Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapy

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 (A.A.S.) degree is designed to prepare you for entry into this profession. Course work in the A.A.S. may also prepare you to transfer to a four-year college or university. This is a limited-enrollment program.

Resources

Next steps

For more information about earning your PTA degree 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. On June 1, 2018, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. 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.

At CAPTE’s fall 2018 meeting, CAPTE took action to deny candidacy for Harper College’s PTA program. Harper is currently seeking reconsideration and will present our changes to CAPTE in April 2019 with the goal of a program start in fall 2019.


How to file a complaint: http://www.capteonline.org/Complaints/

Please note the following updated timeline for accreditation

  • April 2019 – reconsideration hearing
  • Fall 2019 – If granted candidate for accreditation, student 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.

  • Spring 2020 – CAPTE will return to campus for an initial accreditation visit
  • Fall 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- PTA exam students would be eligible to take is in January 2021 following completion of the Fall 2020 final semester, if the program achieves initial accreditation.