HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) has finalized an articulation agreement with Central Penn College to create a seamless pathway between the Physical Therapist Assistant Associate program at Central Penn and the Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science program at Harrisburg University.
This collaboration allows PTA students from Central Penn College to further their educational journey at HU via the Exercise Science BS. From there, students will be well prepared, should they choose, to continue their academic and personal development in the hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy program, now in development at HU*.
The ability to seamlessly transfer credits and credentials between these institutions will help address the shortage of qualified providers in Pennsylvania’s Midstate Region. Harrisburg University thanks Jacqueline Klaczak Kopack, PT, DPT, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at HU, for taking point in shepherding this process to completion.
“We are thrilled with this articulation agreement with Central Penn’s PTA program!” said Dr. Kopack. “As a PT, I see the negative effect that educational debt has on many Doctor of Physical Therapy graduates. My experience as a Director in PTA education has highlighted the need for more affordable and realistic DPT educational pathways, like the one we’re building here at HU. I’m grateful to be part of a team creating a unique opportunity for PTA graduates who want to pursue their future as a Doctor of Physical Therapy.”
This agreement is effective immediately and guarantees admission to HU’s Exercise Science program for all Central Penn College Physical Therapist Assistant students who complete the electronic “Dual Admissions Intent.” Graduates from the Central Penn PTA program who are successful in obtaining their PTA license will continue on to HU’s Exercise Science (EXSC) BS program and have the ability to further continue to HU’s developing Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
Students from Central Penn’s Physical Therapist Assistant program will be awarded a block of 53 transfer credits for their PTA associate’s degree and evidence of Physical Therapist Assistant license. No diagnostic testing is needed, and the current agreement is valid through August 2028.
Pennsylvania faces a shortage of physical therapists and related professionals that was approaching “crisis” levels even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. This shortage mirrors broader healthcare workforce issues throughout the state and is especially pronounced in rural areas, including parts of Central Pennsylvania.
A 2021 report identified Pennsylvania as having one of the most severe shortages of healthcare professionals, due in part to an aging workforce and inadequate infrastructure to train new professionals. This articulation agreement is part of HU’s ongoing efforts to address these pain points in this critical, life-affirming field.
“Through the EXSC PTA pathway partnership between HU and Central Penn, we are creating a transformative opportunity for students by bridging academic excellence with practical application,” said Lori Portzer, Ph.D., ACSM-EP, Program Lead and Associate Professor for Exercise Science at HU. “This collaboration between our two institutions not only strengthens the educational foundation of future healthcare professionals, but also addresses the growing needs of the healthcare sector in Pennsylvania. Together, we are empowering students with the skills and knowledge to lead with compassion and innovation – ensuring a brighter, healthier future for our communities.”
Harrisburg University thanks Central Penn College for joining us in this partnership and for helping our institution improve workforce conditions and support public health throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
*Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT’s website. Harrisburg University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on November 1, 2024. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
