Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Guide

Program Duration and Study Mode

Program days and times may vary, but you should plan to attend classes 5 days a week. Day classes are generally between 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Clinical affiliations may require weekend attendance or a different schedule. This is determined by the clinical facility. Please plan accordingly to ensure you have proper transportation for classes and clinical affiliations.

On average, approximately 160 students apply for admission each application period. Of these, approximately 50 are typically accepted.

HCC Application Requirements

Step 1: Apply for Admission to HCC:

New student to HCC: If you are new to college or transferring to HCC, your first step is to become an HCC Eagle by submitting a free admissions application to HCC. Please create a profile and complete a degree-seeking application on the applytexas.org website. Upon completing the application, you will receive your acceptance letter and a welcome email that contains your HCC Student ID number and P-number (if assigned). If you have filled out an HCC application at any point or you already have an HCC student ID number, please do not submit another HCC application. Multiple HCC new student applications and/or ID numbers are not allowed.

Returning student to HCC: If you have not been enrolled in HCC for the past 3 semesters, you must reactivate your HCC student account. If you need assistance with this process, please visit: Returning HCC Student | Houston Community College - HCC.

International Students: If you are an international student planning to attend HCC on a status F-1 (DACA, refugee, L visa, H visa, etc.), please visit the International Students page.

Veteran students: Please visit the Veterans Affairs page. Download and complete the  DD Form 214 & SF-180 Form and submit with the application. 

Step 2: Official High School and College Transcripts: 

Please submit your official sealed (unopened) transcript(s) from high school, GED, and any other colleges and/or universities previously attended. We do not accept unofficial copies or official copies that have been opened.

• If you have completed your courses only at HCC, you do not need to submit an official transcript.
• Official transcripts should be submitted 4 weeks before the application deadline.
• Internationally evaluated transcripts should be submitted 12 weeks before the application deadline.

All foreign transcripts must be evaluated by an approved credential evaluation service. The evaluation must include a course-by-course evaluation and US equivalency for earned degrees. The official evaluation report must be submitted to HCC. The HCC Internal process can take up to 8 weeks for evaluation and transfer of course credits. To find a list of approved evaluation companies, please visit Foreign Transcript/ Foreign Credit Evaluators. For more information on transcript(s) submission, please visit Transcript(s).

• There are two ways to submit an official transcript from your high school or previous institution:
  •  Submit Electronically: Have an official PDF transcript electronically sent from approved service providers such as Credentials Transcripts Network, Parchment, and National Student Clearinghouse to: admissions@hccs.edu
  •  Submit by Mail: Please use the address: Houston Community College, Office of Admissions & Records, P.O. Box 667517, Houston, TX 77266-7517.
• If you have completed coursework outside HCC and need more information on transfer equivalency with HCC, please visit the Transferring Credits page.

Step 3: Apply for Financial Aid (this step is optional):

• All students should apply for financial aid immediately after applying for admission to HCC. Filling out a financial aid application is the first step in learning your options to pay for college. HCC accepts financial aid applications throughout the year.
• Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.gov, School Code: 010422
• Free Application for Texas Application for State Financial Aid (TASFA) at hccs.edu/tasfa.
• If you need assistance paying for college, please visit the Coleman Financial Aid office for assistance or visit the Financial Aid page.

Step 4: Complete My Eagle HCC Account Checklist:

Please visit: myeagle.hccs.edu, and sign in to the Student System. Review and complete the HCC Policy and On-Boarding Checklist sections. To avoid delays in the processing of your application, please complete all To-Do List items.

•  Career Interest Assessment: All first-time HCC students must complete this module.
• Meningitis Vaccine – Future and returning students who are under the age of 22 are required to submit proof of vaccination. For more information on requirements, resources & any religious, medical, or online student exemptions, please visit the Meningitis Vaccine.
• To receive the Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) credit toward admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant program, the applicant should not have previously taken or attempted the course (by title) that is the same as the PLA credit for which he/she is applying. 
• Texas Success Initiative requirements –If you have the "Texas Success Initiative College Readiness Requirements" Checklist on your To-do List in the Student Center, you have to be placed into core courses in one of two ways:
  • Have an approved exemption (reason) for not taking the Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2); or
  • Take the Texas Success Initiative Assessment 2.0 (TSIA2)
  • Please visit the Texas Success Initiative Assessment to learn about your options to complete this requirement.

Step 5. Meet with HCC Coleman College Representative:

At least once during the application acceptance period, we strongly recommend that an applicant attend an In-Person/Virtual Program Information Session or meet with an HCC Coleman Advisor via phone or in-person, or virtually to ensure they are meeting all of the program admission criteria. To view up-to-date advising hours, please visit Coleman College Student Services.

Step 6: Program Information Session:

Schedule and attend a virtual online Program Information Session. Please register at Physical Therapist Assistant | Houston Community College - HCC (hccs.edu). For questions regarding the online delivery of program information sessions, please contact the program department at michele.voight@hccs.edu or co.pta@hccs.edu. 

Physical Therapist Assistant Program Application Requirements

Complete Requirements and Submit the program application:

In addition to the HCC admission application, you must complete and submit a typed Physical Therapist Assistant program application via email to co.ptaadmit@hccs.edu.

Please send all of the application requirements listed below in one email by the submission deadline and label each attachment with the file name:

• Copy of all transcript/s showing completion of the general education courses
• Completed admission rubric form
• Completed observation hours log form(s)
• HESI or ATI/TEAS exam results, and any other applicable supporting documents, by the application submission deadline.

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, out-patient, 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.

• For more information about prerequisite/academic courses, HESI or ATI/TEAS exam, please refer to the sections: Program Application: Academic Course Requirements & HESI Pre-entrance Exam Requirements.

PTA Program General Education Courses GPA: Cumulative GPA minimum 3.0 or higher for the following general education courses:

Placement Test: All new students enrolling in a Texas Public Institution of Higher Education must take the TSIA2 to determine college readiness unless they qualify for an exemption. Visit TSIA Exemptions for a list of exemptions. If your TSIA scores or transcript do not indicate college-level proficiency in reading, writing, and math, you are required to complete INRW 0420 and one of the specified MATH courses with a minimum grade of 'C' or higher.

• INRW 0420 - Integrated Reading and Writing
• MATH 0432P - Basic Mathematics & Contemporary Mathematics
  • OR MATH 0424P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Business Mathematics
  • OR MATH 0442P - Basic Mathematics & Introduction to Statistics

Due to competitive admission using a point-based system, General Education courses embedded in the PTA curriculum are highly recommended to be completed by the application deadline, and a grade of “C” or above is required for each of the General Education courses. Points towards your application are only applied from completed courses.

To determine your eligibility by calculating your cumulative points earned, please use our Admission Rubric form on the website. The completed rubric is required as part of the application packet. 

Please note that courses taken and accepted as part of the required general education courses will not be repeated in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.

Academic Courses: N/A

Recommended Courses: N/A

Interview: 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.

Program Application: 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 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 June 1, 2022, and June 2, 2025.
• 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 taken at HCC or outside of HCC).
• Students are allowed to submit up to two HESI-A2 transcripts to Houston Community 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.

Resources for HESI study materials:

The Center for Healthcare Professionals is offering the following courses listed below (hccs.edu/chp):
Online - HESI® A2 and TEAS® Preparatory course: Anatomy and Physiology.
Online - Critical Thinking for Standardized Tests
Online - Study Skills for Student Success 
Online - Successful Test Taking

• For additional information about any of these programs, please contact us via email at hcc- chp@hccs.edu or via phone at 713.718.7796 
• HCC Library: search with the keyword ‘HESI’ to access available resources.
• To find the latest HCC library hours, please visit Home - Locations - Libraries at Houston Community College (hccs.edu)
• Please refer to the following links for information on HESI study materials:
  • evolve.elsevier.com
  • nursehub.com
  • quizlet.com
  • prep.online

 How To Access Your ATI/TEAS Exam Score:

If the applicant is submitting ATI/TEAS exam results, please submit individual score results as a PDF for each subject taken in the exam. To view your individual score:

Step 1 – Access “My Results” To access your results, log in to atitesting.com with your username and password. From the home page, select the My Results tab to access your full transcript.

Step 2 – Select The TEAS Assessment Next, under the Proctored Assessments section, find the exam for which you want the results. Click on the assessment’s name to view the Individual Performance Profile page.

Step 3 – Select “Download Report” From the Individual Performance Profile page, select the button labeled “Download Report.” This will allow you to download a PDF document that you may upload with your application.

How To Access Your HESI Exam Scores, Including Critical Thinking Scores:

• Go to evolve.elsevier.com/cs/
• Click on Sign in and log in to your account
• Go to the My Other Products tab and click Student Access

HESI EXAM SCORES

• Click on Admission Assessment Report under Exam History to save the report in PDF.

HESI CRITICAL THINKING SCORES:

• Click on the plus sign (+) next to Admissions Assessment Report.
• Critical Thinking will appear in the drop-down list. Click on the link View Results.
• Click on Results Report.pdf under View Your Detailed Scoring Report on the right (Save this document as a PDF)

Pre-Enrollment Process & Requirements (Upon Admission Offer)

• Selective criteria are used to determine which applicants are offered admission. The selective criteria are based on academic history, testing, observation forms submission, and the interview process. Selective criteria are awarded based on the following:
• 75% awarded based on the health program academic criteria (grades earned from the PTA General Education Courses GPA and HESI or ATI /TEAS results).
• 25% awarded based on the interview process.
• All application requirements must be satisfied by the close of the application window.

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 with the Complio system by a specific due date to maintain eligibility status:

• Complete the letter of Intent form by the deadline stated in the admission acceptance offer that was sent via email to your preferred email address that was entered on the Health Science Program Application.
• 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 through the Complio system.
• Immunization record showing (Monitored by Complio system - houstoncccompliance.com) 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 through the Complio: 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, it is highly recommended that applicants weigh all of their options before agreeing to a conditional acceptance into their desired health science program. In order to facilitate this decision-making, students should understand all of 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, including proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

Students are required to provide HCC proof that students meet all clinical requirements, with the exception of their COVID-19 vaccination status. Consistent with state law, HCC does not mandate the COVID-19 vaccination. Students have the choice to voluntarily disclose or not disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status through their HCC Complio account.

However, most healthcare facilities do require the vaccine as a condition of employment, volunteering, or student clinical placement. If a student chooses not to disclose their COVID-19 vaccination status or is not vaccinated, HCC may not be able to place the student in clinical rotations. HCC will work to place such students into a clinical site that does not require the vaccine, provided such a site is available and HCC has an active affiliation agreement in place that meets the necessary conditions to provide an appropriate learning opportunity for the student. However, HCC cannot guarantee that clinical sites that do not require the COVID vaccine will be available at the time the student requires placement. At this time, many healthcare facilities are not accepting religious or medical exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine for clinical students.

If a student chooses not to receive or to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and no clinical sites are available to accept the student who does not require the COVID-19 vaccination, the student’s progression in the program and graduation will be delayed or stopped altogether. If a student cannot be timely placed in a qualifying clinical site, a student may not be able to complete the program. Our affiliate partners’ expectations are the same for our students as they would be when our students ultimately become employees in their chosen fields.

Students with questions about clinical requirements and placement may contact the program director of their program of interest.

HB 1508 requires the following information be given to students:

If you are applying for admission to a program that prepares an individual for an initial occupational license or certification and/or if you later decide to change to a program that prepares you for an initial occupational license or certification, in accordance with state law, please be advised of the following:

1. An individual who has been charged or convicted of an offense or who is on probation may not be eligible for issuance of an occupational license or certification upon completion of the educational
2. It is the responsibility of the individual to immediately report to the program any change in status that would affect that individual’s eligibility to apply for a license or
3. Local, state, or national licensing and certification authorities may issue additional guidelines related to criminal history. Applicants should contact their respective licensing or certification authority for more details.

Most healthcare programs require all students - admitted to the program - to submit to a national background check, which may include fingerprinting. Applicants are encouraged to review all applicable eligibility requirements related to the respective occupational license or certification. Questions related to eligibility requirements should be directed to the individual program and applicable licensing or certification authority.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program requires participation in clinical rotations in order to complete the program. In order to participate in clinical rotations at our affiliate sites, certain background information must be verified. Students participating in clinical rotations must meet the same background verifications as clinical staff at our affiliate sites. For that reason, we require students to submit the following required background information before admission/enrollment in the program is completed.

1. Social Security Number Verification
2. Criminal Search (7 or up to 5 criminal searches)
3. Violent Sexual Offender and Predator Registry Search
4. OIG List of Excluded Individuals/Entities
5. GSA List of Parties Excluded from Federal Programs
6. US Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), List of Specially Designated Nationals (SDN)
7. State Exclusive List hhsc.state.us 
8. Driver’s license or government-issued identification

Please note: Verification of this information is the financial responsibility of the student and must be completed through the program-approved vendor, Complio.

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.

Tuition is estimated using the Texas resident rates. Out-of-district and out-of-state residents will have higher tuition fees. Please visit the tuition calculator for more information.

Tuition is for core coursework only. General Education and Support courses are not included. These are high estimates; actual costs will vary depending on health insurance coverage.

Due to increases/decreases in books and supplements, please check the bookstore website.

Pre-Entrance Costs

1st Semester (17 Semester Hours)

2nd Semester (14 Semester Hours)

3rd Semester (9 Semester Hours)

4th Semester (13 Semester Hours)

5th Semester (13 Semester Hours)

Paying For College

You can use a valid MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express card to pay for tuition and fees. You can also use a debit card with a Visa or MasterCard logo, but not a non-USA credit card. Online payment via check is also available.

Check or e-check payments have a 10-day hold on the release of official transcripts. International students or their parents can also pay online from their country of origin with their local currency, where applicable. Online payment from other countries can be made through the “International Fund Transfer” payment option.

Additional Options for Payment:

Financial Aid

• If you need assistance paying for college, please visit the Coleman Financial Aid office for assistance or visit the financial aid page.

Scholarships

• In addition to federal and state aid, scholarships are a great way to offset all or part of the cost of your education. Please visit the scholarship page for more information.

Capital IDEA Houston fully funds participants’ tuition, fees, and books for an Associate’s Degree or College-level Certificate with no loans or paybacks required. Please visit College Degree Programs | Capital IDEA Houston to see the List of Sponsored Programs.

Installment Payment Plan

• If you are paying out of pocket and need assistance on how to set up a payment plan, please visit the Business Office at HCC Coleman or visit the student financial services page for more information.

Accreditation Agency

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Licensure Testing

Program Graduates are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) and become licensed by the Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, which is required for employment as a physical therapist assistant.

Employment Opportunities

Licensed Physical Therapist Assistants may find employment in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, outpatient clinics, school systems, and home healthcare agencies.

Average Salary

Entry-level salaries are in the range between $43,000 and $58,000 annually. Find out the entry-level wages, medium wages, and high wages for each career field in High School or less, Vocational Certificate, Associate's degree, Bachelor's degree, and Graduate degree: Career Coach | Houston Community College (HCC) | We are Houston's Community College (hccs.edu)

Questions

For further assistance on program admission requirements, please email us at: co.pta@hccs.edu or co.admissionadvising@hccs.edu.

Psychomotor Skills

Cognitive Skills

Sensory Skills

Learn more about the degree plan by visiting the HCC Catalog.