General Admission Information
 1. For any academic (school) year, students are admitted selectively to begin in the fall semester which starts in August of each year. The deadline for acceptance of eligible applicants to be enrolled in Fall 2010 is April 1, 2010 . Only those applications with completed files will be considered as eligible. Completed files are considered those files that include the following: PTA application, HS transcripts, college transcript through Summer 2009, and completed observation hours form. Applicants must also complete all preadmission course requirements and an admissions interview prior to acceptance.

2. Accreditation The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Morton College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education(CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association 1111 N. Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; accreditation@apta.org: (703) 684-2782 or (703) 706-3245. Website: www.capteonline.org

3. Since enrollment is selective, priority for acceptance is given to legal residents of the Morton College District 527 who meet all eligibility requirements. In 2007, 10 of 22 graduates were in district students.

4.Eligible non-resident applicants will be considered until the program capacity is reached. In 2007, 12 of 22 graduates were out of district students.

5. For most students, the program will require a full-time and daytime commitment. In the second year of the program students will participate in the clinical affiliation part of the academic program. Clinical affiliations are a full time experience. Students are advised NOT to pursue full time employment during clinical affiliations. Students are responsible for their own transportation related to clinical experiences.

6. Only students officially accepted to the PTA program may enroll in courses with the PHT prefix, except for PHT 101. Classes begin only in the fall semester of each school year. To complete the professional core and general education credits, which are a part of the curriculum, students should plan on attending school for 2 ½ full (Fall/Spring/Summer) academic years or 3 (Fall/Spring only) academic years.

7. Eligible applicants will be notified in writing within 2 weeks after the admissions committee has determined successful candidates. Meeting the minimum preadmission requirements does not guarantee admissions to the PTA program.

8. Applicants not meeting eligibility requirements will receive a written letter and will be recommended for advising. NOTE: Applications to the PTA program DO NOT roll over from year to year. Applicants must apply to the program each year to be considered for admissions.

9.  In 2007, 88% of students that started the PTA program graduated.

10. The three year(2005 -2008) pass rate average on the National Physical Therapy Exam is 75%

11.The average number of people applying to the program and the number of people admitted varies from year to year based on the number of qualified applicants. In 2008, twenty five applicants were offered seats in the PTA program and all enrolled.

Admission Requirements ⇑ Top

Admission requirements into the PTA program are:

• High school diploma or GED
• Complete 30 hours of observation in two different physical therapy clinical settings
• Complete MAT 093 with a grade of “P” or place into MAT 095 on the Morton College Math Placement Test
• Completion of pre-admission course work, as follows, with grade of “C” or better within five years of acceptance into the program:
  – ENG 101*
  – BIO 103
  – BIO 104
  -  PHT 101 or equivalent
• Participation in an interview for inclusion or exclusion purposes with two PTA Admission Committee members. Completion of a 250 word essay at the time of the interview.
• Submission of two letters of recommendation.
• Eligibility for admission into the PTA program is selective.

All prerequisite course work and other admission requirements must be met before final acceptance.

Preference is given to in-district residents, and then to out-of-district residents whose district does not provide a PTA degree program.

Priority consideration for the fall semester of each academic year is given to students applying by April 1, and meeting all of the academic requirements by May 31. Applicants completing requirements after May 31 will be considered if seats are available.

 Application Procedures ⇑ Top

1. The following requirements must be met prior to admission in this selective admission program:

A)        Graduation from an accredited high school or successful completion of the GED test. Out of country high school transcripts must be ECE or WES evaluated stating U.S. equivalency. Official high school transcripts or GED scores must be submitted with the PTA application to the Office of Admissions and Records. COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTS MUST BE ON FILE IN THE OFFICE OF ADMISSIONS AND RECORDS BY THE APPLICATION DEADLINE OF APRIL 1, 2010.

B)       Completion of 2 semesters of Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 103 & 104), or equivalent college level course work within five (5) years of beginning the program and with a grade of “C” or better.

C)       Completion of English or Rhetoric I (ENG 101) within five (5) years of beginning the program and with a grade of “C” or better. If greater than five years the applicant must place into ENG 101 on the Morton College placement test.

D)        Completion of PHT 101 (Medical Terminology for Clinicians) or an equivalent 2 credit hour medical terminology course with a grade of “C” or better.

E)        Completion of MAT 093 with a grade of “P” or place into MAT 095 on the Morton College placement test.

F)         Completion of 30 hours of observation in two different physical therapy clinical settings (i.e. outpatient, inpatient, rehabilitation, skilled nursing) is required. Observation may be at the same facility if two different clinical experiences are offered (i.e. a hospital that can offer both an inpatient and an outpatient experience). Observation hours can be completed up to 1 year before starting the PTA program. An observation form is in the application packet. You can make additional copies if needed. Please keep a copy of your complete observation form for your records. Your completed observation form must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by April 1, 2010.

G)   Completion of the interview process: All applicants must call Academic Advising to schedule an appointment for an interview. Interviews will be scheduled from April 7, 2010through May 11, 2010. The Advising department will begin scheduling interviews after April 1, 2010. Two interviews will be required: one with the PTA Program Director and one with another PTA faculty member. Whenever possible these interviews take place on the same day. The interviews are for inclusion and exclusion purposes. (See general information sheet for additional information.) At the time of the interviews, students will be asked to write a 250 word essay.

H)     ) Submission of two letters of recommendation from community members or acquaintances of professional status (Priest, minister, lawyer, banker, teacher, etc.) Letters of recommendation from family members will not be accepted.

2. Official college transcripts through Fall 2009 must be must be submitted with the PTA application to the Office of Admissions and Records. Transcripts for Spring 2010 courses must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by May 31, 2010.

   All transcripts will be evaluated for appropriate transfer credit from the accredited institution that the student attended. Note that a transcript is considered official only when it is sent by mail from one institution to another, OR if sent to the student’s residence, it must be kept in the sealed envelope. Credit accepted for transfer will be determined by the Office of Admissions and Records. The exception to this is with international transcripts, see # 3. PTA APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED WITHOUT COMPLETE TRANSCRIPTS.

3. International transcripts must be evaluated through a Credential Evaluation Service such as ECE. Forms are available through the Office of Admissions and Records to initiate this process. All questions regarding international transcripts must be directed to the Office of Admissions and Records.
4. Applicants must meet all general college admission requirements for degree seeking students as outlined in the college catalog. More information about this is available from the Office of Admissions and Records.



5. Applicants will receive a confirmation letter after receipt of their PTA application.


6. All PTA applicants must meet with an academic healthcare advisor before May 15th to review transcripts. Call 708-656-8000 ext 250 to schedule an appointment.


7. It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that all necessary documents are on file. Applicants are encouraged to keep copies of documents submitted, with the exception of any official transcripts, or at least keep a record of the dates that documents are submitted. A checklist is provided in the application packet to use as a guide.


8. Meeting the minimum admission requirements DOES NOT guarantee admission to the PTA program.


9. It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the Office of Admissions and Records and PTA Program Coordinator of any change in address or phone number once the application is submitted.

The admission process is selective and a point system will be used to determine which students will be admitted. In the event of a "tie" the overall cumulative college GPA in preadmission courses will be used.

If information or assistance is needed the following individuals or departments may be contacted at the following extensions after dialing the college at (708) 656-8000:

PTA Program Faculty                                                    ext. 380
Office of Admissions and Records                              ext. 346
Financial Aid Office                                                       ext. 428
Marge Hopkins Academic Advisor for PTA Students   ext. 250
(Also use extension 250 to inquire about placement test appointments and advising appointments)

Essential Skills Required of PTA Students ⇑ Top

To meet Morton College PTA Program academic objectives and perform duties required in the clinical education aspect of the PTA program. PTA students must be able to demonstrate critical, logical, and analytical thinking. They must demonstrate ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds and with people who have disabilities.. Furthermore, PTA students must possess motor and visual skills that enable them to meet program academic objectives and perform duties required in the clinical education aspect of the PTA program.

Specifically, PTA students:

1. 1. must have sufficient hearing ability to respond appropriately to patients, physicians, and coworkers;
2. must be able to communicate verbally and in writing in order to communicate
   effectively with patients, their families, co-workers, and the general public;
3. must be physically able to transfer patients to and from wheelchairs, beds, mats, etc.,
   and effectively provide all aspects of patient care related to PT;
4. must demonstrate ability to spend prolonged periods, of time walking, standing, sitting, bending as well as frequently crawling, reaching, pushing and pulling;
5. must have sufficient visual acuity to read regular to extra fine print on goniometers and other measuring devices;
6. must have sufficient manual dexterity to allow them to handle small objects, palpate
   muscles and/or bony prominences, and monitor patients;
7. must be able to complete tasks/examinations within required time limits in the
   classroom, laboratory, and in the clinical areas;
8. must demonstrate emotional health required for utilization of intellectual abilities and exercise of good judgment.

*The above technical standards must be met with reasonable accommodations.

If you need further information or assistance, the following individuals or departments may be contacted at the following extensions after dialing the college at (708) 656-8000:

PTA Program Faculty  - ext. 380
Office of Admissions and Records - ext. 346
Financial Aid Office - ext. 428
Marge Hopkins Academic Advisor for PTA Students   -   ext. 250
(Also use extension 250 to inquire about placement test appointments)