Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and provide treatment to patients with injuries, pain, vertigo, lymphedema, and a host of other conditions. PTAs work in a number of different settings and often have flexibility in scheduling.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Harper College can be completed in five semesters (including prerequisites). The program takes advantage of Harper's fully functional virtual hospital to offer real-world training situations. Students also participate in off-site clinicals.
Prepare for a health profession
The Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree is designed to prepare you for entry into this profession. Coursework in the AAS may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.
Resources
- Admission criteria and process
- Catalog course descriptions
- Essential functions
- Estimated program expenses
- Functional abilities
- Interpreting the NLN Exam Score Report (pdf)
- Observation forms
- Program health requirements compliance
- Student organizations
Next steps
For more information about starting your college education at Harper, please contact Admissions Outreach at 847.925.6700 or fill out our Request information form.
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
Harper College 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 state, on June 1, 2018. 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 professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress towards accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Please note the following timeline for accreditation:
• July 16-31 – CAPTE will complete an on-site candidacy visit
• Fall 2018 – CAPTE will make a candidacy decision
• Spring 2019 – If granted candidate for accreditation, students will be able to enroll
in the PTA program
Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program
is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional
courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure
eventual accreditation.
• Fall 2019 – CAPTE will return to campus for an initial accreditation visit
• Spring 2020 – CAPTE decision regarding the accreditation status of the PTA program
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax
Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required
in all states.
The first NPTE exam students would be eligible to take is on July 8, 2020, if the
program achieves initial accreditation.