Empower Recovery. Transform Lives.
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at San Jacinto College prepares students to work under the supervision of licensed physical therapists to help patients reduce pain, improve mobility, restore function, and manage disabilities. Through a combination of classroom instruction, labs, and three clinicals, students develop the knowledge and skills needed to assist in implementing treatment plans and supporting patient recovery
This 66-credit-hour program can be completed in two years and leads to an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree. Graduates are eligible to take the national licensing exam for physical therapist assistants, and San Jacinto College has a strong record of success with recent graduating cohorts achieving a 100% pass rate. Employment opportunities for PTAs are available in outpatient clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, pediatric centers, schools, and home health agencies.
Career Opportunities and Income
Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.
Job Entry Requirements. The College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the program’s department chair. This is in accordance with Texas House Bill 1508 amendments to Texas Occupations Code Sec 53.152.
Learning & Career Pathway
The Physical Therapist Assistant degree is intended to provide students with all skills needed to enter the workforce. At this time, this award is what employers value and hire for job entry, so the College does not currently have other certificates or degrees related to this learning pathway.
Learning Outcomes and Career Skills
A student completing the degree will be able to:
- Communicate, verbally and nonverbally, with clients and colleagues in a culturally competent manner
- Critically monitor and adjust interventions within the plan of care in response to patient status and clinical conditions
- Provide physical therapy care to clients in a manner consistent with professional safety standards
- Implement a plan of action that demonstrates sound moral reasoning congruent with core professional ethics and values adhering to legal practice standards
Program Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at San Jacinto College is accredited by:
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100
Alexandria VA 22305-3085
Telephone: 703-706-3242; 1-800-999-2782
Email: accreditation@apta.org
Website: http://www.capteonline.org
License or Certification
You may visit the American Physical Therapy Association for information on the profession of physical therapy.
The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), based on the following: 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 US 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 US Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, students may refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website.
External Learning Experiences
This program includes external learning experiences outside of the classroom, e.g., an internship, externship, clinical, practicum, or cooperative learning experience. Those experiences are typically on-site at a business or organization.
All students participating in external learning experiences are required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the external learning sites. Some learning sites outside the college have their own vaccination requirements. These rules come from those facilities and are not mandated by the college. Failure to meet those immunization requirements may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the external learning site.
Locations
College Admissions
San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.
Program Admission
In addition to being admitted to the College, students must also be admitted to the Physical Therapist Assistant program, which has additional requirements and/or steps. Students may view and obtain admission information on the Physical Therapist Assistant webpage (https://www.sanjac.edu/programs/areas-of-study/health/pta/admission-info-pta).
Plan of Study
3PH-THRPY
| Prerequisites | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I 1 | 3 |
| Mathematics 1 | 3 | |
| BIOL 2301 & BIOL 2101 | Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab) 1, 2 | 4 |
| BIOL 2302 & BIOL 2102 | Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab) 1, 3 | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| First Year | ||
| First Term | ||
| PTHA 1201 | The Profession of Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTHA 1305 | Basic Patient Care Skills | 3 |
| PTHA 1313 | Functional Anatomy | 3 |
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| Credits | 11 | |
| Second Term | ||
| PTHA 2201 | Essentials of Data Collection | 2 |
| PTHA 2409 | Therapeutic Exercise | 4 |
| PTHA 1431 | Physical Agents | 4 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) or Creative Arts (Fine Arts) | 3 | |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Third Term | ||
| PTHA 1360 | Clinical I-PTA | 3 |
| PTHA 1321 | Pathophysiology for the PTA | 3 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Term | ||
| PTHA 2239 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| PTHA 2431 | Management of Neurological Disorders | 4 |
| PTHA 2435 | Rehabilitation Techniques | 4 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Second Term | ||
| PTHA 2460 | Clinical II - PTA | 4 |
| PTHA 2461 | Clinical III - PTA | 4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 62 | |
Capstone Experience: PTHA 2461 Clinical III - PTA
- 1
Applicants are encouraged to take the required courses identified with (1) prior to entering the PTA program.
- 2
BIOL 2401 Human Anatomy and Physiology I is equivalent to BIOL 2301/BIOL 2101 Anatomy and Physiology I.
- 3
BIOL 2402 Human Anatomy and Physiology II is equivalent to BIOL 2302/BIOL 2102 Anatomy and Physiology II.
Students must earn a C or better in all Physical Therapy (PTHA) and all Science courses; the student will not be permitted to continue or to graduate from the program until that course has been repeated and a grade of C or above has been earned.