From Cosmetology to Physical Therapy: How CNM Helped Set This Grad Up for Success on a Second Career Path

Sharon Chang has always liked helping people feel good about themselves. For 10 years that meant cutting hair and working as a yoga instructor, but by 2019 they were ready for a change. With the help of CNM’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program, Sharon now has a successful career as a full-time physical therapy assistant with a specialization in pelvic floor therapy.

“I always had an interest in physical therapy, so when I heard about the PTA program, I knew it was the perfect opportunity to turn my passion into a career,” they say.

Sharon’s interest in pelvic floor therapy started while they were still teaching yoga and had several clients dealing with pelvic dysfunction-related issues. They started researching the field of pelvic floor therapy, and that’s ultimately what pushed them to enroll at CNM for a second time.

With a Cosmetology degree already under their belt, Sharon hit the ground running in the PTA program. Along with their course work Sharon completed various clinical rotations, including a specific rotation in pelvic floor therapy.

“Completing the PTA program was the most challenging thing I’ve ever done, but everything I learned prepared me to enter the workforce with confidence” Sharon says. “The program is truly top notch.”

Sharon graduated in 2019 and immediately began working as a physical therapist assistant. They also recently earned their Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRCP), one of the most highly regarded certifications in the field.

To earn the certification, Sharon had to complete 2,000 clinical hours and take a comprehensive exam. The PRCP is particularly unique because it is the only specialty pelvic health certification available for physical therapy assistants and includes gender and age expansive practices.

Sharon is also a part-time lab instructor for the PTA program at CNM, which is the perfect environment to share their personal and professional knowledge.

“I love working with the current PTA students because not that long ago I was in their shoes,” they say. “It’s so fun to teach them the real-world skills I’ve learned over time while also coaching and supporting them along the way.”

Looking forward, Sharon plans to keep learning as much as possible about physical and pelvic therapy and mentoring the next generation of physical therapy assistants. Most importantly, they want to keep helping people feel better about themselves.

“My favorite part of my job is helping people gain back their quality of life” Sharon says. “It’s very gratifying to know that my patients are no longer in pain or even regain full function because of the work we do together.”