Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant

Request INFORMATION ABOUT THE PTA PROGRAM

Program overview

The first Physical Therapist Assistant program offered within Penn State, the Associate in Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree program at Penn State Hazleton was granted initial accreditation in 1983 with an enrollment of 20 students.

Ever since, the program has successfully prepared many physical therapist assistants following the best traditions of excellence in education.

Today, the program employs three full-time instructors, two part-time instructors and one part-time lab assistant who work closely with students to encourage professional and personal growth. The campus admits 54 students per class and has state-of-the-art facilities which mirror contemporary practice with over 900 agreements to support our clinical education curriculum. The program's next accreditation is scheduled for June 2026.

What does a PTA do?

The role of the Physical Therapist Assistant is to work as part of a team to provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist. They provide physical therapy services in a variety of settings, including private practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, nursing homes and work settings. PTAs implement components of interventions outlined in the plan of care by the physical therapist, 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. They provide patient education that focuses on safety, fitness and wellness.

The curriculum is a combination of general education, applied physical therapy sciences and three full-time clinical learning experiences. After successful completion of the didactic and clinical components of the PTA curriculum, students will earn an Associate in Science degree from Pennsylvania State University. PTAs must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program and are required to obtain licensure in most states to work. Students seeking licensure as a PTA must apply to the licensing authority of the jurisdiction (state) in which the graduate is seeking licensure and then register for the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Pennsylvania State University, Hazleton Campus, is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If you need to contact the program/institution directly, please call 570-450-3043 or email [email protected].

Admission information

Admission to the program is available to first-year, transfer students, re-enrollment applicants and current Penn State students wishing to change major and/or campus. Students are admitted during the fall semester. Decisions are made on an individual basis. The size of each class is limited to 55 students. This number allows for optimal academic, clinical and practical experiences while maintaining a high degree of individual attention for the students.

APPLY NOW FOR FALL 2025! Applications are still being accepted.

The recommended deadline for application is November 30 of the year prior to the next fall admissions. Applications received after November 30 will be considered in a later pool of applicants.

The applicants will be selected by the criteria outlined in the admission policy.

Documented observations in physical therapy clinics amounting to at least 10 hours will be required for applications to be considered complete. Please note that documented hours must be provided no later than the Monday before classes begin. Send documentation directly to Dr. Gina Tarud, not University Park.

PTA Observation Form (PDF)

Students currently in a Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree major at another Penn State campus who wish to change campuses and programs will be considered based on availability of space and curriculum compatibility. The direct approval of the program coordinator at Penn State Hazleton will be required.

Disclosures

CAPTE accreditation of a 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 at https://www.fsbpt.org.

Link to Penn State's Professional Licensure/Certification Disclosures by State interactive map.

Articulation agreement between Penn State and Misericordia University

On Sept. 2, 2009, Pennsylvania State University (through Penn State Hazleton) and Misericordia University entered into an agreement to transfer academic credits from Penn State's Associate in Science degree in the Physical Therapist Assistant program to the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program offered by Misericordia. Penn State students who earn an associate in science degree in the Physical Therapist Assistant program, continue their education to earn a bachelor's degree at Penn State with the necessary prerequisites, and remain in good standing can apply to Misericordia University's Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program. Please contact the following individuals for information regarding this agreement.

Penn State Hazleton's representative:

Dr. Gina Tarud
76 University Drive
Hazleton, PA 18202
570-450-3043
[email protected]

Misericordia University's representative:

Kristen Karnish, PT, D.Ed, MPH
301 Lake Street
Dallas, PA 18612
570-674-3325
[email protected]