Physical Therapist Assistant

Open House Information:

The program hosts a virtual open house the first Wednesday of each month from 12:00pm-1:00 pm

• September 3, 2025
• October 1, 2025
• November 5, 2025
• December 3, 2025

Zoom Link: https://cccedu.zoom.us/j/92072234415 Meeting ID: 920 7223 4415

To Apply to Program: 

• Complete program prerequisite courses.  
• Submit official college transcripts (students DO NOT need to submit CCC transcripts)  
• Calculate admissions cumulative GPA.  ​​
• Apply to Program in Student Portal [my.ccc.edu] 
• Submit Program Specific Application.  

The application for the Summer 2026 cohort will be open from November 10, 2025 to January 23, 20256.

Program Overview: 

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) curriculum provides specialized educational and clinical experie​nces to prepare graduates for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam (NPTAE) and to gain employment in a variety of direct patient care settings under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapist assistants work with patients of all ages to improve meaningful function through selected treatment interventions, data collection methods, prevention measures, and patient education. Coursework includes the study of human​ anatomy and physiology, human movement and kinesiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment for a variety of patient conditions affecting humans throughout the lifespan. Clinical education is provided through a variety of partnerships with hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, outpatient physical therapy clinics, and home health agencies. Students entering clinical education experiences will be required to provide a criminal background check and drug screening test before or during each rotation in addition to other requirements of the clinical education site.                                                                                       

Program Mission 

The physical therapist assistant program at Malcolm X College, a contemporary institution, offers an innovative and career-focused education to students of diverse backgrounds.  The program aspires to equip learners with the competencies to become licensed physical therapist assistants committed to excellence and caring in clinical practice and inspired to respond to the needs of a dynamic society.                                                                                           

Admission Requirements and Process

To be eligible to apply, applicants must have completed all prerequisites or be on track to complete them by the end of the spring term before the summer semester they are applying for.                                                                                         

• Pre-Requisite Course Requirements: 
• English 101 
• Biology 116 or Biology 226 and Biology 227
• Math 118 or higher
• Physics 131 or higher
• Psychology 201
• ESSS 101 
• ESSS 102 
• ESSS 103 
• ESSS 112 

• Admission Requirements: 
• Admissions cumulative GPA of 2.50 or higher 
• Official college transcripts from all colleges attending outside of City Colleges of Chicago. All transcripts should be submitted to the Malcolm X College Office of Registrar Services.   
• Pre-requisite coursework

Step 2: Apply to the PTA Program through the Selective Admissions section of your student portal (my.ccc.edu​).  Utilize this help guide​ that includes images to assist with this step.  The steps are also listed below:

1. Login to https://my.ccc.edu
2. Click on “Academic Records”
3. Click on “Selective Application”
4. Click on “Proceed”
5. Click on “Apply” and then on “Yes” to apply for the program of your choice.

Step 3: The Program Specific Application, will be sent to all qualified applicants by the MXC Admissions Department.  All completed applications received by the due date will be evaluated

Step 4: The final step of the admission process is an in-person interview for select candidates.

NOTE: *The PTA Program is a Selective Admissions Program.  Completion of all pre-requisite coursework DOES NOT guarantee admission to the technical phase of the program.​​​​​​

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Malcolm X 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: https://www.capteonline.org/​