Physical Therapist Assistant AAS
About
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work directly with patients under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. Through our degree program, you’ll learn how and why difficulties in movement occur, how to help patients improve mobility and relieve pain, and how to prevent or limit physical disability through the use of therapeutic techniques.
The Physical Therapist Assistant AAS program is designed to prepare you to function as an entry-level PTA in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, private practices, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, school systems, home health agencies, sports and fitness facilities, work settings or skilled nursing facilities. As a PTA, you’ll be helping physical therapists in their daily activities and assisting patients during rehabilitation.
- You’ll be trained to perform physical therapy interventions (treatment) including, but not limited to, therapeutic exercise, traction, ultrasound, electrotherapy, balance and gait training, motor learning and development, and patient and family education.
- You'll provide the physical therapist with information about the patient's response to treatment, including objective data documented in the patient's medical record.
- In addition to patient/client care, you may participate in activities related to billing and coding, quality improvement, risk management, and other administrative activities within the department or facility.
PTA Program Information Sessions
- June 13, 12:30 p.m. in E222
- July 9, 12:30 p.m. in E222
- February 14, noon to 1 p.m. in E204
- February 27, 4 to 5 p.m. in E121
- March 12, 9 to 10 a.m. in E121
- March 22, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. in E214
- April 11, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in E121
- April 23, noon to 1 p.m. in E121
No registration required.
A Word About Costs
In order to become a licensed PTA, you must successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Licensure Examination (NPTE). Please see the NPTE web site, The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, at www.fsbpt.org for current cost information regarding the NPTE and the Practice Exam and Assessment Tool (PEAT).
Be aware that as a student in the PTA program, you will also incur costs including, but not limited to books, vaccinations, background check, medical exam, TB testing, drug screening, malpractice insurance, CPR certification.
Total Cost of Physical Therapist Assistant AAS
(in-district) Total Amount: $11,456.00
Credit Hours to Complete: 70
Weeks to Complete: 80
Program Length: up to 48 months if a student wishes to complete all general education and support course requirements prior to application to the program, otherwise, to complete the PTA Technical course requirements: 24 months.
What makes MCC's Physical Therapist Assistant AAS program better than, or distinct from, similar programs at other institutions?
Local physical therapy professionals (PTs and PTAs) served on an advisory committee to guide the PTA program development to assure that MCC's program will assist in meeting the needs of the health care employers in McHenry County and the northern Illinois region.
What you need to know about getting your Physical Therapist Assistant AAS (CIP 51.080)
| in-district | out-of-district | out-of-state | international | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $7,490.00 | $27,678.00 | $33,409.00 | $33,409.00 |
| Additional Physical Therapist Assistant AAS Costs | $3,966.00 | $3,966.00 | $3,966.00 | $3,966.00 |
| Program Total | $11,456.00 | $31,644.00 | $37,375.00 | $37,375.00 |
Career
What job opportunities are available to someone with an Physical Therapist Assistant AAS?
This AAS degree prepares you to function as an entry-level PTA in a variety of health care settings including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, private practices work settings, rehabilitation centers, school systems, home health agencies or sports and fitness facilities under the direction and supervision of a direction of a physical therapist. The PTA profession is rated by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics as one of the fastest growing professions, and current projections indicate that this trend will continue.
| Occupation and Occupational Profile Link | SOC Code |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 31-2021 |
How will MCC's Physical Therapist Assistant AAS program prepare me for my career or connect me to opportunities?
You'll participate in a part-time and three full-time internships to gain practical experience working in a variety of health-care environments. Your internships will provide you with hands-on experience and an understanding of the demands of the job and culture of the workplace. In addition, you'll draft a resumé and develop job search strategies in a class activity with PTAs and PTs from the community.
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.
By the Numbers:
- Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow 40 percent nationally, much faster than the average, through the year 2024.
- See employment opportunities at APTA Hot Jobs » and IPTA Career Center »
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the median annual wage for physical therapist assistants in 2016 was $56,610.
- Mean PTA salaries in May 2015 were $52,840 in metropolitan Chicago.
- US News and World Report/Money lists PTA as Number 40 in the top 100 jobs and Number 4 in the Best Health Care Support Jobs for 2016.
Outside of the Classroom
- Essential Functions for Physical Therapist Assistant Students
- American Physical Therapy Association Education (APTA)
- APTA – Role of a PTA
- APTA – About PTA Careers
- Illinois Physical Therapy Association (ILPTA)
Equal Opportunity/Nondiscrimination
MCC promotes and adheres to a policy of equal opportunity. The College, therefore, does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, age, disability, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender-related identity, veteran status, or any other unlawful bases, in its admissions, employment, educational programs, or activities.
Contact
Already an MCC student?
Call the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at (815) 479-7601 or email ptainfo@mchenry.edu
Interested in getting started at MCC?
I'm not an MCC student, send me more information » about this program and MCC.
Complaints
Complaints regarding the program or the program graduates should be first addressed to the PTA Program Director via the MCC Quality Service Feedback and Complaint Form.
Unresolved complaints or complaints about the PTA program chair should be directed to Terri Berryman, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of Career Education, (815) 455-8783. All complaints will be documented, including the projected outcome, and securely filed within the program. Complaints regarding accreditation of this program should be addressed to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia, 22314.
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure exam, which is required in all states.
McHenry County College is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on June 1, 2018. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional/technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional/technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress towards accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Semesters to complete assumes students are taking a full-time credit load of 12 credits per semester (the minimum required for federal financial aid).
Proportion of students completing in normal time is the percentage of completers who earned the credential within the specified time of their first enrollment at the College.
Students attending part-time or changing their program of study are two common reasons why they may not complete in "normal" time.
Tuition and fees are set by the Board of Trustees. Prices for books and supplies are subject to change.
See additional information about international student costs.