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 (2023 and 2024): 73%
  • Two-Year First-Time Passing Rate on the Licensure Exam (2023 and 2024): 91%
  • Two-Year Ultimate Passing Rate on the Licensure Exam: (2023 and 2024): 97%
  • Two-Year Graduate Employment Rate (2022 and 2023): 100%

Credentialing Options

Physical Therapist Assistant (1+1), AAS - CIP Code: 51.0806

A 45 64 0

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 50407

Limited Enrollment Program: Contact the Limited Entry Admissions Office for Program admission requirements and Program application deadlines.

The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum prepares graduates to work in direct patient care settings under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. Physical Therapist Assistants work to improve or restore function by alleviation or prevention of physical impairment and perform other essential activities in a physical therapy department.

Course work includes normal human anatomy and physiology, the consequences of disease or injury, and physical therapy treatment of a variety of patient conditions affecting people throughout the life-span.

Suggested high school courses for individuals desiring a career as a physical therapist assistant include biology, anatomy and physiology, algebra, chemistry, and physics.

Students can complete the general education prerequisite courses at other colleges and universities; however, students accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant program must take the PTA courses on the Jamestown campus of Guilford Technical Community College. Accepted PTA students will also be required to participate in clinical education courses located in various healthcare facilities throughout North Carolina. Complete information about the admissions process is available in the Limited Entry Admissions office.

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: https://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (336) 334-4822, ext. 50280 or email jnjeffers@gtcc.edu. 

Graduates are eligible to take the licensure examination administered by the North Carolina Board of Physical Therapy Examiners.

Employment is available in skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, assisted living facilities, public school systems, education centers, corporate or industrial health centers, athletic facilities, and fitness centers.

Program Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum, graduates will be able to:

  • Perform physical therapy data collection and interventions in a safe, effective, and efficient manner.
  • Communicate verbally, non-verbally, and in writing to support the delivery of physical therapy services.
  • Demonstrate clinical problem-solving that is legal, ethical, and professional in all situations.
  • Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.

*Individuals entering the Physical Therapist Assistant program must complete all six general education courses listed below as part of the program admission requirements.

Spring Semester I

Total Credits: 17

Fall Semester I

Total Credits: 16

Spring Semester II

Total Credits: 16

Summer Semester I

Total Credits: 8

Fall Semester II

Total Credits: 12

Total credit hours required for degree: 69

Electives

1. Communications or Second English Electives

Choose one from:

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Associate in Arts, Pre-Physical Therapist Assistant (1+1) Pathway

A 10 10 0 TH

Contact: (336) 334-4822, ext. 50439

Limited Entry Pre-Health Program Pathway

GTCC is an open access institution, however many of our programs have enrollment requirements for admission.  Limited Enrollment Pathways help to identify students who are awaiting acceptance into Limited Enrollment Programs while they complete entry requirements to qualify for admission.  Students who are unable to qualify for admission to Limited Enrollment Programs within one year will be removed from the Limited Enrollment Pathway, and will remain enrolled in the Associate in Arts (A10100) degree program.

Semester I

Total Credits: 15

Semester II

Total Credits: 16-17

Semester III

  • Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Credits: 3 
  • Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
  • Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
  • Humanities/Fine Arts Elective Credits: 3 
  • General Education Elective Credits: 3 

Total Credits: 15

Semester IV

  • General Education Elective Credits: 2 
  • General Education Elective Credits: 3 
  • General Education Elective Credits: 3 
  • Other Required/Pre-Major Elective Credits: 3 
  • Other Required/Pre-Major Elective Credits: 3 

Total Credits: 14

Course Requirements for Associate in Arts, Pre-Physical Therapist Assistant (1+1) Pathway (60 Credits)

General Education Requirements

The general education common course pathway includes study in the areas of English, communication; humanities and fine arts; social and behavioral sciences; natural sciences and mathematics.

English Composition

The following two English compositions courses are required:

Humanities/Fine Arts

The following courses are required:

Humanities/Fine Arts Electives

Choose two (2) courses from two different subjects from the following list:

Social/Behavioral Sciences

The following courses are required:

  • PSY 150 General Psychology
    PSY 150 General Psychology
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  • Additional Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
  • Additional Social/Behavioral Science Elective Credits: 3
Social/Behavioral Science Electives

Choose two (2) courses from the following list:

Mathematics

Choose one course from the following list:

Natural Sciences

The following courses are required:

General Education Electives

Take eleven (11) credits from the list below:

Other Required Hours

An additional 20 credits of courses should be selected from courses classified as pre-major, elective, or general education courses within the CAA.

Academic Transition and Pathway Requirements

The following courses are required:

Other Required Electives / Pre-Major Electives

Choose six (6) credits from the following list of courses:

Footnotes:

1. WBL-111 is not transferable and can only be utilized as the 61st hour of the program.

Total Credits: 60

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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.