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Anne McFarland
WSCC Graduate, Class of ‘18
Physical Therapist Assistant“WSCC served me well by offering fantastic instructors in the field of Physical Therapy and great resources for learning such as the anatomy lab, the cadaver lab, and the library all with the latest technology. I would recommend WSCC to anyone interested in increasing their knowledge and furthering their education.”
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 program director Dyani Stengel via e-mail, or by picking up a packet in person at the Health Sciences office.
Accreditation Information
The Physical Therapist Assistant Technology 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. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 740.885.5701 or email dstengel@wscc.edu.
| Graduation Year | Beginning Size of Cohort | Graduation Rate (within 150% of the time) | Number Graduating in > 150% time | Board Exam Pass Rate per FSBPT | National Average Pass Rate per FSBPT | Employment Rate (employed within 1 year) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 19 | 12/16 (75%) | 1 | 9/11 (81.8%) *Two have yet to take | 91.4% | 87% |
| 2017 | 20 | 10/18 (55.6%) | 0 | 7/10 (70%) | 95.4% | 100% |
| 2016 | 21 | 18/20 (90%) | 1 | 13/18 (72.2%) | 96% | 100% |
***Graduation rate reported based on CAPTE standards. The percentage does not reflect students who had to leave the program due to health related issues, financial issues, or any other reason other than for academic reasons. This number also looks at those students who were able to graduate on time or within 150% of the time required.
***The benchmark for pass rate on the NPTE as established by CAPTE is 85% over a two year period and is reported based on ULTIMATE not first time pass rate (The data for 2016 is not yet in to report at this time)
***Employment rate reflects those that were seeking jobs and obtained employment within 1 year post graduation.
Student Clinical Documents
To learn more:
Admissions
740.568.1900
admissions@wscc.edu
Health Sciences Office
740.885.5648
Deadline Date: March 15, 2019
PTA Application Packet
