Anoka Ramsey Community College

The PTA program at Anoka-Ramsey is a special admission program that accepts applications for review once a year in February. Students must complete specific eligibility requirements to be able to apply to the program.

Meeting minimum application eligibility requirements does not guarantee program admission. If applicants meet minimum requirements, they will then be given an applicant score based on how many of the program-specific biology courses and general education courses they have completed, their grades in these courses, and their score on the standardized test or proof of bachelor’s degree documentation they submit. These applicant scores are used to determine the top applicants who are then offered places in the program. To review minimum eligibility requirements needed for application and a sample of the scoring rubric used to score an applicant, refer to the PTA Information Packet

The Health Science Reasoning Test (HSRT) is taken to be considered for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program.

PTA Fall 2025 Application Cycle: February 1 – 28, 2025

The HSRT is a 50 minute, 35 question, multiple choice, online exam designed to measure critical thinking skills that requires you to read information and respond to questions based on the reading. All information needed to answer the questions is in the reading, so there is no need for healthcare background information.

The HSRT can only be taken once per application cycle. Only the first exam will be considered with your application. Students are responsible for any additional charges. There is a $32 fee payable when scheduling in RegisterBlast. A Photo ID is required. No calculators, paper, or electronics are to be present during the exam.

Registration for the HSRT is open. All Applicants must complete the testing through Anoka Ramsey Community College no later than the application deadline. Students will receive scores immediately after testing. Practice tests for HSRT are available at Insight Assessment.

Testing Accommodations must be approved by the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) prior to scheduling the exam.

Register to take the HSRT: https://www.registerblast.com/arcc-cr/Exam/List

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Anoka Ramsey Community College 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: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 763-433-1293 or email Lisa.Lentner@anokaramsey.edu.

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
703-684-2782
accreditation@apta.org
capteonline.org

2023-2024 PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet 

Upon successful completion of the Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program, graduates must pass the National Physical Therapy Licensing Exam (NPTE).

Anoka-Ramsey graduates have been very successful on the PTA National licensing exam (NPTE).

A score of 600 is required to pass the licensing exam. As shown in the data below, the Ultimate Licensure Exam Pass Rate for students in the Anoka-Ramsey program for the past two years has been 100%.

 
***Scale Scores of 600 and above are passing for NPTE

Effective July 1, 2020 the U.S. Department of Education is implementing a new regulation, Regulation 34 CFR 668.43 (a) (5) (v), which requires all colleges with nursing or allied health programs that end in certification or licensing to provide the following:

1. A list of all states/jurisdictions where the institution’s curriculum meets state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification;
2. A list of all states/jurisdictions where the institution’s curriculum does not meet state educational requirements for professional licensure or certification; and
3. A list of all states/jurisdictions where the institution has not made a determination on whether the curriculum meets educational requirements.

NOTE: This information only relates to initial licensure by exam requirements for the state listed. Students should contact the Board of Physical Therapy in the state they would like to be licensed for specifics.

This information DOES NOT relate to transferring licensure to another state.

Click here to read the full text of the federal regulation. 

Successful completion of the Physical Therapy Assistant program at the Anoka-Ramsey Community College will meet the requirements for certification by the The Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy. Certification by the Minnesota State Board of Physical Therapy is required by Minnesota as well as by some states to acquire a state license to practice the profession of Physical Therapy Assistant or for employment as a certified/licensed Physical Therapy Assistant. Anoka-Ramsey Community College highly recommends that you contact the appropriate state licensing board in the state or locality in which you wish to practice or be employed.

State Board Licensing Contacts

A complaint from an individual who has no standing within Anoka Ramsey Community College, such as a prospective student, employer of a graduate from the PTA program, a clinical education site and/or its patients, a volunteer for the ARCC physical therapy clinic, or the general public should be submitted to the PTA Program Director via email (lisa.lentner@anokaramsey.edu ). The program director will review the complaint and determine if other parties, such as college administration, need to be involved. The program director will respond to the complaint within 14 days of receiving the initial email.   

• Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant