Cecil College celebrates 2026 Physical Therapist Assistant graduates

NORTH EAST, Md. - Cecil College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program celebrated the Class of 2026 with a White Coat Pinning Ceremony on Thursday, May 14, in the Technology Center on the North East Campus. The ceremony honored students who have completed rigorous coursework and clinical training.

Cecil College launched the program in January 2015 with a five-year accreditation. Due to its stellar outcomes, the program received full ten-year accreditation in October 2021.

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“Today’s pinning ceremony recognizes not only the academic achievements of our Physical Therapist Assistant graduates, but also their commitment to compassionate patient care and professional excellence,” said Dr. Nancy Norman-Marzella, Dean of Health, Human and Business Sciences at Cecil College. “The continued success of this program - including outstanding licensure exam results and employment outcomes - reflects the dedication of our students, faculty, and clinical partners. We are proud to celebrate the Class of 2026 as they prepare to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field.”

Cecil’s PTA program rose to national prominence when 100 percent of its first six cohorts of graduates passed the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) on their first attempt. These results exceeded the national and local averages in exam performance in all subject categories. The program currently maintains a 100 percent overall pass rate on the NPTE and a 100 percent employment rate due to its strong clinical partnerships with local physical therapy providers.

“We set the bar and standards high for our PTA students, and we are very proud of their accomplishments. In addition, our faculty are dedicated to their success and spend a significant amount of time with the students to ensure they understand, and can apply, not just memorize, the material, thus preparing them for their future careers,” said Director of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Deanna Smith, PT, MPT.

If you are interested in learning more about the Physical Therapist Assistant program, please contact Program Director Deanna Smith at DSmith@cecil.edu or pta@cecil.edu. The program will start accepting applications in July 2026.

www.cecil.edu