Oakton Community College Physical Therapist Assistant

Welcome to the Physical Therapist Assistant program Web site.

Chair: Mary DeNotto, 847.635.1857 or maryd@oakton.edu

The goal of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program is to prepare students to provide skilled, direct patient care under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a variety of health care settings. Courses at the Des Plaines campus include classroom and laboratory instruction in such therapeutic interventions as heat and cold applications, electrotherapy, and therapeutic exercise. Planned clinical experience is provided in medical facilities located within a 50-mile radius of Des Plaines.

This degree program requires a minimum of 69 semester credit hours in general education and sequential program courses offered over two years. This curriculum is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.

Students in this curriculum are required to pay laboratory fees, provide proof of health insurance, purchase uniforms, provide their own transportation to four assigned clinical facilities, and to participate in laboratory activities which require applications of physical therapy treatments. Graduates are eligible to take the Illinois state licensing examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.

Health Career curricula are governed by specific objectives, rules and regulations formulated by the College, accrediting bodies and participating clinical facilities. Students should familiarize themselves with these standards. Students should also be aware that failure to maintain satisfactory progress in technical courses may significantly delay completion of the curriculum or may result in a request for the student to withdraw from the curriculum. Each student’s right to participation in the clinical portion of the curriculum is also contingent upon compliance with the rules of the clinical facility. The clinical facility has sole discretion to determine when its rules have been violated.

Clinical placements may require a health assessment, certain immunizations, substance abuse testing, criminal background check, specific skill certification (i.e., CPR) and health insurance. These requirements represent an additional program cost to the student.

This is a limited admission curriculum. It is strongly recommended that students attend an Information Session prior to applying. Contact the Office of Admission and Enrollment Management for information regarding enrollment requirements, application procedures and deadlines at 847.635.1629.

I hope you find the information provided on these Web pages helpful. Please contact me with any questions or concerns you may have about the PTA program at 847.635.1857 or maryd@oakton.edu.

Thank you,

Mary DeNotto
PTA Chair