At A Glance
Two-year program with a focus on hands-on lab experiences.
100% employment rate for all graduates who have passed the national licensure exam.
Plenty of employment opportunities after graduation as the field is expected to grow between 2021 and 2031.
The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants was $61,180 in May 2021 according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics
Available at the Scranton campus.
Welcome to Physical Therapist Assistant-Associate Degree
Want to help people gain their mobility and movement after an injury? Then Lackawanna College’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) associate degree program can help you achieve your goal. Under the guidance of a physical therapist, graduates can work with patients to strengthen their muscles, restore mobility and help people improve their quality of life.
Your Career Starts Here
The physical therapist assistant field is expected to grow by 32% over the next 10 years, which means graduates should be able to find jobs easily. With an associate degree, graduates can work at a variety of settings including:
- Hospitals
- Physical therapy clinics
- Nursing homes
- Rehab facilities
- Schools
- Sports facilities
The Course Work
The program’s objectives are consistent with curriculum content and expectations set forth by the Commision on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) related to expectations for an entry-level PTA. Lackawanna’s program provides students with a well-rounded education that gives them classroom instruction and clinical experience.
Some of the classes students take include:
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Medical Ethics
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to PTA
- Therapeutic Modalities
- Orthopedic Rehab/Basic Skills
- Functional Kinesiology
- Organ & Admin of PTA
- Clinicals
PTA Pathway Program with Harrisburg University
In February 2024, Lackawanna College (LC) and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) entered into an agreement to have LC students enrolled in the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) associate degree program seamlessly transfer into the Harrisburg University Exercise Science bachelor’s degree program (BS) upon graduation. Under the dual admissions transfer agreement, LC students can transfer up to 56 credits into HU’s Exercise Science program. This agreement guarantees admission to HU for qualifying LC students if they meet specific criteria, including holding a PTA license and graduating from LC within the past year. After earning their bachelor’s degree, students can further their education by applying to HU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) hybrid program.
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Additional Information
Application Deadline
The Physical Therapist Assistant program operates on a rolling selective admissions process. Call 570-504-1497 for more information. Priority consideration will be given to applications received by June 1. After June 1, applications will be reviewed as space becomes available.
All Lackawanna College curriculum guides can be found on the Portal.
The admissions selection process is based on the following criteria and requirements:
An Application to Lackawanna College along with a separate application to the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
Transfer Of Courses Into The PTA Program
Students may only transfer in college credits for the following PTA program core courses and only if accepted by the College for direct transfer. Please refer to the PTA Application (located in the “Admissions Process and Criteria” section) for full requirements for transfer of the following courses:
- College Writing (3 credits)
- Computer Applications (3 credits and taken within the last five (5) years)
- Anatomy and Physiology 1* (4 credits)
- Medical Terminology* (1 credit)
- Medical Ethics* (3 credits)
- Effective Speaking (3 credits)
- College Algebra or equivalent higher-level math (3 credits)
- Introduction to Psychology (3 credits)
* It is recommended that these courses be taken within the PTA program due to course content taught towards or related to the PTA profession.
All other courses within the PTA program curriculum and designated with the course code initials (PTA) must be taken within the Lackawanna College PTA program and are not eligible for transfer.
Due Process/Complaints/Grievance Process Policy from PTA Handbook
PTA Program Outcomes
| Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | Two-Year Average (2024-2025) |
|---|---|---|
| 80% | 67% | 77% |
| Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | Average (2024-2025) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| First Time | 75% | 100% | 80% |
| Ultimate | 100% | 100% | 100% Weighted average ultimate pass rate |
| Class of 2023 | Class of 2024 | Class of 2025 | Two-Year Average (2024-2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 100% | 100% | 100% |
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Lackawanna 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 570-504-1497 or email murraym@lackawanna.edu.