Physical Therapist Assistant
Bring Motion to Life as a Physical Therapist Assistant
As a selective admission program, the PTA program enrollment is limited to 16 students per year. Decision for admission is based on achievement of minimum academic criteria and the quality of the applicant's credentials in relation to those of other applicants.
Program Accreditation
Physical Therapist Assistant program at Heartland Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia, 22305-3085; telephone 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 309-268-8673 or email daryl.menke@heartland.edu.
COMPLAINTS to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
CAPTE has a mechanism to consider formal complaints about physical therapy education programs (PT or PTA). Please refer to the CAPTE website for complaints.
Due Process / Student Appeals
The Student Appeals (Due Process) information is available utilizing this link.
College policies related to handling of complaints that fall outside due process include:
- Student's right to file a complaint with the US Department of Education related to FERPA.
- Student's right to file complaints regarding "Harassment" are outlined in this link.
- The HCC website on Complaints and Concerns, which includes:
- Grade Appeal
- Title IX/Sexual Misconduct
- Harassment
- Financial Aid
- Other Concerns
Program policies related to handling of complaints that fall outside due process include:
- Complaints from clinical education sites, employers of graduates, and the general public - Handbook Program Student, pg. 91 - Complaints Regarding the PTA Program
- The CAPTE required statement on complaints is available on the PTA Program home website.
Review Licensure Considerations
Passing the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) is required for licensure. In order to sit for the NPTE, students must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and meet eligibility criteria designated by each state's licensing authority. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) administers the NPTE.
Applicants seeking licensure in the state of Illinois will need to answer several licensure questions including personal history, child support, and/or student loan information questions.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination 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 website.
Program Outcomes
View the Physical Therapist Assistant's Program Statistics (PDF) .
View the Physical Therapist Assistant's PTA Outcomes (PDF) summary data.
About the Physical Therapist Assistant Program
- Selective Admissions Process
- Curriculum Sequence
- The HCC PTA PROGRAM - ESTIMATED COST SHEET (PDF) was designed to provide information related to potential expenses incurred by the prospective student in the HCC PTA Program. The totals may vary depending on previous completion of general education courses, costs associated with immunizations and tests, if you have health insurance and if it covers the costs of health related testing and immunizations. The fees associated with a criminal background check and drug screening are estimates and are paid directly to the company performing the checks/screens. The NPTE exam fee and state license fee are for reference only and are not paid to Heartland Community College. If you elect to take the test and become licensed in a different state, you would be responsible for determining those fees. Travel fees are related to clinical education and vary dependent on location (generally held to within 90 miles of HCC) and current fuel costs.
- The program accreditation requires the following: CAPTE - Program Financial Fact Sheet (PDF) (please note that the HCC PTA PROGRAM - ESTIMATED COST SHEET (PDF) provides a more accurate estimation).
Important Deadlines
| Event | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Application process begins. | April 1 |
| Application Deadline. | September 1 |
| Supporting documentation due. | September 1 |
| Applicants notified about admission. | November 15 |
PTA Upcoming Events
We strongly recommend you attend one of these informational sessions. All information meetings are held at the main campus in Normal, IL, unless otherwise noted.
| Day | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
|
Tuesday, February 25th |
5:00 p.m. |