General Program Description
The program begins at the end of August each year. Students attend lecture and lab classes on campus Monday-Friday from 8:00 am-4:30 pm. There are five full-time program faculty and various part-time faculty available as needed for specific sections of the program. The program faculty are very supportive of students and work closely with them to achieve their goals. During the first year, students spend approximately 20-24 hours per week in class. Students attend three semesters of lecture/lab instruction prior to their first clinical experience. During the second year of the program, courses are offered in blocks of 40-hour per week clinical experiences followed by 22 hours per week lecture/lab courses. Graduation occurs in May.
Clinical Experiences
PTA students are required to attend three clinical experiences. There are approximately 120 sites in the greater Houston area that accept HCCS students for clinical experiences. The first clinical experience is a six-week full-time practicum and is primarily an orthopedic clinical experience. The following two clinical experiences are six-week full-time experiences and are in rehabilitation, acute care in small and large hospitals, outpatient departments, or school systems. The clinical instructors truly enjoy their association with the program’s students.
Enrollment
Total enrollment for the Houston Community College System (HCCS) is approximately 70,000. The physical therapist assistant program accepts approximately 52 students from a pool of 200 applicants.
Admission
Applicants should contact the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Office. The priority deadline for filing program applications is March 1. If the the class has not been filled, applications are accepted until June 1. The PTA Admissions Committee makes the final selection of the class by June 1. The program is a five semester, 67-semester hour course of study. Prerequisites are successful completion of the Asset Test or equivalent course work, Anatomy and Physiology I or II, and introduction to psychology or lifespan. Applicants are required to complete 24 hours of observation, submit three letters of reference, and complete a personal interview.
Outcomes
http://coleman.hccs.edu/programs/ptha
Tuition, fees and financial aid
The average cost for an In-District student for tuition, fees, parking, and books for the two years is $7300. Financial aid is available for applicants. Financial aid applications should be made as early as possible. The Financial Aid Advisor, located in the Health Science Center, is available to assist students in financial matters.
Student life
Houston is a large city, and HCCS is a commuting college. No student housing is available on campus, but there are numerous apartment rentals available. The PTA Program is located in the HCCS John B Coleman Health Science Building located in the Texas Medical Center. It is also near downtown Houston which offers diverse cultural activities and an abundance of professional opportunities.