Physical Therapist Assistant

This program at Houston City College use a selective admissions process and requires an additional application beyond applying. Enrollment is limited, and not all qualified applicants may be offered placement. Please review the admission dates below carefully to ensure you complete all required steps by the required deadlines.

Learn more about the program by attending an information session.

Register to attend an in-person information session

HESI Pre-entrance Exam Requirements

The HESI A2- Admissions Assessment entrance exam is required to apply for the Physical Therapist Assistant program at HCC Coleman College. Please note that if the applicant has already taken ATI/TEAS, this exam may be used in lieu of HESI.

• Schedule HESI-A2 test: Please contact HCC Coleman College Testing Center via email: testing@hccs.edu.
• The cost of the HESI is $75.00 per attempt. Payment must be made by either credit or debit card.

Required HESI-A2 sections:

No minimum score is required for the sections below; however, rubric points are awarded based on the range of scores.

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Vocabulary
• Grammar

No rubric points will be awarded for the below sections, but it is strongly recommended to take these sections of the exam and submit the result.

• Math
• Reading
• Critical Thinking

Additional Information:

• Scores are valid for the period between May 22, 2023, to May 22, 2026.
• HESI-A2 exam results for all required sections must be downloaded in .pdf format from the Elsevier/ Evolve account and submitted with a completed program application by the application deadline. (Regardless of whether taken at HCC or outside of HCC).
• Students are allowed to submit up to two HESI-A2 transcripts to Houston City College for the purpose of scoring for the PTA program. It is recommended to wait at least 30 days before retesting.
• Please note: HESI Remediation through Elsevier is FREE.

 Prerequisite Courses

Prerequisite Courses GPA: It is strongly recommended that all prerequisites are completed prior to applying to earn admission points; however, if an applicant hasn’t completed all five courses, they can still apply, but will not earn points from the missing courses, and must complete all pre-requisite courses prior to starting the program in the Fall. Prerequisite GPA minimum 3.0 or higher for the following courses:

Prerequisite Courses Grades: Completion of the following courses with a minimum grade of 'C' or higher:

Mandatory Interview

The mandatory interview is a part of the application process. Applicants who submit their applications by the specified deadlines per the admission guide will earn the opportunity to participate in a virtual interview to earn additional points towards the program application.

Observation Hours

All applicants are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours in total of observation in a physical therapy setting. Observation hours must be completed in two different settings and may include in-patient, outpatient, or home health settings. The applicant must observe a licensed physical therapist or a licensed physical therapist assistant. The observation hourly log is found on the program webpage and should be completed by the applicant and signed and verified by the observed licensed clinician. Applicants must submit an observation hourly log form for each setting observed with the program application. Applicants are required to seek out observation opportunities independently. HCC will not assist in locating facilities for applicant observation.

If You Are Offered Admissions

If you are offered admission, you will need to complete the following pre-enrollment requirements:

The PTA Program will contact you regarding the process of entering your immunizations and getting a drug screen and background check by a specific due date to maintain eligibility status:

• Complete the Letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the Admission Acceptance Offer email.
• Proof of personal health insurance; if you need to purchase health insurance, please visit the Student Health Insurance page for a list of health care insurance providers that HCC has compiled as a courtesy to students who wish to contact a potential provider to meet their personal health insurance needs. Students are advised to contact more than one company and compare offerings.
• Passing a drug screen.
• Immunization record showing Hepatitis B vaccination series or positive titer, MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) vaccinations or positive titer for each, Tdap vaccination –every 10 years, TB test – every year, Varicella vaccination or positive titer, Hepatitis C negative titer, Meningitis (required for students 22 years or younger) and Influenza vaccination for the current school year, If the Titer for Hepatitis B, MMR or Varicella is negative you must get immunization series and the 2nd (Exception is Hepatitis C).
• Cleared Criminal Background: Individuals with a positive background must contact the Executive Council of Physical Therapy Examiners for criminal history evaluation: Criminal History Evaluation.
• Complete the mandatory Student Services Orientation and Program Orientation on the date provided in your admission email. (Please clear your calendar so you are available to attend the mandatory orientations if you are offered admission as follows: Fall Term – plan to attend orientations between the end of July and early August.

Clinical Requirements for Program Progression & Completion

To provide students with the most robust clinical educational experience and to ensure that students’ progress and graduate as scheduled, applicants are strongly encouraged to weigh all options before accepting a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. To facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all the requirements of their program, including clinical education.

To be placed in a clinical educational experience, students must comply with the guidelines and requirements of HCC clinical sites, including health and wellness directives. Most clinical sites require background checks, health testing, drug screens, and immunizations.

Students are required to provide proof to HCC that they meet all immunization, testing, and other health requirements necessary for clinical placement. These requirements are determined by the healthcare facilities with which HCC partners for clinical education.

Many healthcare facilities require specific immunizations as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to receive or provide proof of required immunizations, HCC may be unable to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will make reasonable efforts to place such students in a clinical site that does not require immunization(s), provided an appropriate site is available, and HCC has an active affiliation agreement that meets the necessary conditions to support the student’s learning outcomes. Though HCC cannot guarantee that such sites will be available at the time clinical placement is needed.

If a student cannot be placed in a qualifying clinical site due to unmet immunization requirements, the student’s progression in the program and ability to graduate may be delayed or prevented. Our affiliate partners’ expectations for student trainees reflect the same standards applied to individuals employed in their respective professional settings.

Students with questions about clinical requirements or placement should contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

This program may lead to an occupational license for which a prior criminal history may make a student ineligible. For more information please visit:  HB 1508 Licensing Requirements.

HCC Coleman College Grading Scale

To best prepare students for success in their chosen fields, Health Sciences Programs have high standards for progression. Unlike other HCC programs, the Physical Therapist Assistant program requires a C (75%) or better to progress to the next course or semester in the program. For specific questions about grades, grading, and progression within Health Science programs, please contact Coleman College at co.pta@hccs.edu.

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Grading Scale:

• A = 100 – 90%
• B = 89 – 80%
• C = 79 – 75%*
• D = 74 – 60%
• F = 59 – 0%

*A grade of C (75%) or better must be achieved to progress to the next course or semester.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Houston City College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 713-718-7368 or email Michele.voight@hccs.edu.

Graduate Goal #1:

• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to provide patient care in primary areas of practice.
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to employ clinical judgment and decision-making.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that graduates are providing safe and effective patient/client management under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that graduates display knowledge of and adherence to ethical, legal, and regulatory standards of practice.

Graduate Goal #2:

• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates feel adequately prepared or better to demonstrate cultural competency in clinic.
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates are participating in lifelong learning activities (members of their professional organization, pursuing additional credentialing or education, community engagement, reading professional literature, etc.).
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that program graduates demonstrate professional behavior and cultural competence in all interactions.
• Employer surveys will indicate that 100% of employers agree that program graduates seek out opportunities to gain new knowledge and experience.

Program Goal:

• A first time NPTE pass rate of at least 90% will be achieved annually as well as at least a 95% ultimate NPTE pass rate.
• The employment rate will be at least 90% for all graduates who pursued employment as a physical therapist assistant within a year of graduation.

Faculty Goal:

• Faculty performance evaluation plans (PEP) for full-time faculty will indicate that 100% of faculty set and achieve at least one professional advancement goal annually (involvement in professional organization, credential advancement, skill development, etc.).
• All faculty (full-time and adjunct) will indicate education and/or work in contemporary practice and engagement in the profession of physical therapy on their faculty professional development document and curriculum vitae (CV).
• Graduate surveys will indicate that 100% of graduates agree that faculty professionalism/role modeling was adequate or better.

PSLO 2022 - 2023

• 90% of students will demonstrate comprehensive academic knowledge of the PTHA curriculum in preparation for the state licensure exam.
• 100% of students exhibit entry-level skills in interpersonal professional behavior following the final clinical rotation.
• 100% of students demonstrate competent entry-level physical therapist assistant skills in treatment implementation and meet employable criteria following the final clinical rotation.
• 100% of students demonstrate clinical application to progress, modify and/or withhold interventions based on the supervising physical therapist’s plan of care as determined by safe and effective treatment implementation during the final clinical rotation.

Graduation Rate

Board Pass Rate

Employment Rate

The Physical Therapist Assistant program graduates licensures/certifications are issued by the nationally recognized Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

2024 Third-Party Licensure/Certification Exam Results

Occupational licensure and/or certification pass rates reported by calendar year (Jan. 1 – Dec. 31). Results for the 2024 and 2022 calendar years are provided for comparison.