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Important
Information For Students
Placement
Testing
Program Admission
Admission
Packet
Advising
Sessions
Accreditation Status
Program Requirements
Frequently Asked
Questions
Course
Descriptions
Faculty Advisers
Other
Occupational Programs of Study
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs), under the supervision of licensed
physical therapists (PTs), provide skilled direct patient care in a variety
of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, subacute care
facilities, long-term care facilities, sports medicine clinics and home
health care agencies. They use therapeutic exercise, massage and physical
agents such as heat, cold, water and electricity in the treatment of patients
with physical disease and disability.
Goals of treatment include relieving pain, improving strength and mobility,
and helping patients reach their maximum physical potential while learning
to live within the limits of their disabilities.
In addition to strong academic skills, strong interpersonal skills are
needed to keep up patient morale and counsel patients' families. Additionally,
excellent written and verbal communication skills are necessary to facilitate
communication in the health care environment. Starting salaries for PTAs
are approximately $40,000 to $55,000 in Illinois.
Coursework includes both classroom and clinical instruction. Successful
completion of the program results in the awarding of an Associate in Applied
Science (A.A.S.) degree and permits the graduate to sit for the state
licensure examination in the state in which he/she plans to be employed.
One hundred (100) percent of PTA program graduates pass the state licensure
examination (Illinois state average is between 80 and 90 percent).
One hundred (100) percent of PTA program graduates are employed in physical therapy
within six months.
The PTA program is designed for students who plan to enter professional
practice as PTAs. PTA clinical courses are not accepted in transfer by
most Physical Therapy programs. Students who are seeking admission to
a Physical Therapy program should follow the Pre-Physical Therapy curriculum
(outlined in a separate program guide). |

Donald
Schmidt, coordinator
HS 2202B
(630) 942-4076
Health and Sciences Division
HS 1220
(630) 942-8331
Health Sciences Admissions Site
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PROGRAM ADMISSION
Interested students can download an admission
packet for the Physical Therapist Assistant program, which includes
an application for admission to the program. This file is in a portable
document format (PDF) that can be viewed and printed with the free Adobe
Acrobat Reader software.
Please note that for the class of students starting each fall semester,
the application deadline is June 1 of the same year; however, the application
deadline may be extended as needed until the class is filled. To maximize
their chance of acceptance, qualified applicants should submit their applications
by June 1. |
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ACCREDITATION STATUS
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at College of DuPage is accredited
by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the
American Physical Therapy Association.
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PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
The following files describe in detail the requirements for this
program. They are portable document format (PDF) files that can be viewed
and printed with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software. If you do not have
Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, you may download it here.
Please consult a faculty adviser listed below before beginning your
coursework.
Degree
• Physical Therapist Assistant, Associate in Applied Science
When planning your coursework, use the Student Planning Worksheet. Degree
information and the worksheet can be found on the following files:
[Physical
Therapist Assistant, A.A.S. Degree, PDF file]
[Student
Planning Worksheet, PDF file] |
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FACULTY ADVISERS
If you are considering this program as an area of study, consult
with a faculty adviser in this field. To send an e-mail, click on the
name of the adviser you wish to reach:
Click here
for a list of current Group Advising Sessions, or call (630) 942-3924.
If you
are unable to contact an adviser, messages may be left with the Health and Sciences Division office, HS 1220, (630)
942-8331.
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Other
Occupational Programs of Study
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