Program Overview

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program (PTA) at the Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) is a two-year associate of applied science (AAS) degree program that prepares students for a career as a physical therapist assistant (PTA).

The program is designed to prepare students for a career as a PTA in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, long term care facilities, outpatient rehabilitation settings, school systems, and/or home care settings. The program includes both classroom instruction and clinical experience.

Program Length: The 72-credit program is six-semesters long and runs year-round, with classes in the spring, summer, and fall. It is a full-time day program.

Program Location: All technical courses are held in person on the Curtis L. Ivery Downtown Campus.

Cohort Size: The program will admit the top 24 qualified applicants annually for their cohort.

Clinical Component: Students must complete 624 hours of unpaid clinical experience under the supervision of licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in a variety of clinical settings. The clinical experience is divided into three parts:

1. Clinical experience I (80 hours): In this integrated clinical experience, students work alongside PTAs and PTs to provide care to patients in a variety of settings. This experience allows students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-world patients and to develop their skills in patient care, communication, and teamwork.


2. Clinical experience II (272 hours): In clinical experience 2, students work in a single clinical setting for a period of 7 weeks. This experience allows students to focus on developing their skills in a specific area of physical therapy, such as orthopedics, neurology, or pediatrics.


3. Clinical experience III (272 hours): In clinical experience 3, students work in a different clinical setting for a period of 7 weeks. This experience allows students to gain experience in a new setting and to further develop their skills in patient care, communication, and teamwork. Students are expected to demonstrate entry-level skills by the end of this terminal experience.

Upon successful completion of the PTA program at WCCCD, students will be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTAs. Passing the NPTE is required for licensure in all states.

Career Outlook: The job outlook for PTAs is very good. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment of PTAs will grow 36% from 2020 to 2030, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is being driven by the aging population, increasing demand for preventive care, and expanding access to physical therapy services.