Rasmussen College – Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove Campus Physical Therapist Assistant Program Earns CAPTE Accreditation
Accreditation affirms quality of curriculum and instruction
Minneapolis (Dec. 3, 2018)—Rasmussen College, a regionally accredited private college, is excited to announce its Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Associate’s degree program at its Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove, Minn. campus has earned accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).1,2 Additionally, the program received commendation from CAPTE praising faculty and staff for developing “a comprehensive and high quality program that recognizes the need for a strong faculty, strong inter-collegial interactions and strong ties to the community.” Accreditation signifies the PTA program at the Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove campus, has met or exceeds standards and criteria for educational quality in physical therapist assistant curriculum and prepares PTA students to work successfully in the profession upon graduation.
“Rasmussen College is committed to delivering the highest standard of education across all of our Health Sciences programs,” said Amy Garrigues, Rasmussen College executive director of physical therapy and rehabilitation services. “We are proud to have successfully fulfilled CAPTE’s rigorous requirements for our PTA program. Achieving accreditation reinforces the College is delivering on our responsibility to offer an exceptional education to our students.”
A licensed PTA works directly with patients—under the direction of a physical therapist, performs therapeutic exercises using a variety of techniques and equipment to help treat and educate patients and their family members and advocate on patients’ behalf.
About the Rasmussen College – Brooklyn Park CAPTE-Accredited PTA Program
Across the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 30 percent employment growth for physical therapist assistants by 2026, which is much faster than average. Rasmussen College’s rigorous, hands-on PTA program is designed to help students earn their degree and seek a PTA position in as few as 18 months.3
“Increased need across the healthcare community for physical therapist assistants is largely due to the needs of an aging population and the growing necessity to care for individuals with chronic conditions such as low back pain, osteoarthritis, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and obesity,” said Dr. Matthew Vraa, Rasmussen College Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove Campus PTA program director. “The Rasmussen College’s Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s degree curriculum provides hands-on experience in both on-campus labs as well as clinical practice at healthcare facilities, so students can develop the confidence and skills employers are looking for. Students learn the skills needed to improve a patient’s mobility and decrease pain, as well as the ability to comfortably and confidently interact with physical therapists, healthcare team members and patients of all ages and stages of care.”
The program is offered with Flex Choice® self-directed assessment offerings, which allows students to blend traditional online courses with self-directed assessments that provide optional coaching assistance. Assessments provide more flexibility, and—at $99 per attempt—is a more affordable way to receive credit for what students already know.
To learn more about the Rasmussen College Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s degree program, please visit rasmussen.edu/pta.
To learn more about Rasmussen College, please visit rasmussen.edu.
1Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. hlcommission.org | 800-621-7440
2The Rasmussen College Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s degree program in Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; [email protected]. Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by CAPTE is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
3Completion time is dependent on the number of courses completed each term.

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