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.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Morton College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: [phone]; email: [e-mail]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The program’s current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see https://www.capteonline.org/about-capte/recent-actions-and-updates/recent-actions . If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 708-656-8000 Ext 2380 or email [e-mail]

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.

All applicants must attend a mandatory information session. To schedule please call 708-656-8000 Ext 2484. 

 

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 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 the application deadline. An essay will be required to be written on the day of the interview.
• Successful completion of the following college courses, by the end of the Spring 2025 semester, with the minimum grade of "C" in each and completed within 5 years of beginning the program:      
  • 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 application 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 application 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 Goals:

• The Physical Therapist Assistant Program will provide students with a comprehensive curriculum that reflects current physical therapy practice and maintains compliance with the required standards and elements set forth by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
• The Physical Therapist Assistant Program will maximize the resources of Morton College and the PTA Program to support quality learning experiences and program development.

• The Physical Therapist Assistant Program will show a commitment to community service through participation in activities which may include: health promotion, education, service, and/or advocacy for the profession of physical therapy.

• The graduate will pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant.
• The graduate will demonstrate the skills necessary for entry-level practice as a physical therapist assistant and obtain a job as a physical therapist assistant
• The faculty will conduct ongoing assessment to ensure the program quality and curriculum content are responsive to the needs of our students and community served by Morton College.

• The faculty will be engaged in professional advancement and continuing education activities to promote evidence-based practice and current research in their teaching in order to provide quality instruction to meet the needs of students and the program.
• The student will complete and pass all program courses in the technical phase of the PTA program.
• The student will recognize the importance of professional growth and lifelong learning to the continued professional development of the physical therapist assistant.

 

 

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Course Sequence

Pre-Admission Requirements

ENG 101	Rhetoric I	3
PHT 101	Medical Terminology for Clinicians	2
PSY 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
BIO 152	Anatomy & Physiology (therapie	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 Management II : Tests & Measurements	2
PHT 122	Therapeutic Exercise	2
PHT 123	Systems and Interventions I: Orthopedics	3
PHT 124	Introduction to Clinical Education	2
PHT 125	Therapeutic Modalities II	1
Total Credit Hours:		14

Third Semester

PSY 210	Child Growth & Development	3
	Or
PSY 215	Life Span: A Survey of Human Development	3
PHT 212	Systems & Intervention II: Neurology	3
PHT 217	Clinical Internship	3
PHT 218	Cardiovascular, Pulmonary and Integument Management	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	Advanced Physical Therapy Techniques	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.