HARRISBURG, PA – Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) and Howard Community College (HCC) are pleased to announce a new articulation agreement, designed to create a seamless pathway between the Howard Community College Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Associate’s Degree Program and the Harrisburg University Exercise Science Bachelor of Science Degree Program.
This collaboration allows PTA students from HCC to continue their educational journey via the Exercise Science bachelor’s program. From there, students will be well prepared, should they choose, to continue their academic development in the hybrid Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, now in development* at HU.
Presently, there is high demand for qualified healthcare practitioners across the United States – including exercise physiologists, physical therapists, physician assistants, registered nurses, strength & conditioning coaches, surgeons, and other allied health professionals. The ability to seamlessly transfer credits and credentials between HCC and HU will help address ongoing staffing shortages and treatment bottlenecks throughout Pennsylvania and the DMV region (Washington, DC; Maryland; and Virginia).
“On behalf of the Exercise Science and Physical Therapy teams here at HU, I’d like to thank Howard Community College for taking this step with us,” said Jacqueline Klaczak Kopack, PT, DPT, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy at HU. “This partnership will open doors to incredible careers for students who wish to answer the call to serve but are concerned with the prospect of carrying educational debt after graduation. My experience as a Director in PTA education has highlighted the need for more affordable and realistic Exercise Science and DPT pathways. 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.”
Howard Community College President, Daria J. Willis, added: “Howard Community College is proud to meet students where they dream by providing pathways to success and economic mobility. Innovative agreements like the Exercise Science Pathway with Harrisburg University of Science and Technology fill critical gaps in healthcare talent development, while giving students a clear vision for long-term professional achievement.”
Effective immediately, this agreement guarantees admission to HU’s Exercise Science program for all Howard Community College Physical Therapist Assistant students who complete the electronic dual admissions intent form with HU prior to completing no more than 45 credits at HCC. Applicants must also complete the HU admissions application and satisfy all other regular admissions requirements. Graduates from the HCC 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 continue further in HU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.
Students who graduate from HCC’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. Students must not attend any other institution between their time at HCC and HU.
Pennsylvania faces a shortage of physical therapists and related professionals that was approaching “crisis” levels even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, recent reports from Maryland show widespread staffing shortfalls and high levels of turnover and burnout among working healthcare professionals. The state of Virginia also indicates severe shortages of healthcare practitioners – especially in small towns and rural areas. These shortages mirror 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.
This pathway partnership between Harrisburg University and Howard Community College creates a transformative opportunity for students by bridging academic excellence with practical application. The goal is to empower students with the skills and knowledge to lead with compassion and innovation – ensuring a brighter, healthier future for our communities.
Harrisburg University thanks Howard Community College for joining us in this partnership and for helping our institution improve workforce conditions and support public health throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the United States.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges. HU 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 HU’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 LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and X (Twitter).
*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 May 1, 2025. 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. CAPTE accreditation site visit Summer 2028; inaugural cohort graduation December 2028; first licensure examination date available to graduates January 2029; and CAPTE accreditation decision expected in Fall 2028.
