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Physical therapist assistant helping old man with exercise and movement
Physical therapist assistant helping old man with exercise and movement

Physical Therapist Assistant

Become a 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 (A.A.S.) degree is designed to prepare you for entry into this profession. Coursework 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.

Program Data

Program Acceptance and Matriculation Rates (2019 Data)

85% of all applicants who met the minimum required prerequisites and submitted a complete application were offered acceptance into the program. 82% of accepted students enrolled in the program. Each fall a new cohort of 24 students begins the technical coursework in the PTA program. Applicants must submit their application for a fall start by the deadline outlined in the Admission Criteria and Process portion of the PTA website. 

Effective April 30, 2019, Harper College has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program /institution directly, please call 847-925-6861 or email rgura@harpercollege.edu.

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.

Updated Timeline:

  • Summer 2020 – CAPTE will return to campus for an initial accreditation visit
  • Fall 2020 – CAPTE decision regarding the accreditation status of the PTA program

Filing a complaint with the PTA Program:

Contact Program Director, Dr. Rita Gura at rgura@harpercollege.edu or 847.925.6861

Filing a complaint with CAPTE:

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