Application Process

Applicants must meet all general college admission requirements for degree seeking students as outlined in the Morton College Catalog.

For information on getting started with the Morton College application/enrollment process please refer to the Morton College Catalog or the “Apply Now” link.

NOTE: Meeting the minimum college admission requirements DOES NOT guarantee admission to the PTA Program. Applicants must also meet and complete the PTA Program specific requirements and application process.

Cara Bonick, PTA, M.Ed.

Director of Physical Therapist Assistant Program

cara.bonick@morton.edu

PTA Program Specific Application Process and Requirements

To attain a PTA Program specific application packet, please visit the Office of Admissions & Records at Morton College, located on the 1st Floor, Building B. Please email healthcarecareers@morton.edu or call the Office of Admissions & Records at 708.656.8000 Ext. 2346 for questions/concerns regarding attaining an application packet.

Email advising@morton.edu or call Academic Advising at 708.656.8000 Ext. 2250 to set up an appointment to ensure coursework requirements are met.

High School Graduation or High School Equivalency (GED/HiSET/TASC)

  • Out of country high school transcripts must be ECE or WES evaluated stating U.S. equivalency.
  • Official high school transcripts or GED/HiSET/TASC scores must be submitted with the PTA application to the Office of Admissions and Records.
  • Complete transcripts must be on file in the Office of Admissions and Records by the application deadline of February 4, 2022.

Prerequisite Courses

Successful completion of the following college courses, by the end of the Spring 2022 semester, with a minimum grade of “C” in each and completed within 5 years of beginning the program (fall ’17 and after):

  • Rhetoric I (ENG 101) – Note: Applicants who have completed ENG 101 more than five years prior to beginning the program may have this requirement waived by placing into ENG 101 on the Morton College English placement exam (only test scores dated 9/1/20 and after will be valid) or if they have taken ENG 102 fall 2017 and
  • Medical Terminology for Clinicians (PHT 101, 2 credits or HCP 130, 3 credits) or equivalent – NOTE: Any Medical Terminology course taken that is over 2 credit hours will be viewed, when pertaining to points, as a 2-credit course
  • Anatomy and Physiology (Therapies) (BIO 152, 5 credits) or equivalent.
  • Fundamentals of Physics (PHY 100, 3 credits) or equivalent.

Successful completion of MAT 093 (or equivalent) or Accuplacer placement testing into MAT 097 (only test dated 9/1/20 and after will be considered valid) or completion of higher-level math course. Two attempts are allowed.

Observation Hours

Applicants must complete twenty hours of observation in at least two different physical therapy clinical settings, with a minimum of 10 hours in one setting (1 must be outpatient and 1 must be inpatient). Observation hours may be completed one year before starting the program (beginning June 2021 and after). Observation hour log sheets will be included in application packets and can also be found in “Forms and Worksheets” under Quick Links. Exceptions may be considered by the program director for special NOTE: Observation hour requirement temporarily waived due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Letters of Recommendation

  • Submission of two signed letters of recommendation from community members or acquaintances of professional status (Priest, minister, lawyer, banker, teacher, etc.)
  • Letters of recommendation from family members will not be accepted.

Interview

Participation in an interview for inclusion and exclusion purposes with the PTA Program admissions committee. Interview letters will be mailed/emailed to eligible applicants after February 4, 2022.

Transcripts

  • Official college transcripts through Fall 2021 must be submitted with the PTA application to the Office of Admissions and Records by the February 4, 2022 deadline.
  • Transcripts for coursework completed in Spring 2022 must be submitted to the Office of Admissions and Records by May 27, 2022.
  • All transcripts will be evaluated for appropriate transfer credit from the accredited institution that the student attended.
  • A transcript is considered official only when it is sent by mail from one institution to another, OR if sent to the student’s residence, it must be kept in the sealed envelope.
  • Credit accepted for transfer will be determined by the Office of Admissions and Records.
  • International transcripts are an exception and must be evaluated through a Credential Evaluation Service such as ECE or WES. Please visit ece.org or www.wes.org for more information. All questions regarding international transcripts must be directed to the Office of Admissions and Records.

Other Requirements and Policies

  • Minimum GPA of 2.0 is required
  • Proof of residency status. NOTE: Applicants wanting in-district consideration (whether living in-district or working in-district) must submit proof by February 4, 2022.
  • All applicants MUST attend a PTA information session during the current application cycle and meet with a Healthcare Advisor prior to the February 4, 2022 deadline. Prior year attendance DOES NOT count (see PTA application packet for a list of dates).
  • General Education Program Requirements can be found in the Pre-PTA Worksheet. It is highly recommended that they be completed prior to admission. All general education requirements must be complete with a “C” or better.
  • Admission to Morton College’s PTA program is competitive. Admission points will be awarded for both subjective criteria (interview) as well as objective criteria (admission points for eligible courses).
  • Admission priority is given to in-district residents meeting program requirements.
      • Applicants will receive a confirmation letter after receipt of their application by the Office of Admissions and Records.
      • It is the applicant’s responsibility to make sure that all necessary documents are on file. Applicants are encouraged to keep copies of documents submitted, with the exception of any official transcripts, or at least keep a record of the dates that documents are submitted. A checklist is provided in the application packet to use as a guide.
      • It is the applicant’s responsibility to notify the Office of Admissions and Records and the Recruitment Assistant of any change in address or phone number once the application is submitted.

NOTE: Students enrolling in instructional programs with state and/or federal licensure requirements, including residency and employment eligibility requirements, should contact the appropriate regulatory agency prior to enrolling in classes.

Quick Links