Physical Therapist Assistant AAS

The Physical Therapist Assistant AAS degree (AAS_PHTA) is offered at LSC-Montgomery and has additional entrance requirements. For more information, please contact thePhysical Therapist Assistant Department.

Visit the Health Science cluster page for similar careers.

Program Description

The course of study for a physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a two-year program, leading to an associate of applied science degree. One class is accepted each year into the PTA program, which starts in the fall semester. The five-semester program includes one summer semester for a total of 67 credit hours. The program is designed to prepare skilled health care workers to perform treatment under the direction of a licensed physical therapist and includes didactic learning, skill development in the lab and clinical training. The treatments include thermal and electrical modalities, rehabilitation techniques, therapeutic exercise and patient education. Clinical facilities will require students to successfully pass a certified background check and may require a screening for drug usage. Graduates are prepared for employment as PTA's in acute care hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, school systems, home health agencies and other places physical therapy is practiced. On completion of the program, graduates must pass the FSBPT national licensing exam in order receive a license to practice through the Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

The general education core will transfer to a variety of colleges and universities. For more specific information and to obtain the recommended sequencing of courses, contact the program director or a college counselor.

Admission Criteria

In addition to the general admission requirements of the Lone Star College System (LSCS), the following are requirements that must be met in order to apply for admission to the PTA program:

1. Complete college-level reading, writing, and math pre-requisites or LSCS Student Success Initiative (SSI) requirements. All associate degrees require completion of MATH 0308 or higher or placement at MATH 0310 on an approved exam. To determine your SSI status, see a college advisor.
2. A grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.0 in high school and/or college.
3. Must have completed at least 40 hours of observation in the field under the direction of a licensed physical therapist or licensed physical therapist assistant.
4. Prior to the start of the program, students are required to provide proof of the following immunizations: Hepatitis B immunization series (the last shot may be completed during the first semester), Tuberculosis (TB), Varicella (Chicken Pox), Tetanus (Td, DTP), and Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR).
5. Final acceptance into the program is contingent upon other criteria as set by LSCS which may include background check and drug screening. Criteria and instructions will be provided to the successful candidate upon admission to the program.

It is recommended that students complete as many of the general education core courses as possible prior to application to the PTA program. BIOL 2401, Human Anatomy & Physiology I, and PTHA 1201, The Profession of Physical Therapy, must be completed with grades of "C" or better prior to application into the program. Additionally, BIOL 2401 must have been completed within the last 7 years. Applications for admission will be received during the spring semester before the program starts. Because admission to the program is competitive, the students who will be accepted are most likely to be those who score highest on the criteria established by the admissions committee which may include, but not be limited to, the following:

1. Completion of the general education core courses in the degree plan
2. Receipt of the highest grades in these courses
3. Scores on a standardized admission exam, writing sample and interview.

In order to practice as a physical therapist assistant (PTA), a person must be licensed by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. To take the PTA licensing exam, a person must be a graduate of a PTA educational program which is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. The PTA program at LSC-Montgomery is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

For more information, go to www.apta.org or contact:

Commission on Accreditation in Physical
Therapy Education, 1111 North Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314-1488

703.684.2782

Program Plan

First Year Credits

Second Year Credits

Total Credits