Specialization in Physical Therapist Assistant prepares students to work in a variety of healthcare settings that provide physical therapy services.  Students who satisfactorily complete this program will receive an Associate of Applied Science degree.

The A.A.S. in PTA is a terminal degree and does not transfer to university-level physical therapy programs.  Students will be prepared to take the licensing exam upon completion of A.A.S. PTA degree plan. To qualify for the Associate of Applied Science degree, the student must complete a Capstone Experience during the final semester of the program.

South Plains College Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone; (703) 706-3245; email:  accreditation@apta.org; website; http://www.capteonline.org.  

To contact the Program/Institution directly, please contact Jackie Underwood (Program Director) at (806) 716-2470 or junderwood@southplainscollege.edu.

Program Admission Requirements

The number of students admitted to the PTA program is limited; therefore all students interested in admission to the program should contact the PTA Program Director or program advisor.  Applicants must complete the following procedure.

1. Complete admission requirements for South Plains College. Admission to the college does not guarantee admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
2. Obtain a program application packet from the PTA program. Call (806) 716-2470 or (806) 716-2391 for information.
3. Students must have completed or be enrolled in English 1301, Math 1314, Humanities, and SCIT 1420 Applied Human Anatomy and Physiology I to submit an application for the PTA program.  All courses must be completed with a “C” or higher.
4. Complete advising session with PTA Program faculty.  Complete an information/contact form.
5. Applicants must be TSI compliant at the time a program application is submitted.
6. Score satisfactorily on the TEAS for Allied Health Exam.
7. Complete at least 30 hours of active observation of physical therapy treatment at a physical therapy facility.
8. Obtain three (3) letters of recommendations.
9. Submit the complete online application packet by the 3rd Friday of October by 4:00 p.m*.  Applications received after this deadline will not be considered for Spring semester admission.
10. Participate in program interviews.
11. Admission will be determined by overall points earned from GPA, TEAS, and Interview scores.  In case of an exact point match between 2 or more applicants, submission date of application will be used to determine ranking.

*Check with the Program for the specific deadline date.

Admission determinations for the spring semester are made in November.

Program advisor is Jackie Underwood, Director of Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Associate of Applied Science Degree