Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at GTCC prepares you to work in direct patient care, providing rehabilitation to patients and clients in a variety of healthcare settings. Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) treat people of all ages under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.

Program Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Guilford Technical 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: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 336-334-4822, ext. 50280, or email jnjeffers@gtcc.edu.

The PTA Program Financial Fact Sheet provides more information about the program.

 

Regional Accreditation

Guilford Technical Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. GTCC also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of GTCC may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097, by calling 404-679-4500, or by using SACSCOC's website (www.sacscoc.org).

Program Outcome Data

  • Two-Year Graduation Rate (2022 and 2023): 85%
  • Two-Year First-Time Passing Rate on the Licensure Exam (2022 and 2023): 91%
  • Two-Year Ultimate Passing Rate on the Licensure Exam: (2022 and 2023): 97%
  • Two-Year Graduate Employment Rate (2022 and 2023): 100%

Credentialing Options

Admission Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Joey Jeffers, PT, MA, DPT (PTA Program Director)

Keith Jenkins, PTA (PTA Program Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education)

Financial aid is available if you qualify. Please visit the Financial Aid web page or contact the Financial Aid office at 336-334-4822, option 3.

PTA Program Estimated Costs
Tuition Cost
$76.00/credit hour (in-state) $1,216.00/semester maximum
$268.00/credit hour (out-of-state) $4,288.00/semester maximum
Fees
Type Cost
Campus access, parking, and security (CAPS) fee $50/semester
Student activity fee $26.25/semester
Computer Use & Technology fee $16/semester
Accident insurance $3.60/semester
Malpractice insurance $8.50/semester
Drug testing and criminal background check $100
Graduation fee $35
Textbooks (estimated) $1,200
Supplies (uniform, name tag, parking at clinicals, etc.) $200
Student Medical Form (estimated copay) $50
American Physical Therapy Association membership (optional) $80
National physical therapist assistant licensure exam (taken after graduation from the PTA program) $780

Estimated total: $7,800

The Rights and Privileges of Clinical Education Faculty:

  1. Clinical education faculty members receive North Carolina continuing competency points when they serve as clinical instructors for GTCC PTA students.
  2. Clinical education faculty members have full and complete access to the Learning Resources Center (Library) at Guilford Technical Community College.
  3. Clinical education faculty members have full and complete access to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program’s computer lab.
  4. Clinical education faculty may participate in any of the professional development activities offered by Guilford Technical Community College.
  5. Clinical education faculty members are invited to go through the American Physical Therapy Association’s Clinical Instructor and Credentialing Program. The PTA program at GTCC will sponsor clinical education faculty to participate in the credentialing program on a limited basis.
  6. Clinical education faculty are invited to attend any of the academic classes in the PTA program at GTCC, including classes taught by guest lecturers such as:
    • Guest lecture and demonstration of neurological seating for clients with TBI, CVA, & SCI by a wheelchair representative
    • Guest lecture and demonstration of rehab of people with amputations and prosthetics
    • Guest lecture on SCI, TBI, and Stroke
    • Guest lecture for pediatrics
  1. Clinical education faculty are invited to attend any of the following field trips:
    • Field trip to the anatomy lab of the physical therapy department at Elon University (overview of upper extremity, lower extremity, and trunk musculoskeletal system on human cadavers)
    • Field trip to Pulmonary  & Cardiac Rehabilitation at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
    • Field trip to BioTech Prosthetics and Orthotics
    • Field trip to the University of North Carolina Hospital’s Burn Center in Chapel Hill
    • Field trip to observe aquatic therapy at the Shannon Grey Rehabilitation and Recovery Center
  2. Clinical education faculty are invited to request the Program Director or the Academic Coordinator of Clinical   Education to do an in-service for your department on topics related to physical therapist assistant education, such as how to use the Clinical Performance Instrument or the role of the Physical Therapist Assistant.
  3. Clinical education faculty are invited to be a part of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Advisory Committee which meets two times a year to advise the PTA faculty about training and educating the PTA students.
  4. Clinical education faculty members are invited to attend and participate in the monthly PTA faculty meetings as well as the college’s Faculty Association.