Physical Therapist Assistant

Sections:

Program Requirements
Course Descriptions
Faculty Advisors

Interested students are required to download an admission packet for the Physical Therapist Assistant program, which includes a description of the admissions criteria, admission prerequisites and general education requirements. This is a part-time, evening program with classes offered on evenings from Monday through Thursday.

Please note that for the class of students starting each fall semester, the application deadline is June 1 of the same year.

Current or previous COD students

Current or previous COD students and have earned a bachelor’s degree

If you are not a student at COD

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
Please consult a faculty advisor 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]

Course Descriptions

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.

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.

Ninety-eight (98) percent of PTA program graduates pass the state licensure examination (Illinois state average is 91 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).

FACULTY ADVISERS
If you are considering this program as an area of study, consult with a faculty advisor in this field. To send an email, click on the name of the advisor you wish to reach: