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2025-2026 Catalog 
  
    May 29, 2025  
2025-2026 Catalog

Physical Therapist Assistant, AAS


See list of Department Chairs on the Personnel  page.

Program Description

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program teaches you to manage conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains and fractures. Students will also learn how to help patients with arthritis, burns, strokes and many other conditions. Students will receive hands-on training in labs and at clinic sites. Physical Therapist Assistants will work in a broad range of settings, such as hospitals, homes, schools, and rehab, fitness and sports clinics.

The PTA program has a selective admissions process. The program application and requirements are available online from October 1 - May 31. All Health & Public Safety programs have essential functions to help you be successful in the program and career.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must have successfully completed or be in progress spring semester for the following courses to be eligible to apply: BIO 1004  and PHY 1105 . BIO 2101  may be substituted for BIO 1004, with approval from the program director.

Note: You must undergo a background check and drug screen before we can officially admit you into the program. A felony, loss of license, administrative disciplinary proceeding for negligence, malpractice, recklessness, or willful or intentional misconduct may prohibit entrance into the program and/or eligibility to sit for licensure exams.

Career Information

PTAs work under the direction of physical therapists, helping to manage conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, strokes, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others. You will work in a broad range of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities, homes, schools, fitness centers, and sports training facilities.

Prospective Students:

This is a selective admission program. Once you have declared into the Associates of Arts in Health Science, please refer to your desired program’s curriculum map to ensure that you take the necessary general education and prerequisite courses. After you have been accepted into the program you will be able to declare into this program.

For further information or assistance, feel free to reach out to a success coach.

Total Credits: 75


Option 1


General Education courses are taken prior to applying to the program

Fall (11 credits)


Apply to program by May 31

General education courses may be taken while in the program (see Option 2 below) or prior to applying to the program (Option 1). Students receive additional application points for each successfully completed general education course by application deadline.

Spring (12 credits)


Option 2


Completing General Education courses as part of the PTA program.

Notes


1 Courses are required to be successfully completed before final admission into the program

2 Course must be successfully completed within 5 years of a possible start in the program

3 BIO 2101 may be substituted for BIO 1004 with permission from the program director. Note: BIO 2101 has a prerequisite of either BIO 1111 (5 credits) or BIO 1010 (2 credits).

4 Medical Terminology may be completed 1st semester of the PTA program to give 12 credits for that semester and be eligible for financial aid.