The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is a full time day program that combines courses in general education and physical therapy with supervised clinical experiences in area clinical settings including hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, in-patient and out-patient facilities with specialties in acute care, rehab medicine, aquatics, and orthopedics.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program (PTA) at Mercer County Community College (MCCC) is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the PTA Program at MCCC directly, please call Program Coordinator Holly Kaiser at 609-570-3478 or email her at KaiserH@mccc.edu.

For CAPTE Accreditation please click on the CAPTE logo:

Graduates are eligible to take the licensure examination for physical therapist assistants and be recognized by the State of New Jersey Department of Consumer Affairs, Division of Law & Public Safety, State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, which governs the practice of physical therapy in the state of New Jersey. Graduates are also eligible for licensure in other states which require the successful completion of a CAPTE accredited physical therapy education program.

PTAs are employed by hospitals, pediatric, geriatric, and private practice physical therapy facilities. Upon successful completion of the program, students are awarded the Associate in Applied Science Degree and will be able to:

• communicate effectively with other members of the health care team, patients and their families;
• provide patient care and physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist
• perform patient assessment techniques including joint range of motion, manual muscle testing and measurement for assistive devices;
• assist patients in gait training activities, body mechanics principles and therapeutic exercise;
• utilize clinical decision-making skills in the performance of physical therapy treatment interventions.

Applicants must have a high school diploma or the equivalent with at least one year of a high school laboratory science and those students whose background in the sciences is old or weak may be expected to complete one or more of the following courses:

• Physical Science Concepts (PHY 111)
• Introductory Chemistry (CHE 100)
• Biological Science Concepts (BIO 113).

For more information regarding the admission process, please access the following page:Thank you!

All individuals who are considering a career in one of the health professions including Physical Therapist Assistant, must undergo a Criminal Background Check. This process helps clinical facilities ensure that patients under their care are safe from individuals who may have had criminal offenses in their past. Failure to pass the CBC may prohibit an individual's ability to be placed in a clinical setting for a clinical affiliation and/or ability to become licensed. Drug screenings may also be required depending upon the requirements of the clinical settings in which the individual may be affiliating.