How much does it cost to become a pta

A physical therapist assistant helps patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses, regain movement and manage pain. PTAs assist in the treatment of individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes.

The physical therapist assistant is a technically educated healthcare provider who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant may perform procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. To further investigate the role of the physical therapist assistant, contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org.

Physical therapist assistants are in high demand across the healthcare industry, with growth projected at a much faster rate than other occupations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for physical therapist assistants is expected to grow by 41 percent from 2014 to 2024.

View the Professional Licensure Disclosure for this program.

TCC's 5-Term Program

TCC offers a five-term Physical Therapist Assistant Program accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. As a graduate of our Physical Therapist Assistant program, you will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and will be eligible to apply for the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant.

Successful completion of our program requires that you perform at a “C” level or better in all of your physical therapist assistant courses. If you want to explore the role of the physical therapist assistant, contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org.

Certain conditions may prevent you from taking the licensure examination. If you have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude or have a drug problem, you may wish to contact the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, at f405-848-6841, for clarification.

PTAs must complete rigorous academic and clinical education associate degree programs, pass a national licensure examination, and be licensed or certified by the states in which they work. The graduate of this program is eligible to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and may apply for the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude, or who have had a drug problem, may not be permitted to take the licensure examination. If any of these circumstances exist, you may wish to contact the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, at 405-848-6841 for clarification.

The PTA Program at Tulsa Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: ; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 918-595-7002 or email .

New Class Begins Each August

TCC’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program admits a new class each year beginning in August. Each new class or cohort is limited to 35 students. The Physical Therapist Assistant courses are offered in the daytime only and will take a total of five semesters to complete.

Visit Nate Waters Physical Therapy Clinic for more information on the TCC Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Procedure for Application:

1. Apply to Program. For more information contact the School of Health Sciences office at 918-595-7002.
2. Submit the completed program application online with the required materials by December 1. Submit required materials to the Enrollment Services office located in the Metro Academic Building, 909 S. Boston Ave, Tulsa OK 74119.
3. All prospective Physical Therapist Assistant program students must complete an application for enrollment to the college and submit their high school transcripts, ACT scores, and previous college transcripts to the Metro Campus Enrollment Services at 909 S. Boston, Ave., Tulsa OK 74119. Incomplete submissions will not be considered for admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
4. Acceptance to Tulsa Community College does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
5. Eligible applicants to be interviewed for consideration for admission into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will be notified by email to their TCC email address. All interviewed applicants will be notified regarding their selection status.
6. Typically, 10% of accepted applicants defer or decline their acceptance. Those slots will be filled from a standby list.
7. In order to enroll in courses that include a clinical component and are part of the program degree plan, students must receive clearance on a criminal background check, including a sex offender registry. A potential student needs to be aware that drug testing and clearance is a requirement for participation in all clinical components.

Program Map

Apply to Program

The applicant pool for programs in the School of Health Sciences is very competitive. An application does not mean acceptance into the Health Sciences program. Applicants are required to meet with a School of Health Sciences advisor before they apply to a program and may be required to attend an orientation for the Allied Health-related programs. All application correspondence from the School of Health Sciences will be through your TCC email.

Apply to Program

Program Outcomes

Two-year Average

TCC PTA Program Complaints

Concerns or complaints1 that fall either within the due process or outside of the due process regarding the PTA Program may be directed to:

Melanie Heffington PT, DPT
TCC PTA Program Director and Associate Professor
School of Health Sciences
909 S. Boston Ave
Tulsa, OK 74119
918-595-3423

Or

Jenny Fields DNP, RN
Dean TCC School of Health Sciences
909 S. Boston Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119
918-595-7198

1 Complaint will be handled in a consistent and equitable manner without retaliation of any kind regardless of the identity of the complainant.

Concerns or complaints concerning the TCC PTA Program and or accreditation may be filed by individuals with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) at www.capteonline.org/Complaints/

Incidents, complaints, or concerning behavior happening at TCC may also be reported via TCC's Report It! page.

Workforce Development Degree Information

Workforce development degree and certificate programs are designed to prepare students for direct entry into the workforce. They may advance students within their current career positions or open doors to new career opportunities. Coursework may apply towards a degree at a four-year university; check with an advisor for further information. The number of hours that apply to a degree will vary from one university to another.

Is being a PTA worth it?

What state pays PTA the most?

What settings do PTAs make the most money?

Are PTA in demand?