Physical Therapist Assistant, Associate of Applied Science
Program Information
Are you patient, compassionate, and persevering? These are the qualities that can help you become a physical therapist assistant (PTA). As a PTA, you will work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists in a variety of settings, providing services for patients that help decrease their pain, improve their mobility, restore function, and minimize disabilities. San Jacinto College boasts a 100 percent pass rate on the national licensing exam in the graduating cohorts of 2019-2022, and from 2009-2016. Graduates have a high employment rate within six months of passing the licensing exam.
The San Jacinto College Physical Therapist Assistant program:
- Is a total of 66 credit hours, including three clinical affiliations, and the student is awarded an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree upon completion of the program. Successful completion of the program in two years prepares graduates for the national licensing exam for physical therapist assistants; and
- Trains students to help patients to regain strength, range of motion, function, and movement.
Program Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at San Jacinto College is accredited by the:
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
Career Opportunities
Employment of PTAs is expected to be good to care for and manage patients, especially the elderly population. Job prospects will also be more favorable in rural areas (BLS.gov, 2019).
PTAs work under the supervision of physical therapists in a variety of settings including, but not limited to:
- Acute care,
- Hospitals,
- Rehab hospitals,
- Out-patient clinics,
- Aquatics,
- Pediatrics,
- Geriatrics, and
- Home health.
Earning Potential
Physical Therapist Assistant: $70,2331 per year
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Source: texaswages.com, median salary Gulf Coast region, 2021
For more information, students may contact 281-998-6350, x3350 or email PTAprogram@sjcd.edu.
Campus
South Campus
Information
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists in a variety of settings. Opportunities include, but are not limited to, outpatient clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, pediatric centers, schools, and home health agencies. PTAs provide services for patients that help decrease pain, improve mobility, restore function, and minimize disabilities.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at San Jacinto College is accredited by the:
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.
Students needing to contact to program directly may call (281) 998-6150, x3350 or email ptaprogram@sjcd.edu.
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 at www.fsbpt.org.
The program is a total of 66 semester credit hours including three clinical rotations. The student is awarded an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree upon completion of the program. After graduation, the student applies to take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination. Individuals must pass the licensure exam to practice as a PTA in most states, including Texas.
Students enrolling into San Jacinto College programs with external learning experiences (i.e., clinical, practicum, externship, cooperative, etc.) will be required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the clinical/external learning sites to engage in all clinical/external learning experiences. Vaccination requirements at clinical/external learning sites are implemented pursuant to the independent authority of such facilities and are not mandated by San Jacinto College. Failure to meet the immunization requirements mandated by clinical/external learning sites 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 clinical/external learning site.
Admission
Applicants to the program must meet the requirements for general admission to the College and must also meet program-specific requirements. For detailed information concerning admission requirements and deadlines for submitting applications and related documents, students may contact the Physical Therapist Assistant department.
Contact Information:
Email: ptaprogram@sjcd.edu
Phone: (281) 998-6150, x3350
Website: Physical Therapist Assistant
For more information on the licensing process, students may visit the American Physical Therapy Association, which provides information on the profession of physical therapy.
For complaints regarding the PTA program or a PTA student, please contact the Program Director at susan.hinson@sjcd.edu or the Department Chair of Health Science at kira.beal@sjcd.edu.
In accordance with Texas House Bill 1508, 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 Department Chair.
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 | 4 |
| BIOL 2302 & BIOL 2102 | Anatomy and Physiology II (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology II (Lab) 1 | 4 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| First Term | ||
| PTHA 1201 | The Profession of Physical Therapy | 2 |
| PTHA 1305 | Basic Patient Care Skills | 3 |
| PTHA 1313 | Functional Anatomy | 3 |
| PTHA 1321 | Pathophysiology for the PTA | 3 |
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology 1 | 3 |
| Credits | 14 | |
| 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 2205 | Neurology | 2 |
| PTHA 2217 | Issues in Health Care | 2 |
| Credits | 7 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| PTHA 2239 | Professional Issues | 2 |
| PTHA 2431 | Management of Neurological Disorders | 4 |
| PTHA 2435 | Rehabilitation Techniques | 4 |
| Credits | 10 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| PTHA 2460 | Clinical II - PTA | 4 |
| PTHA 2461 | Clinical III - PTA | 4 |
| Credits | 8 | |
| Total Credits | 66 | |
Capstone Experience: PTHA 2461 Clinical III - PTA
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Applicants are encouraged to take the required courses identified with (1) prior to entering the PTA program.
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.