Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Degree

Associate in Applied Science Degree

Graduates of this accredited program are prepared to perform physical therapy treatments and related duties under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.

This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Email: [e-mail]; Phone: [phone]; Website: www.capteonline.org.

To graduate, students must achieve a minimum grade of 75% in all coursework.

Graduates must take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) to practice as physical therapist assistants in many states, Illinois included. Licensure in Illinois is con-trolled by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation, 320 West Washington St., Springfield, IL 62786; [phone] or [phone]; www.idfpr.com. Applicants with a conviction for a felony or misdemeanor may have difficulty obtaining a PTA license in Illinois. It is each student’s responsibility to determine whether he/she is in compliance with criteria for state licensure. Graduation from this program does not guarantee a passing score on the NPTE for the PTA. Prior to the start of clinical internships students will be required to undergo a background check and physical exam. A social security number is required to comply with the criminal background check.

The deadline for submission of a complete application to the PTA program is February 1st.

Requirements for admission are:

• High school diploma or High School Equivalency (GED/HISET/TASC), official transcripts required. (Foreign transcripts must be evaluated by ECE or WES and show equivalency to a US high school diploma.)
• Completion of 30 hours of observation in two different physical therapy clinical settings with a minimum of 10 hours in each setting (inpatient, outpatient, skilled nursing, pediatrics and/or industrial rehab). One setting MUST be outpatient and one setting MUST be inpatient.
• Completion of MAT 084 or MAT 093 with a grade of “P” or place into MAT 085/095 on the Math Placement Test taken at Morton College.
• Participation in an interview for inclusion and exclusion purposes with the PTA Program Admissions Committee. Interviews will be scheduled after February 1. An essay will be required to be written on the day of the interview.
• Two letters of recommendation are required.
• Completion of preadmission course work, as follows, with a grade of “C” or better within five years of acceptance into the program. All prerequisites are to be completed before the Feburary 1 application deadline:
  • ENG 101. If ENG 101 was taken more than five years prior to admission into the PTA Program, the student may satisfy this requirement by taking the English Placement Test at Morton College and placing into ENG 101.
  • BIO 152 or equivalent five credit hour Anatomy and Physiology course. (within 5 years of beginning the program)
  • PHY 100 or equivalent 3 hour Fundamentals of Physics course. (Within 5 years of beginning the program)
  • PHT 101 or equivalent two credit hour Medical Terminology course. (within 5 years of beginning the program)
• Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 to be considered for the program.

Applicants to the PTA program must meet with an admissions healthcare advisor before the February 1 deadline to review pre-admission course work.

Admission into the PTA Program is selective. All prerequisite course work and other admission requirements must be met before final acceptance. Preference is given to in-district residents and residents from districts that have a current Joint Agreement with Morton College. Complete applications received and meeting the program requirements by the February 1 deadline will be considered subject to program capacity. Applications do not rollover to the following year.

All General Education courses must be completed with a ‘C’ or better.

Students will be readmitted only once to the PTA Program. Readmission is not guaranteed.

Program Outcomes:

Upon completion of the program, the graduate will be able to:

• Participate as an effective member of the health care team.
• Carry out technical aspects of clinical work within a plan of care established by a physical therapist, in a safe, ethical and competent manner that reflects entry level performance skills.
• Communicate and interact with patient / client, family members, caregivers, other members of the community and members of a multidisciplinary health care team in an effective, appropriate and capable manner.
• Demonstrate the ability to respond appropriately during patient/ client emergencies and untoward events.
• Competently perform data collection to measure a patient/ client’s response to treatment interventions and complete timely, accurate and legal documentation of patient care.
• Utilize critical thinking skills and problem solving to progress, modify and /or with hold interventions based on patient status as determined through observation, data collection and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrate actions, approaches and values consistent with the expected roles, responsibilities and duties of a licensed physical therapist assistant practicing under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist.
• Assume responsibility for professional judgment and ethics.
• Recognize the need for continued personal and professional growth to ensure competence in current practices of physical therapy.
• Demonstrate achievement of the requirements for the Associate in Applied Science Degree as determined by Morton College.
• Pass the NPTE for licensure within their chosen state.

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Course Sequence

Pre-Admission Requirements

ENG 101	Rhetoric I	3
PHT 101	Medical Terminology/Clinicians	2
PSY 101	Intro to Psychology	3
BIO 152	Anatomy & Physiology (therapies)	5
PHY 100	Fundamentals of Physics	3
	Humanities general education requirement	3
Total Credit Hours:		18

Notes:

ENG 101, PHT 101, BIO 152, PHY 100: Indicates Program Prerequisites

PSY 101, Humanities general education requirement: These courses fulfill the AAS general education requirements for graduation.

First Semester

PHT 111	Patient Management I: Basic Skills for the Pta	2
PHT 112	Princ. of Prac. I: Intro to Pt	2
PHT 113	Introduction to Disease	2
PHT 114	Fundamentals of Kinesiology I	4
PHT 105	Therapeutic Modalities I	1
ENG 102	Rhetoric II	3
	Or
SPE 101	Principles of Public Speaking	3
Total Credit Hours:		14

Note:

SPE 101, ENG 102: These courses fulfill the AAS general education requirements for graduation.

Second Semester

PHT 115	Fundamentals of Kinesiology II	4
PHT 117	Patient Mgt II : Tests & Measrm	2
PHT 122	Therapeutic Exercise	2
PHT 123	Sys & Interventions I: Ortho	3
PHT 124	Introduction to Clinical Ed	2
PHT 125	Therapeutic Modalities II	1
Total Credit Hours:		14

Third Semester

PSY 210	Child Growth & Development	3
	Or
PSY 215	Life Span: Survey of Human Dev	3
PHT 212	Syst & Interv II: Neurology	3
PHT 217	Clinical Internship	3
PHT 218	Cardio Pulmon & Integmnt Mgt	2
PHT 219	Special Populations: Pediatric and Geriatric	2
Total Credit Hours:		13

Note:

PSY 210, PSY 215: These courses fulfill the AAS general education requirements for graduation.

Fourth Semester

PHT 220	Adv. Physical Therapy Techniqu	3
PHT 222	Seminar in Health Career Lit.	2
PHT 224	POP2: Professional Issues in P	2
PHT 225	Clinical Affiliations II	5
Total Credit Hours:		12

Total Credit Hours: 72

Notes:

The Health/Fitness general education requirement is met, as the required material is covered in the PTA program.

A fee for malpractice insurance is required.

Students enrolled in the PTA program are subject to the current policies and procedures in the Physical Therapist Assistant Student Handbook.