Official websites use .gov A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
This degree program awards an Associate in Applied Science and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy education. Once students begin PTA classes, they typically complete the program in two years with 107 credits, depending on previous college work. PTA program courses must be taken in sequence and are only offered to students who are accepted into the PTA Program. The program admits a class of 32 each fall quarter. Admission is by application and applicants are evaluated based on academic preparation and familiarity with physical therapy. PTA program students must earn a minimum of 2.0 in all required courses. After graduating from the program students are eligible to apply for licensure and sit for the PTA licensing examination, which is given nationally. Most states require licensure of PTAs, and may have requirements in addition to the licensure examination. Washington State requires PTA licensure. The PTA, under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, treats individuals with physical limitations to relieve pain and restore function. Physical therapist assistants work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, school systems, private physical therapy practices, home health care agencies, and sports medicine facilities. Prospective students must complete the admissions prerequisites and apply for the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
Please refer to the PTA program website at www.instruction.greenriver.edu/PTA for the most current information about application requirements or register for an information session at www.greenriver.edu/infosessions. The required prerequisites are as follows: Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 & 2. The prerequisite requires 10 quarter-credits (or equivalent) of human anatomy and physiology with a lab. The minimum courses meeting this requirement at GRCC are AP 103 and 104. Biol& 241 (AP I) and Biol& 242 (AP II) also meet this prerequisite. These courses should be completed within 7 years prior to applying to the program and completed at the same institution. Please be advised that AP 103 and AP 104 may not transfer as well to another institution. Speech/Communication - The courses meeting this requirement at GRCC include: CMST& 210, CMST& 220, CMST& 230 or CMST 238. Equivalent communication/speech courses with less than 5 quarter credits should be verified with the pre-PTA program advisor. English Composition - This requirement may be completed by taking either English Composition I (Engl& 101 or equivalent transferable course). Students who complete an equivalent course of less than 5 quarter credits will not meet this requirement and subsequently be ineligible for graduation. English 126, 127, and 128 at Green River (or their equivalent) will also meet this requirement (5 composition credits required). Math (choose 1 of 2 options) - Option 1: Any college-level Math course (most math courses numbered 100 or above), or Option 2: Complete one of the following: Bus E 110, B A 145 or Acomp 100T and eligibility for Math 072 (Elementary Algebra) by COMPASS score or completion of Math 070 or higher with a grade of 2.5 or higher. The required supporting course is as follows: Human Development - This supporting course must be taken before completing the program. A student may fulfill this requirement with either H SCI 150, PSYC& 200, or an equivalent course. Students are advised to complete this course before entering the program if possible. Please be advised that H SCI 150 may not transfer to another institution, and registration of PSYC& 200 may require successful completion of a General Psychology (PSYC& 100) course and eligibility for ENLG& 101 beforehand. Students who satisfy the above requirements will be selected based on academic preparation, COMPASS scores, GPA, and familiarity or experience with physical therapy or closely-related field requirements. Authorization for background check is required of each applicant. Some convictions may disqualify students from clinical placements and therefore program completion and licensure. Some clinics require additional background checks and drug testing. Individuals whose background checks identify a record of convictions will be required to meet with a faculty member to discuss the findings prior to admission into the program.
Is this program approved to train veterans?
Yes
Program languages
English
Certification/license obtained as part of training program
N/A
Certification/license test preparation provided
N/A
Employment performance results
Program type
Physical Therapy Assistant
Completion rate
85%
Employment rate
91%
Typical (median) hourly earnings
$27
Typical (median) annual earnings
$48,500
Top industries for graduates
Program type
Physical Therapy Assistant
Healthcare and Social Services
84%
Administrative Support
9%
Other Industries
7%
Careers for graduates
Data is unavailable for one of several reasons: In some cases, the institution has not provided the Workforce Board with data to independently evaluate program performance. We encourage all schools to provide this data on an annual basis. In other cases, the program joined Career Bridge recently and student data has not been reported yet. In other cases, the program is too small or too new to provide reliable results.
Statewide earnings and employment trends for related jobs
Average number of students who completed each year
27
Gender
Male
37%
Female
63%
Race
American Indian or Alaska Native
1%
Asian
13%
Black or African American
6%
Hispanic
20%
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0%
White
48%
Multi-racial
9%
Other
3%
Age
Under 20
2%
20 to 29
55%
30 to 39
28%
40 to 49
12%
50 and over
3%
Prior education
No high school diploma/GED
7%
High school diploma/GED, but no college experience
28%
Some college experience, but no degree
18%
Certificate or AA
16%
BA or higher
31%
Heads up!
You are about to leave our site and visit an external page. Just a reminder that we are not responsible for its content or policies. Would you like to continue?
An official website of Washington State government
