The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum provides graduates to be employed in direct patient care settings under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapy assistants work to progress or return function by alleviation or prevention of physical impairment and perform other essential activities in a physical therapy setting. Coursework includes human anatomy and physiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment of a variety of patient conditions affecting humans throughout the life span. Clinical education is provided at cooperating hospitals, public health facilities, and private physical therapy centers. Students entering clinical externships may be required to provide a criminal background check and drug screening test before or during each rotation. Upon completion of the program, students must sit for and pass the Physical Therapist Assistant licensure exam, administered by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulations, in order to be employed and practice in the field. Employment opportunities for physical therapy assistants include hospitals, physician offices, physical therapy clinics, and private practices.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Malcolm X College is accredited by the:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
telephone: 800-999-2782
email: accreditation@apta.org
website: http://www.capteonline.org

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 312-850-7021 or email edicapo@ccc.edu.

This selective admissions program requires students to submit a separate application or to take additional action before enrolling.

For more information on the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Malcolm X College, visit the program webpage.

Related Degrees and Certificates

• Personal Fitness Trainer, Basic Certificate
• Physical Therapist Assistant, Associate in Applied Science

Program Requirements

Pathway

This is an example course sequence for students interested in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. This does not represent a contract, nor does it guarantee course availability. If this pathway is followed as outlined, you will earn an Associate in Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant.

Semester-by-Semester Program Plan for Full-Time Students

All plans can be modified to fit the needs of part-time students by adding more semesters.

¹

General Education Requirement

²

Biology 226 and Biology 227 may substitute for this requirement.

³

Or higher-level general education math course

⁴

Or higher-level general education psychology course

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Or higher-level general education physics course

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Or higher-level general education English class

Choose your courses with your College Advisor.

Program Admission Requirements

The program is very competitive, and having the minimum requirements does not indicate that you will be accepted into the program. Students having less than minimum requirements will not be considered. In order to enter the program students must:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Graduate from an accredited high school or earn a GED
• Meet general admissions requirements for Malcolm X College including successful completion of all prerequisite courses for the Physical Therapist Assistant program
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 in all college-level work
• Official college transcripts from all colleges attending outside of City Colleges of Chicago. All transcripts should be submitted to the Malcolm X College Office of Registrar Services.
• Grade of “C” or better in:

  Course List

  Code	Title	Hours
  ENGLISH 101	Composition (or higher General Education English course) 1	3
  General Education Mathematics course (Math 118 recommended)		3
  BIOLOGY 116	Introduction to Anatomy And Physiology 2	4
  or BIOLOGY 226 & BIOLOGY 227	Human Structure and Function I and Human Structure and Function II
  PSYCH 201	General Psychology (or higher General Education Psychology course) 1	3
  PHYSICS 131	Mechanics And Power (or higher General Education Physics course) 1	3
  ESSS 101	Personal Trainer Preparation	4
  ESSS 102	Personal Trainer Practicum	2
  ESSS 103	Allied Health Clinical Skills	2
  ESSS 112	Functional Anatomy & Kinesiology	5

¹

"or higher" effective Spring 2024

²

Effective Spring 2024, BIOLOGY 226 & 227 may be taken in place of BIOLOGY 116.

Background Check

Students entering most healthcare professions programs will be required to present documentation of health history and vaccination status, to undergo annual tuberculosis screening, to submit to a background check, to submit to initial and random drug screening, and to undergo fingerprinting prior to licensing with the state of Illinois. Students should consult with an advisor if any of these requirements are a concern.

For more information on admissions requirements and the application process, visit the Physical Therapist Assistant program webpage.

Careers

This program can prepare students for the jobs listed below. Click on each one to learn more, including average earnings, annual job openings, and how much education people in that field have. For additional guidance and resources on career options, current City Colleges students and alumni can contact the Career Services Office.

Physical Therapist Assistants