Physical Therapist Assistant - Home

Pierce and Whatcom community colleges' shared online Physical Therapist Assistant program targets students interested in receiving high-quality career training, while still maintaining their family and work schedules.

Physical therapist assistants work with licensed physical therapists to provide treatment for physical injuries and disabilities. This includes training patients in therapeutic exercises, providing hands-on treatment, documenting patient progress, and using special equipment.

Register today

Deadline to apply is in November for the following spring quarter. (Note: Students are advised to apply for the program in November, even if they won't complete all the prerequisites until the end of that winter quarter.) Contact the program advisor for deadline and registration information at (253) 964-6482.

Prerequisites

To be considered for the Physical Therapist Assistant program, students must have earned at least a C+ in each of the following courses:

  • English 101 (ENGL& 101): Composition 1
  • Business 107: Business math
  • Psychology 100 (PSYC& 100) or Sociology 101 (SOC& 101)
  • Any science lab course (biology, chemistry, or physics)
  • Business Information Technology 150: Medical terminology
  • Biology 241(BIOL& 241): Human anatomy and physiology I
  • Biology 242 (BIOL& 242): Human anatomy and physiology II
  • Optional: Communications studies (CMST& 101, 210, 220, or 230 are highly recommended, but not required for admission to the program.)

Transfer possibilities

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is intended to give students the training and skills they need to immediately enter the workforce.

Special program features

The nine-quarter, part-time Physical Therapist Assistant program is offered to Pierce College students through a partnership with Whatcom Community College in Bellingham. Pierce students take online classes and complete in-person lab experiences one weekend per month in Bellingham. It's a schedule that accommodates students with family and work obligations.

Employment possibilities

Physical therapist assistants are needed in hospitals, pediatric centers, sports medicine clinics, private practices, retirement communities, and home health agencies. Demand for trained physical therapist assistants is very high in Washington, where they can earn $16-25 per hour.

Lisa Murray
Program Advisor
(253) 964-6482