Physical Therapist Assistant

Accreditation:

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at St. Philip's College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
(703) 684-APTA (2782)
(800) 999-2782
(703) 684-7343 (fax)
Email: accreditation@apta.org
Website: http://www.capteonline.org

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 210 486-2051 or email twren@alamo.edu.

The St. Philip’s College Physical Therapist Assistant program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE) at https://ptot.texas.gov/.

This program was first granted accreditation status in 1973 and was re-accredited in 2019.

Licensure: 

Upon successfully completing all the requirements of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program, the student is awarded the Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant.  Graduates of the program are able to sit for the licensure test given by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE) at https://ptot.texas.gov/.

Information:

Faculty and Staff

Tunetha Parchem, PTA, MPT, Program Director, & Associate Professor

Amy Quesenberry, PTA, MSCIN, ATRIC, Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education & Associate Professor

Misty Campbell, PT, DPT, Instructor 

Professional Organizations and Sites of Interest:  The Physical Therapist Assistant Program maintains close ties with the professional organizations that represent physical therapy:

• American Physical Therapy Association:  This is a national professional organization that represents nearly 70,000 members, and works to foster advancement in physical therapy practice, research, and education.  The mission of the APTA is to further the profession's role in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of movement dysfunction and to enhance the physical health and functional abilities of members of the public.
• Texas Physical Therapy Association:  This is the state component of the APTA that represents the physical therapy profession in Texas.
• Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners:  This is the legal authority on standards of physical therapy practice in Texas.  It acts as a public guardian.  It is also the licensing authority for the state of Texas.

Student Handbook Clinical Education Handbook Completing the PTAMACS for CIs

Program Statistics THECB Statutory Requirement

Students wishing to enroll in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program must meet all admission requirements for acceptance to St. Philip's College and the Health Sciences Department.  In addition, the student must apply to the program as outlined below in the "Application and Selection Process" section.  Students requiring developmental courses must have completed all of these courses in order to be eligible for application to the program. A recommended first step for students interested in the program is to complete 40 hours of physical therapy volunteer/observation or work hours. To complete the 40 hours, 20 hours will be required at two different locations to include: outpatient physical therapy, inpatient physical therapy, pediatric physical therapy, acute rehabilitation (hospital), skilled nursing facility, and home health physical therapy.

A recommended second step for students interested in the program is to take the Assessment Technologies Institute's Test of Essential Academic Skills (ATI TEAS) examination and earn a score of a 75 or higher in order to apply. These are recommended first steps of the application process.

Students are required to complete Human Anatomy & Physiology I (BIOL 2401), English Composition (ENGL 1301), and College Algebra or higher before applying to the program. The remaining general education courses are not required before applying for the program but are strongly encouraged:

• BIOL 2402 - Human Anatomy & Physiology II
• PSYC 2301 - General Psychology
• And one additional course from Language, Philosophy, and Culture (40) core OR from Visual and Performing Art (50) core

Students with questions regarding admissions or whether previous courses will transfer for credit at St. Philip's College are encouraged to contact the advisor for the Physical Therapist Assistant Program using the below information:

Mr. Doug Gable
e-mail: dgable@alamo.edu
phone: 210-486-2799

All application information can be found in the Application Packet under
the Application & Selections Process Tab.

New Application Process Posted Below

Application to the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program is a separate process from St. Philip's College application. Applications for admission to the PTA Program are accepted during the spring semester only. For questions about the application or application requirements please get in touch with Tunetha Parchem, Program Director at spc-pta@alamo.edu.
Application Deadline is Mar. 31, 2025.

Application Application Process

Selection Process:

Before being fully accepted into any Health Sciences program, students must pass a mandatory criminal background check and drug screen (at the student's expense).  Additional information and required forms will be given to students accepted into the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.  Before beginning the clinical rotations, students must complete mandatory immunizations, a listing of which may be found on the Health Sciences Department Quick Reference Sheet.  

Selection Process

The College, the Health Sciences Department, and the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are not responsible for misinterpreting the above processes for admission and selection.