Physical Therapist Assistant

Quick Facts

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists to help patients who are recovering from injuries or illnesses regain movement and strength.

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COVID-19 Statement

Health Sciences & Nursing Programs

The health and safety of our Tarrant County College District (TCCD) community are responsibilities that we all share.

TCCD does not require the COVID-19 vaccine to access TCCD properties or to participate in campus activities.

Our Clinical Partners

However, TCCD’s partners may require vaccination for students enrolled in technical programs that require the fulfillment of onsite practicum/clinical coursework at one of our partnering facilities.

Students in technical programs with a practicum/clinical component may be required by the partnering facility to have the vaccine to complete the practicum/clinical requirement at the partnering facility. Several hospitals require technical program students to be fully immunized against COVID-19 before arrival at the facilities.

As a result, practicum/clinical sites for unvaccinated students may be limited; therefore, graduation may be delayed if students decline clinical/practicum assignments at sites requiring vaccination.

Job Titles & Career Info

Our Program

Why Choose PTA?

  • Prepare to be successful on the national physical therapist assistant exam & to work as a licensed physical therapist assistant
  • Enter a field where you are involved with the direct care of patients
  • Be able to help & support patients while working in a collaborative team environment
  • Work in a growing health care field with a bright job outlook

Prepare for What You Will Do at Work

  • Help patients learn specific exercises that are part of their plans of care
  • Monitor patients’ progress & responses to treatment
  • Use appropriate devices & equipment to help patients
  • Record patients’ progress & report the results of each treatment to the physical therapist

Explore Professional Organizations

National
State

Marketable Skills You Will Learn

  • Critical thinking
  • Reasoning
  • Communication
  • Personal & social responsibility
  • Teamwork
  • Computer literacy

Before You Enroll, Think About:

Texas Veterans Commission (TVC)-approved

You can use your Veterans Administration (VA) educational benefits to pay for this program.

Questions? See VetSuccess on Campus

Selective Admission

PTA is a selective admission program.

After being accepted to TCC, you must meet the selective admission requirements to be eligible to submit a separate application to our PTA program.

Get the Details on These Pages:

Licensing Notice: Texas House Bill 1508

This program prepares you for an occupational license. However, you may not be eligible for licensing if you have a prior criminal history.

For more details, see:

Need a boost to get ready for college?

Talk to your advisor about Developmental Studies if your TSI scores say you need some help in math or reading and writing.

Degrees & Certificates

Degree

Attend an Information Session

About the Session

In our Spring In-Person Information Session, you will find out everything you need to know about our program: requirements, courses, costs, and more.

Attending an information session is an application requirement.

When & Where

Can't make it to our in-person information session? Don't worry!

You can still meet the information session application requirement.

Here's how:

  1. Review the PTA Information Session Slides (PDF)Listen
  2. Download the PTA Interest Meeting Quiz (PDF)Listen
  3. Answer all the questions
  4. Submit your completed Quiz with your application

Questions?

Health Care Professions Advising Resource Hub

Janette Keen, Career Advisor

Call 817-515-1484
Email TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Tarrant County College District is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

For more information about state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.

CAPTE Contact Information

If you need to contact us at TCC, email Stacie Anderson at stacie.anderson2@tccd.edu.

Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited program is a requisite for application for Texas licensure as a PTA. Licensure in Texas is provided by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

Complaints

File a Complaint with TCC Health Sciences

If you have a complaint regarding our PTA Program, its students, faculty or staff, please download and complete our PTA Complaint Form (PDF)Listen. Send it to the Director of Health Sciences, who will review the complaint with our PTA Program coordinator.

If you would like to request records of complaints about our PTA Program, its students, faculty or staff, please download and complete our PTA Complaint Information Request Form (PDF)Listen.

Note: We do not share personal information–such as academic standing or demographic or medical information–about students, faculty, staff or patients with the general public.

File a Complaint with CAPTE

CAPTE considers complaints about accredited programs and about CAPTE itself.

Find out how to File a Complaint with CAPTE.

Program Outcomes Data

Graduation Rates

  • 2020–2021 2-year average: 100%
  • 2021: 100%
  • 2022: 86%
  • 2021–2022 2-year average: 95%
  • 2023: 86%

Pass Rates: 2-Year Averages

(Data provided by Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy)

2-Year Time Spans First-Time Pass Rate Ultimate Pass Rate
2020–2021 96.45% 100%
2021–2022 95% 95%
2022–2023 91.2% 93.1%

Graduate Employment Rates: 2-Year Averages

Percentages (2-year averages) of graduates who sought employment and were hired as physical therapist assistants within 12 months after graduation:

  • 2020–2021: 100%
  • 2021–2022: 100%
  • 2022–2023: 100%

How Much Time & Money to Finish?

2023–2024 Academic Year

Degree or Certificate Program Title Semester Credit Hours Total Tuition & Fees
AAS Physical Therapist Assistant 66 $4,554

Notes:

  • Tuition is based on in-state, in-county rates.
  • Totals do not include textbooks and other materials.

Continuing Education Programs

Time commitments and fees vary depending on the course.

Earn More Choices & More Money

Transfer to a college or university to continue your studies. Earning a bachelor’s degree opens the door to career and promotion opportunities.

Next steps

Start on Your Pathway!

Contact

Trinity River Campus

Health Care Professions
Advising Resource Hub

Janette Keen
Career Advisor

Call 817-515-1484

Email TR.HealthCareAdvising@tccd.edu

Advising by Appointment

Fall & Spring Hours
Monday–Friday: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Summer Hours
Monday–Thursday: 7:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Updated March 20, 2024