Important Notice

All Health Occupations Programs, Math placement scores on Compass, ASSET, Accuplacer, and THEA will be valid for three (3) years.

Admission Criteria

In addition to the general admission requirements of the Lone Star College (LSC), 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 Texas Success Initiative (TSI) requirements.  All associate degrees require completion of MATH 0309, 0310 or higher or placement at college level math on approved exams. 
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. Clinical facilities will require all students to successfully pass a certified background check, a negative screening for drug usage and completion of positive blood titers with documentation. This list of requirements is available on the program department website within the PTA student handbook.

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 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 http://www.apta.org/ or contact the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education American Physical Therapy Association 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 Alexandria, VA
22305-308, call: 703.684.2782

Application Process

1. All applicants are highly encouraged to attend at least 1 information session prior to the application period and/or applying to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program. The information sessions are held monthly on the LSC-Montgomery Campus or view the information powerpoint available on the departmental home page. Dates and times for the face to face sessions are located on the departmental home page.
2. An online application to the Physical Therapist Assistant program must be completed and submitted to be considered for acceptance into the program. There will be one application deadline each year as one class per year will be admitted. Online applications for the class starting August, will be available beginning in March of each year on-line.
   The online application will include the following forms which need to be printed and submitted by the application deadline to LSC-Montgomery PTA Department B120.
   1. On-line application signed by the student. Please refer to:  Electronic Application Instructions
   2. On-line score sheet signed by the student.
   3. Observation form to be completed after 40 hours of observation under a licensed PT or PTA by the PT or PTA.  The form is available under Application Forms. Upload this form under the Documents tab of your application.
   4. ATI-TEAS test results.  IMPORTANT: ATI-TEAS Test must be taken at least one week prior to the application deadline and will not be administered during Finals week. Directions on taking the test are on the test ticket.
   5. Any additional documentation requested during the online application. These will be uploaded under the Documents tab of your application.
3. Top applicants will be invited for an interview and asked to submit a writing sample for review by the admissions committee.
4. All successful applicants admitted to the PTA program will be required to attend an orientation session in the summer before starting the Program.

Legal Information

Lone Star College Policy is consistent with Texas law as to requirements and admission of any resident or non-resident student.  For admission and tuition purposes, residency is defined within Texas Education Code 54.052.

In addition, LSC will notify students prior to, but not as a condition or requirement of admission, that  health care facilities will require students to have a Social Security number or a Visa as a condition of being assigned to a clinical facility. Students who are unable to complete the LSC health program clinical skills requirement will not be able to complete the program due to a lack of clinical placement.

Additionally, LSC will notify students that a Social Security number or a Visa may be required for a background check, and may also be required for taking the licensing examination upon completion of program requirements.