Program - Physical Therapist Assistant

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  • 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 will open December 1st. All Applicants must complete the testing through Anoka Ramsey Community College no later than the application deadline. Students will receive scores immediately after testing.
    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

  • 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%.

    2-year Average for PTA Graduates in 2022 and 2023

    Graduation Rate

    93%

    Ultimate Licensure Exam (NPTE) Pass Rate

    90%

    Employment Rate

    95%

     

    PTA Class of 2022

    Graduation Rate

    93.3%

    Licensure Exam First-Attempt Pass Rate

    65.4%

    Ultimate Licensure Exam Pass Rate

    88.5%

    Employment Rate

    96%

     

    PTA Class of 2023

    Graduation Rate

    92%

    Licensure Exam First-Attempt Pass Rate

    69%

    Ultimate Licensure Exam Pass Rate

    91.3%

    Employment Rate

    93%

     
    ***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.

    State or U.S. Jurisdiction

    Anoka-Ramsey PTA Curriculum Meets State Education Requirements for PTA Licensure

    Anoka-Ramsey PTA Curriculum DOES NOT MEET State Education Requirements for PTA Licensure

    A determination has not been made whether the curriculum meets educational requirements for PTA Licensure

    Terminology for chart

    Yes

    Requirements Not Met

    No Determination

    Alabama

    Yes

       

    Alaska

    Yes

       

    American Samoa

    Yes

     

     

    Arizona

    Yes

       

    Arkansas

    Yes

       

    California

    Yes

       

    Colorado

    Yes

       

    Connecticut

    Yes

       

    Delaware

    Yes

       

    District of Columbia

    Yes

     

     

    Florida

    Yes

       

    Georgia

    Yes

       

    Guam

    Yes

     

     

    Hawaii

    Yes

       

    Idaho

    Yes

       

    Illinois

    Yes

       

    Indiana

    Yes

       

    Iowa

    Yes

       

    Kansas

    Yes

       

    Kentucky

    Yes

       

    Louisiana

    Yes

       

    Maine

    Yes

       

    Maryland

    Yes

       

    Massachusetts

    Yes

       

    Michigan

    Yes

       

    Minnesota

    Yes

       

    Mississippi

    Yes

       

    Missouri

    Yes

       

    Montana

    Yes

       

    Nebraska

    Yes

       

    Nevada

    Yes

       

    New Hampshire

    Yes

       

    New Jersey

    Yes

       

    New Mexico

    Yes

       

    New York

    Yes

       

    North Carolina

    Yes

       

    North Dakota

    Yes

       

    Northern Marinara Islands

    Yes

     

     

    Ohio

    Yes

       

    Oklahoma

    Yes

       

    Oregon

    Yes

       

    Pennsylvania

    Yes

       

    Rhode Island

    Yes

       

    South Carolina

    Yes

       

    South Dakota

    Yes

       

    Tennessee

    Yes

       

    Texas

    Yes

       

    Utah

    Yes

       

    Vermont

    Yes

       

    Virginia

    Yes

       

    Washington

    Yes

       

    West Virginia

    Yes

       

    Wisconsin

    Yes

       

    Wyoming

    Yes

       

    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

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