree that prepares students for a rewarding hands-on healthcare career in a variety of clinical settings. The program begins each fall, and students take a total of 72 credit hours over four semesters and two Summer sessions.
The 2023 PTA graduates will be honored for their 100% pass rate at halftime of the Griffon football homecoming game vs. Emporia State Saturday. Also honored will be the December 2022 nursing graduates, who also achieved a 100% pass rate on their licensing exam, the NCLEX-RN.
Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu.