Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) are skilled technical health personnel who work under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist (PT). PTAs assist the PT in the treatment of individuals with a variety of medical problems or health related conditions that result in a loss of mobility or ability to perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs can find employment within local and surrounding hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities, home health companies, outpatient and sports clinics, and schools. According to the 2018 US Department of Labor report, PTAs ranked #8 out of 20 occupations predicted to be the fasting growing professions between 2016 and 2026. Nationally, PTAs were listed as having an average annual income of $57,430.

The Associate Degree program at Washington State Community College provides the student with a comprehensive PTA education aimed at preparing the student to become a caring and knowledgeable entry-level PTA. The curriculum contains a combination of general education, applied physical therapy sciences, technical skills, and clinical education courses taken over 5 semesters. The clinical component of the program provides students an opportunity to gain experience in a variety of settings with exposure to different patient populations including orthopedic, geriatric, pediatric, and neurological.

Admission to the PTA program is selective. Applicants must complete observation in the field, and demonstrate readiness for college-level math, English, biology, and chemistry. A detailed list of application criteria can be obtained by downloading the application from our website, contacting the Interim PTA Director Emily Taylor via e-mail, or by picking up a packet in person at the Health Sciences office.

Accreditation Information

The physical therapist assistant education program at Washington State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The program's current status is probationary accreditation. For more information see http://www.capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/RecentActions/PublicDisclosureNotices/. Please contact the Interim PTA Director Emily Taylor via e-mail.