Career Information


Physical Therapist Assistant Career Information

  • Employment in the occupation is projected to increase much faster than the average, reflecting the growing number of individuals with disabilities or limited function and the increasing use of physical therapist assistants to reduce the cost of therapeutic services.
  • Physical therapist assistants have an Associate’s degree and are licensed in most states.

About the Profession

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares students to perform physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Interventions may include teaching patients to walk, use crutches, use an artificial limb and therapeutic exercise. Therapeutic modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, electricity and massage are some of the techniques used in physical therapy.

Please note that PTA courses do not transfer to degree physical therapy programs. Individuals interested in becoming physical therapists should contact those schools directly to get the admissions requirements. The American Physical Therapy Association has a list of accredited physical therapy programs.

Physical therapist assistants are licensed by the State of Texas after successful completion of a national examination. Licensed PTAs are employed in health care settings which offer physical therapy services. Facilities which utilize PTAs include hospitals, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, nursing homes, school districts and long term residential facilities. Opportunities are also available through traveling physical therapy services.

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Physical Therapist Assistant Updates

  • Single Mother of 5 strides forward with help from Fairway 5K scholarship

    Get the whole story at the ACC Newsroom.

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  • Physical Therapist Assistant Program Applications

    To apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant program, please create an account with CastleBranch. You will need to use code UL64im and upload your immunizations. Then when you are ready to upload your documents, you will use code UL81im. To learn more, visit the Application Process page.

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  • Attention! All students that have not been accepted into an ACC Health Sciences program…

    All students who have not been accepted into an ACC Health Sciences program should declare General Studies in Pre-Health Sciences (Associate of Science) for their major. Once accepted into a program, the student's major will be updated.

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