Careers
Whatcom Community College offers its online/in-person hybrid program with a lab option at Pierce College.
Physical therapist assistants work with licensed physical therapists to provide treatment for physical injuries and disabilities. 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 $23–25 per hour. See the American Physical Therapy Association website for more information on PTA duties and work environments.
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines for WCC's Hybrid PTA Program in collaboration with Pierce College
- Spring 2025 hybrid program deadline will be Thursday, October 31, 2024
- Mandatory New student orientation: TBA
See the full list of PTA program entry requirements on the Whatcom Community College website.
Information Sessions
Join us for an information session for Whatcom's physical therapist assistant program! Find out about the full-time face-to-face and the part-time online/hybrid options for this program, as well as the application process and getting started at Whatcom. Just bring your questions and your interest in working as a physical therapist assistant.
- July 9: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- August 12: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
- September 26: 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Please contact Luanne Peel at lpeel@whatcom.edu to request the Zoom meeting link.
Course Maps
To be considered for the physical therapist assistant program, students must have earned at least a C+ (2.3 GPA) or better in each of the required courses. Please note this is the minimum; most applicants obtain a B+ (3.3 GPA) or higher. See the full list of PTA program entry requirements on the Whatcom Community College website.
Pierce College has partnered with Whatcom Community College (WCC) to provide Pierce county students a designed pathway into the WCC online/hybrid physical therapist assistant (PTA) program. If you are admitted to the PTA program you will become a student at WCC, completing all coursework online and attending labs one weekend per month at Pierce College. You can see all of WCC's PTA program admissions guidelines on the WCC website.
Career Pathway Course Map
About the Program
The physical therapist assistant (PTA) program is offered by Whatcom Community College (WCC), with lecture classes delivered online and an in-person lab option at Pierce College.
You may complete the prerequisite courses at Pierce College; however, the core PTA courses are offered by WCC. To complete the PTA program, upon successful completion of the prerequisite courses, you will need to apply to WCC and to the WCC PTA program. If admitted to the PTA program, you will become a WCC student.
See the full list of PTA program entry requirements on the Whatcom Community College website.
Apply to the Program
Step 1: Apply to Pierce College to complete the PTA program prerequisites.
This is a competitive program with a competitive application process. All prerequisites* must be completed prior to the fall quarter application date.
*Prerequisite courses may be completed at Pierce College. If you are a Pierce College student or anticipating completion of your prerequisite courses for the PTA program at Pierce College, contact the Program Advisor, Lisa Murray at lmurray@pierce.ctc.edu.
Step 2: Apply to Whatcom Community College PTA Program in collaboration with Pierce College.