The physical therapist assistant (PTA) program at Penn State Harrisburg aims to develop knowledgeable and competent graduates who are prepared to obtain licensure as physical therapist assistants. The program's curriculum is a combination of general education, applied physical therapy sciences, and clinical learning experiences.
Physical therapist assistants work as part of a team providing physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants implement interventions outlined in the physical therapist’s plan of care, collect data related to interventions and modify selected interventions to progress patients to meet their individual goals. Individual treatment goals are designed to reduce pain, restore function, improve mobility, and prevent disability. The PTA associate in science degree requires 5-semesters of study, including three full-time clinical practicums.
You might like this major if you are interested in working with people of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives.
Accredited by CAPTE
The physical therapist assistant program at Penn State is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085, 703-706-3245, [email protected].
Professional Licensure and Certification
Physical therapist assistants must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program, such as Penn State's, and are required to obtain licensure in most states to work. Students graduating from our PTA program are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
