Physical Therapist Assistant
Earn your Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science degree at ACC and get started with a career in healthcare.
As the field of physical therapy grows, so do the roles and responsibilities of the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). The field's future is both exciting and challenging. ACC has a 2-year, Associate of Applied Science Physical Therapist Assistant degree at the Sturm Collaboration Campus in Castle Rock that includes 58 credit hours of PTA courses and 17 hours of transferable general education courses to prepare you for a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
PTA Application Process
ACC's PTA program is on the move. Beginning Fall 2024, all Fall cohorts will be held at the Littleton Campus (Fall 2024, Fall 2025, Fall 2026, etc.).
Beginning in January 2025, Spring cohorts in odd years (January 2025, January 2027, etc.) will be held at the Sturm Collaboration Campus at Castle Rock.
Applications for the Spring 2025 PTA program at the Littleton Campus have been extended through September 30, 2024, and will be submitted online. In addition to directly entering information, you will be uploading documents into your application as well. The application system will accept a total file size up to 25MB in one of the following formats: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, txt, zip, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, bmp, tif
To complete the application, you will need the following documents to upload:
- ACCUPLACER Scores
- Unofficial transcripts from all previous colleges / universities
- Visitation report with student reflection page
You will also need the name and email address of your 3 reference sources to enter into the application. A link to the recommendation form will be emailed directly to your source.
Finally, to complete your application, you will need to enter your answer to the essay question. The instructions on the application state: Which PT specialty area of practice is least appealing to you and why? Review the Physical Therapy Areas of Practice. Once you have thoroughly reviewed the information, provide an answer in 500 words or less.
PTA Program Application spring 2025
Application deadline is September 30, 2024. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure submission of a complete application.
CIP 510806 (PTA)
A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a health care provider working under the direction and supervision of a Physical Therapist. The PTA is involved in the treatment of individuals with muscular, skeletal, cardiopulmonary and nervous system disorders. The PTA may also be involved in injury prevention or programs specifically targeted toward individual or group wellness. The PTA is able to provide physical therapy services as specified in a care plan developed by a Physical Therapist. Treatment program implementation may include: therapeutic exercise, ambulation training, activities of daily living and administration of physical agents such as heat and cold.
The PTA program at Arapahoe Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314; 703-706-3245; email: accreditation [at] apta [dot] org (accreditation[at]apta[dot]org); website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 303 797-5897 or email pta [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (pta[at]arapahoe[dot]edu).
The program is five semesters in length with a summer term following the first year. Upon successful completion, the graduate is awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree.
To be eligible for PTA licensure/certification, in addition to being a graduate of an accredited program, individuals must successfully complete the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (https://www.fsbpt.org/). For employment an employer may also require successful completion of a background check, drug screen, CPR certification and/or various vaccinations and immunizations.
Contact the School of Health and Public Services Office, Room A2000, 303.797.5855. Please refer to the PTA Program Information for application and placement test scores. You can contact the School Office by phone 303.797.5855 for a copy of the PTA Program Information. See further information online at https://www.arapahoe.edu/academics-programs/programs/physical-therapist-assistant
Admission Requirements
- Admission to Arapahoe Community College
- A minimum overall GPA of 2.5 to be considered in the selective admission
- The PTA program is selective admission that accepts a limited number of applicants each year. In order to qualify for consideration for admission into the PTA program, each applicant must submit the following:
- Completed supplemental PTA program application. Applications are accepted between February 1 and May 15 each year.
- Official transcripts of general education courses completed sent directly from the issuing institution to Arapahoe Community College - Admissions and Records.
- Unofficial transcripts of general education courses completed attached to the PTA program application.
- ENG 1021 and BIO 2101 (or BIO 1004 ) with a "C" or better are pre-requisites for PTA courses
- Students should have been assessed to be at college-level in English and Mathematics (see Student Resources and Services - Assessment in this Catalog)
- Minimum scores to be considered are:
- ACCUPLACER test:
- at least 246 or higher in Next Generation Writing
- at least 230 or higher in Next Generation QAS
- Three letters of recommendation on the required form.
- Documentation of work related or volunteer hours in Physical Therapy on the required form.
- Handwritten answers to the questions regarding the program, found in the application packet.
- BIO 1004 or BIO 2101 must have been completed in the last five years.
Program Requirements
*Students planning to transfer their speech credit to another institution should complete COM 1150.
Graduation Requirements
- All major, general education and other courses required for this degree must be completed with a "C" or better to meet graduation requirements.
- Apply for graduation online at www.arapahoe.edu/graduation.
- As a graduate of a Career and Technical Education program you will be contacted by an ACC employee in approximately six months to verify your employment information. This information gathering is a federal requirement to ensure that ACC receives certain federal funding.
Professional Licensing Disclosure
Students enrolling or continuing at Arapahoe Community College (ACC) have a right to certain information that the college is required by law to provide. As a student applying for or attending the Physical Therapist Assistant Program you have the right to know it meets the certification requirements for Colorado. It is possible that the degree may count toward licensing in states other than Colorado. If you are planning to seek professional licensure, it is strongly recommended that you contact the appropriate licensing entity in the state in which you are located or plan to locate in order to seek information and guidance regarding licensure or certification requirements before you begin this program. This program meets the applicable state prerequisites for certification in Colorado as listed below:
Colorado State Physical Therapy Board PTA Certification
National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE)
ACC has determined as a CAPTE accredited program, the Physical Therapist Assistant Program meets applicable state prerequisites for licensure or certification in states other than Colorado. Other states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
ACC has not determined if the Physical Therapist Assistant Program meets applicable state prerequisites for licensure or certification in U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Licensing information for other states can be found at https://www.fsbpt.org/Free-Resources/Licensing-Authorities-Contact-Information
ACC academic plans will help guide you through your chosen program. The academic plan will provide you with important information, like which semesters courses are offered if there are any prerequisites or co-requisites for courses, program outcomes, course sequence recommendations, notes for the program, graduation requirements, and other important information. These are updated annually, so we recommend downloading a copy of yours to keep on track to graduation.
The Arapahoe Community College Physical Therapist Assistant Program prepares entry-level Physical Therapist Assistants to:
- Perform in a safe manner that minimizes the risk to the patient, self, and others
- Demonstrate expected clinical behaviors in a professional manner in all situations
- Perform in a manner consistent with established legal standards, standards of the profession, and ethical guidelines
- Adapt delivery of physical therapy services with consideration for patients’ differences, values, preferences, and needs
- Communicate in ways that are congruent with situational needs
- Participate in self-assessment and develops plans to improve knowledge, skills, and behaviors
- Demonstrate clinical problem solving
- Perform selected therapeutic exercises in a competent manner
- Apply selected manual therapy, airway clearance, and integumentary repair and protection techniques in a competent manner
- Apply selected physical agents, mechanical and electrotherapeutic modalities in a competent manner
- Perform functional training in self-care and home management and application and adjustment of devices and equipment in a competent manner
- Produce quality documentation in a timely manner to support the delivery of physical therapy services
- Participate in the efficient delivery of physical therapy services
(Adapted from the APTA Physical Therapist Assistant Clinical Performance Instrument August 2009 version.)
To learn more, please review the licensure information provided for the program of interest on our Professional Licensure page.
Arapahoe Community College
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Financial Fact Sheet 2023-2024
Address: 4500 Limelight Avenue, Castle Rock, CO 80109 (Parent)
Cohort: 2023-2024
Length of Program in Weeks Excluding Breaks | Total number of weeks (excluding breaks) of student instruction/interaction (including classroom, laboratory, exams, and clinical education.) Note: Total number of weeks includes weeks where either full or partial attendance is required. Insert total number of weeks: 78 weeks
Length of Program including breaks: Start Date: 90
Clinical Education
Does the program have a requirement for all students to complete at least one clinical education experience for which the students would be required to seek alternative housing or travel accommodations to attend? No
Student Costs
Note: These are costs experienced by students in the Fall 2023 - August 2024 academic year. Annual costs are estimates and subject to increases. Students should contact the program for further information related to costs.
| Reason for Cost | Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition Public Institution, In-District or In-state student | $5190.00 | $4476.00 | $9666.00 |
| Annual Tuition Public Institution, Out-of-district or Out-of-state student | $19,918.00 | $17,612.00* | $37,530.00 |
| Annual Tuition Private Institution student | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Annual institutional fees for a full-time student in the technical phase of the program [Includes general institutional fees, i.e., health insurance, recreation, etc.] | $418.00 | $418.00 | $836.00 |
| Total expected cost of other program- related expenses [Includes: required texts, laboratory fees, and other program costs for the entire technical program.] | $2067.00 | $2067.00 | $4134.00 |
| Total Cost of the Program for Students Scheduled to Graduate this Calendar Year [Includes: tuition, fees, other program costs for the entire technical program | $7675.00 in state $22,403.00 out of state | $7675 in state $22,403.00 out of state | $15,350 in state $44,806 out of state |
Note: Students are encouraged to explore the cost of living for areas where they may choose to live. One possible website: https://livingwage.mit.edu/
Does the institution offer financial assistance specific to PTA students?
No
Does the program/institution offer scholarships specific to PTA students?
No
Does the program offer federal work-study positions specific to PTA students?
No
Note: Other opportunities may exist at the institution for FINANCIAL SUPPORT-please contact the program for further information.
APTA student members are encouraged to visit the APTA Financial Solutions Center at https://www.apta.org/your- career/financial-management/financial-solutions-center.
Student Debt Summary
Average student debt from the PTA Program technical phase.
$5908.00
Arapahoe Community College
Physical Therapist Assistant Program Financial Fact Sheet 2023-2024
Address: 5900 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton, CO 80120 (Expansion)
Cohort: 2023-2024
Length of Program in Weeks Excluding Breaks | Total number of weeks (excluding breaks) of student instruction/interaction (including classroom, laboratory, exams, and clinical education.) Note: Total number of weeks includes weeks where either full or partial attendance is required. Insert total number of weeks: 78 weeks
Length of Program including breaks: Start Date: 90
Clinical Education
Does the program have a requirement for all students to complete at least one clinical education experience for which the students would be required to seek alternative housing or travel accommodations to attend? No
Student Costs
Note: These are costs experienced by students in the Fall 2023 - August 2024 academic year. Annual costs are estimates and subject to increases. Students should contact the program for further information related to costs.
| Reason for Cost | Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition Public Institution, In-District or In-state student | $5190.00 | $4476.00 | $9666.00 |
| Annual Tuition Public Institution, Out-of-district or Out-of-state student | $19,918.00 | $17,612.00* | $37,530.00 |
| Annual Tuition Private Institution student | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Annual institutional fees for a full-time student in the technical phase of the program [Includes general institutional fees, i.e., health insurance, recreation, etc.] | $418.00 | $418.00 | $836.00 |
| Total expected cost of other program- related expenses [Includes: required texts, laboratory fees, and other program costs for the entire technical program.] | $2067.00 | $2067.00 | $4134.00 |
| Total Cost of the Program for Students Scheduled to Graduate this Calendar Year [Includes: tuition, fees, other program costs for the entire technical program | $7675.00 in state $22,403.00 out of state | $7675 in state $22,403.00 out of state | $15,350 in state $44,806 out of state |
Note: Students are encouraged to explore the cost of living for areas where they may choose to live. One possible website: https://livingwage.mit.edu/
Does the institution offer financial assistance specific to PTA students?
No
Does the program/institution offer scholarships specific to PTA students?
No
Does the program offer federal work-study positions specific to PTA students?
No
Note: Other opportunities may exist at the institution for FINANCIAL SUPPORT-please contact the program for further information.
APTA student members are encouraged to visit the APTA Financial Solutions Center at https://www.apta.org/your- career/financial-management/financial-solutions-center.
Student Debt Summary
Average student debt from the PTA Program technical phase.
$11,557.00
Getting Started in the PTA program
You can start the PTA program every fall, but you can begin taking general education courses in any semester. See our Program Information for complete details. Acceptance into the PTA program is enhanced by work-related or volunteer/observation time in a PT clinic.
Note: An acceptance letter from Arapahoe Community College into the college does not mean that an applicant has been accepted into the PTA Program. Completion and submission of the application does not automatically guarantee acceptance into the program.
Job Opportunities for Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Graduates
Accreditation
The PTA program at Arapahoe Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 1000, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; 703-706-3245; email: accreditation [at] apta [dot] org (accreditation[at]apta[dot]org); website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 303 797-5897 or email pta [at] arapahoe [dot] edu (pta[at]arapahoe[dot]edu)
A Physical Therapist Assistant is:
- A health care provider working under the direction of a physical therapist
- Involved in the treatment of individuals with a variety of diagnoses whose ages can range from infants to the elderly
- Able to provide physical therapy services as specified in a care plan developed by a physical therapist
- Involved in modification of treatment programs, patient/family education and discharge planning
ACC is the perfect place to begin your PTA studies
- Cost effective, affordable tuition
- General education courses that will transfer to Colorado public four-year schools
- Experienced faculty including Physical Therapists and PTAs
- ACC Board pass rates are consistently higher than the national or state average
- Long-standing relationships with many clinical affiliation sites in Denver, Colorado and other states
- Over 30 years with an excellent graduate placement record
- Lab equipment and teaching technology continually updated
Visit the American Physical Therapy Association for more information about Physical Therapy and being a Physical Therapist Assistant.
Additional Information
ACC Graduation Rates
Parent Program
- 2021-2022 - 90%
- 2020-2021 - 88.2%
- 2019-2020 - 90%
- 2018-2019 – 89.5%
Expansion Program
- 2021-2022 - 100%
First Time NPTA Exam Pass Rate
Parent Program
- 2023 - 93%
- 2022 - 75%
- 2021 - 93%
- 2020 – 94%
- 2019 – 100%
- 2018 – 100%
Expansion Program
- 2022 - 100%
Ultimate 2-year Board Pass Rate
Parent Program
- 2022-2023 - 96.1%
- 2021-2022 - 96.6%
- 2020-2021 - 96.6%
- 2019-2020 - 100%
- 2018-2019 - 100%
Expansion Program
- 2021-2022 - 100%
Job Placement Rate
(Graduates seeking employment, employed as PTAs within 1 year of passing licensure exam)
- 2022-2023 - 100%
- 2021-2022 - 100%
- 2020-2021 - 100%
- 2019-2020 – 100%
- 2018-2019 – 100%
