Physical Therapist Assistant
ASSOCIATE OF APPLIED SCIENCE DEGREE | COLLEGE FOR ADULTS
About the program
Help people overcome physical limitations and improve their lives.
Thinking about a physical therapist assistant (PTA) associate degree from St. Kate’s College for Adults? Become a skilled healthcare practitioner who helps patients, young and old, recover physical function lost through disease, injury or other causes.
St. Kate’s PTA associate program was one of the first of its kind in the nation. Grounded in social justice, the program offers a challenging, yet supportive blend of theory and practice. You will master physical therapy concepts and techniques. You’ll be inspired to grow personally and build critical-thinking and decisionmaking skills. You’ll join a small, supportive community that will inspire you to excel in your career and change lives. As a graduate of this program, you will be qualified to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam (NPTAE); passing the NPTAE is a requirement for becoming a licensed physical therapist assistant.
What can I do with a Physical Therapist Assistant degree?
Once licensed, you will help people overcome physical limitations and find ways to work around injuries and disabilities to help them improve their ability to move. You’ll work under the direction of licensed physical therapists in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools and rehabilitation units.
What will I study?
Depending on when you enroll during the year, you may complete online corequisite and liberal arts courses first, as part of the 63-credit A.A.S. degree. You’ll build skills essential to your future success in college and career critical thinking, communication and teamwork, values and social justice, and work-ready liberal arts competencies.
Some students enrolling in the Fall semester may move directly into the PTA major courses (pending space availability and student eligibility). PTA courses combine online and on-campus classroom and lab experiences. Students will also complete two 8-week onsite clinical rotations at leading Twin Cities-area hospitals and clinics that may include acute care, skilled nursing facility/rehabilitative or outpatient settings
Class scheduling / time to completion
Lab-based PTA courses meet in person on St. Kate’s campus in St. Paul every Wednesday, and online every Thursday morning. The remainder of PTA course content is delivered in an asynchronous online format. Service learning hours and clinical experiences will be completed in person.
You may complete the PTA program curriculum in as little as 19 months.
Transfer in previous college credits
We’ll make the most of your previous college experience. Contact your admission counselor or learn more about transferring courses at: stkate.edu/transfer
Next Steps: College and career pathways
Once you’ve completed your associate PTA degree, continue on to complete our PTA Bachelor’s Completion program, which prepares students to practice at the top of their PTA license and move into management positions
How to apply
Review the admission instructions and start your application on St. Catherine University’s website.
Note: Admission to the University does not guarantee admission into the PTA course sequence.
Progressing into the PTA courses
Applications to progress into the PTA courses each Fall are accepted the previous spring semester until spaces are filled. Requirements for consideration are:
• A cumulative GPA of 2.5 (C+) or higher by the end of the spring semester in which you are applying.
• Available time to commit to a rigorous healthcare program.
Students must complete BIOL 2400 or its equivalent with a grade of “C” or higher by the end of their first semester in the PTA program. Students may not progress in the PTA program sequence until this has been achieved. BIOL 2400 may be repeated no more than once. A “W” (withdrawal) counts as an attempted/ repeated course.
All students must pass a background check and attain all required immunizations before starting the PTA major courses.
Once accepted into the PTA major, you will be asked to verify that you can meet performance expectations, with or without reasonable accommodations, as outlined in the Essential Elements of the PTA Curriculum
