Program Overview
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program will prepare graduates for entry-level positions as physical therapist assistants (PTAs) working under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist (PT). PTAs work with people of all ages - from infants to the elderly - in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers, outpatient facilities, school systems, home health care or skilled nursing facilities.
Pending program accreditation, graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for the physical therapist assistant administered by The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Successful completion of the NPTE permits the graduate to work as a licensed PTA.
A felony conviction may affect a graduate’s ability to sit for the NPTE or attain state licensure. Admission to McHenry County College does not guarantee admission to the PTA program.
What Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Do?
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work as part of a team to provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist (PT). PTAs implement selected components of patient/client interventions (treatment), obtain data related to the interventions provided, and make modifications in selected interventions either to progress the patient/client as directed by the PT or to ensure patient/client safety and comfort. PTAs assist the PT in the treatment of individuals who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
Admission Requirements
AOM 135 - Medical Terminology
BIO 230 Human Structure and Function
or
BIO 263 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I
and
BIO 264 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II
ENG 151 - Composition I
PSY 151 - Introduction to Psychology
SPE 151 - Introduction to Speech
- PTA Program General Education and Support course GPA must be 2.75 or greater.
- A grade of C or higher is required for all PTA program General Education and Support courses.
- Human Structure and Function or Anatomy & Physiology I & II must be completed within 5 years of application deadline date.
- Response to an essay question which need to be completed in the Testing Center. Visit the website at www.mchenry.edu/pta to schedule a time.
- Clinical Experience: A minimum of 20 hours of Physical Therapy clinical experience (work, volunteer or observation). Optional bonus points will be awarded for completion of observation hours in a different clinical experience setting. Clinical experience must occur within five (5) years of applying to PTA program.
Preference in admission will be given to residents of Community College District #528 who meet the stated minimum acceptance criteria for the program. Check to see if you live in District 528.
Application and Admission Process
- All applicants are strongly encouraged to attend a PTA program information session. These are generally scheduled monthly. Dates are posted on the PTA website www.mchenry.edu/pta
- Individuals must have an MCC student ID number to apply to the PTA Program. If an applicant has never attended MCC as a credit student, a MCC Admissions Form and the required fee must be submitted online at www.mchenry.edu/apply or at the Registration Office, Room A258.
- If any general education or support courses were taken at another institution, official transcripts from every college or university the applicant attended must be submitted to the Admissions Office with a request for it to be reviewed for the Physical Therapist Assistant program. It is highly recommended that official transcripts and evaluation requests be submitted no later than one (1) month prior to the application deadline.
- Applicants should complete all PTA Program application material. The application material is available on MCC’s website www.mchenry.edu/pta.
Applicants must submit all application material by April 15 or the following weekday, to the PTA Program secretary in Room E212.
Applicants not accepted into the program have the option of re-applying to the program.
Admission material submitted for one year is not automatically carried over to the following year. Therefore, if an applicant reapplies, the applicant must meet all admission criteria and re-submit all application material.
The PTA Program does not maintain a waiting list.
Criteria for Selection
The number of applicants accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is limited to 16 applicants, therefore admission is competitive. To be considered for admission, applicants must complete the PTA Admission Requirements and submit all accompanying documentation. Selection for admission is determined based on the following categories. Ultimate selection is determined by the PTA admissions committee. All admission decisions are final.
- Completion of General Education and Support courses PTA Program General Education and Support course cumulative G.P.A. 2.75 or greater
- A grade of C or higher for all PTA program General Education and Support courses
- Human Structure and Function or Anatomy & Physiology I & II must be completed within five (5) years of applying to PTA program. A refresher course is available for student who have taken BIO 230 or 263/264 more than five years ago and received a grade of C or Higher. Please contact the PTA program chair for details.
- Response to two essay questions
- Physical Therapy clinical experience
- Incomplete application files are not considered for placement.
- The PTA program chair and Admission Committee will interview eligible applicants after the application deadline.
Notification of Acceptance
Sixteen applicants are accepted into the PTA program and begin the program each year in the spring semester.
Notification of the PTA Admissions Committee decision will be sent to all applicants via postage mail mid-May.
Applicants offered admission must respond in writing within 14 days, or that offer is withdrawn.
Applicants who decline an offer of admission, or accept but fail to register for classes, are not guaranteed admission at a later date.
Additional Requirements
Once accepted into the PTA program, students are required to provide proof of the following medical and legal clearance:
- Current physical exam
- Proof of current immunizations (including Covid)
- Two-step TB test
- Criminal background check
- Child abuse clearance
- Drug testing
- Current American Heart Association BLS Healthcare Providers CPR certification (MCC offers HEALTHCARE PROVIDER CPR to fulfill this requirement).
The medical requirements, details about criminal background check, child abuse clearance and drug testing as well as CPR certification are distributed at PTA student orientation.
Students accepted to the program must attend the mandatory PTA student orientation date and time to be determined.
Students are also required to have Health Insurance throughout their period of enrollment.
Access and knowledge of Canvas Learning Management System is required.
Once admitted, in order to continue in the PTA Program, a student must maintain an overall GPA of 2.0 and earn a minimum grade of C in each PTA program Core lecture/laboratory course and “Satisfactory” in each Clinical Experience. Therefore, acceptance to the PTA program does not guarantee successful completion of the PTA program.
A student who withdraws or is dismissed from the program is not guaranteed readmission. (Details regarding the PTA program withdrawal policy may be obtained from the PTA program chair.)
Clinical Education
Introduction to Clinical Education is a 12-week, part-time (5 hours per week) experience during the first year that begins the preparation of students to function as entry-level PTAs.
Clinical Experience I and II are 8-week, full-time (40 hours per week) experiences during the second year that continue to prepare students to function as entry-level PTAs.
Clinical Seminar, concurrent to Clinical Experience I and Clinical Experience II, provides the opportunity for student discussion, sharing of clinical experiences and student presentations related to their clinical experiences as well as preparation for the licensure exam and for employment; composing a resume; and the importance of continuing education and lifelong learning.
Days and times of Introduction to Clinical Education and each Clinical Experience may change from semester to semester. These experiences could start early in the morning, end later in the evening and/or could be scheduled on weekends. Reliable personal transportation is required.
Advanced Placement or Transferring
Requests for advanced placement or transferring Physical therapist assistant courses from another PTA program are not being considered at this time.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at McHenry County College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100. Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (815) 479-7592 or email clouderman@mchenry.edu
The primary purpose of an Associate in Applied Science degree is to prepare students for employment. The AAS degree is not designed specifically for transfer; however, there are opportunities to apply some coursework to a bachelor’s degree program. For more information, see an academic advisor and the program chair.
Return to: