Physical Therapist Assistant, A.A.S.

A physical therapist assistant helps patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses, regain movement and manage pain. PTAs assist in the treatment of individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs work in various settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes.

The physical therapist assistant is a technically educated healthcare provider who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant may perform procedures and related tasks selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. To further investigate the role of the physical therapist assistant, contact the American Physical Therapy Association.

Physical therapist assistants are in high demand across the healthcare industry, with growth projected at a much faster rate than other occupations. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for physical therapist assistants is expected to grow by 41 percent from 2014 to 2024.

View the Professional Licensure Disclosure for this program.

Degree Requirements

Program Map

Apply to the Program

The PTA Program uses a competitive application process to select applicants for admission. Applications are due each December 1st for the cohort that begins the following August. Applicants will benefit from meeting with a School of Health Sciences advisor prior to applying. All application correspondence from the School of Health Sciences and the PTA Program will be through your TCC email. Acceptance to TCC does not guarantee admission to the PTA Program. In order to enroll in the TCC PTA Program, students must receive clearance on a drug screening as well as a criminal background screening, including a sex offender registry.

Steps to Apply

1. Apply to TCC (Acceptance to TCC does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program)
2. Apply to Program
3. Submit all official transcripts to TCC and ACT Test Scores to records@tulsacc.edu
4. Monitor your TCC email for confirmation of a completed application and information about your selection status.

For more information, contact the School of Health Sciences office at 918-595-7002.

5-Term Program

TCC offers a five-term Physical Therapist Assistant Program accredited by The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. As a graduate of our Physical Therapist Assistant program, you will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and will be eligible to apply for the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant.

Successful completion of our program requires that you perform at a “C” level or better in all of your physical therapist assistant courses. If you want to explore the role of the physical therapist assistant, contact the American Physical Therapy Association.

Certain conditions may prevent you from taking the licensure examination. If you have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude or have a drug problem, you may wish to contact the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, at 405-848-6841, for clarification.

PTAs must complete rigorous academic and clinical education associate degree programs, pass a national licensure examination, and be licensed or certified by the states in which they work. The graduate of this program is eligible to receive an Associate of Applied Science degree and may apply for the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant. Individuals who have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude, or who have had a drug problem, may not be permitted to take the licensure examination. If any of these circumstances exist, you may wish to contact the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, at 405-848-6841 for clarification.

The PTA Program at Tulsa 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: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 918-595-7002 or email melanie.heffington@tulsacc.edu.

New Class Begins Each August

TCC’s Physical Therapist Assistant Program admits a new class each year beginning in August. Each new class or cohort is limited to 28 students. The Physical Therapist Assistant courses are offered in the daytime only and will take a total of five semesters to complete.

Visit Nate Waters Physical Therapy Clinic to learn more about this program's work and/or to schedule an appointment.

Program Outcomes

Two-year Average

TCC PTA Program Complaints

Concerns or complaints¹ that fall either within the due process or outside of the due process regarding the PTA Program may be directed to:

Melanie Heffington PT, DPT
TCC PTA Program Director and Associate Professor
School of Health Sciences
909 S. Boston Ave
Tulsa, OK 74119
918-595-3423
melanie.heffington@tulsacc.edu

Or

Jenny Fields DNP, RN
Dean TCC School of Health Sciences
909 S. Boston Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74119
918-595-7198
jenny.fields@tulsacc.edu

¹ Complaint will be handled in a consistent and equitable manner without retaliation of any kind regardless of the identity of the complainant.

Concerns or complaints concerning the TCC PTA Program and or accreditation may be filed by individuals with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) at www.capteonline.org/Complaints/

Incidents, complaints, or concerning behavior happening at TCC may also be reported via Report It!.