Physical Therapy Assistant Program

Physical therapy

Are you passionate about helping people recover from injuries and disabilities? Our Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program provides hands-on training and expert instruction to help you become a vital member of the healthcare team.  Licensed PTA's may find employment in rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, hospitals, pediatric centers, outpatient clinics, home health care, school systems, or other specialized health care settings.

Program Details

Learn more about our Physical Therapy Assistant program and find course descriptions in the WCJC Catalog.  The WCJC Physical Therapy Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Academic Maps

Earn your Associate of Applied Science. degree in 21 months to become a Physical Therapist Assistant. The program is held on our Wharton campus and includes supervised classroom and clinical experiences designed to prepare you to take the examination to become a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. Review the courses for each semester in the Academic Map:

Career Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the 21-month Physical Therapist Assistant program, you are awarded an Associate of Applied Science degree and are eligible to sit for the national licensing exam.  Once you pass the exam, you'll have everything you need to find a career as a physical therapy assistant.

In addition to applying to WCJC, the Physical Therapy Assistant program requires a program application. Complete the application, print it out, and submit it to the PTA Program and/or Registrar’s Office. The deadline to apply is the last Thursday in May. Once you apply, you are generally notified in June as to your status for the upcoming fall semester. 16 students are accepted each fall semester.  Questions can be directed to Carol Riley at CarolR@wcjc.edu or 979-532-6491.

 

  • Tuition / Fees - In-District: $5,190
  • Tuition / Fees - Out-of-District: $7,706
  • Additional Program Fees: $3,445
Note:  Annual costs are estimates and subject to change. Students should contact the program for further information related to costs.

A Track Record of Success

Upon successful completion of the 21-month physical therapist assistant curriculum, you are eligible to take the state licensure examination administered by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. WCJC PT alumni have an impressive track record for passing the exam and finding jobs after graduation. Learn more about the exam on the TBTE website or reach out to our faculty with questions.
84.15%
Graduation Rate
68.35%
First-Time Pass Rate
95%
Employment Rate

Meet the Faculty and Staff

Have questions about our program? Contact one of our faculty or Staff members.

Kelly Wallace, PT, DPT

Program Director

Ms. Wallace received her B.S. in Physical Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. She is a licensed physical therapist in Texas and has practiced physical therapy in various settings for 25 years. She also has a B.S. from Texas A&M University in Health Education specializing in Community Health and a Doctorate from Boston University in Physical Therapy. She teaches Neurological Disorders, Data Collection, Therapeutic Exercise, Clinical Physical Therapist Assistant I.

Office: Wharton Campus
Phone: (979) 532-6374
Email: wallacek@wcjc.edu

Marci Espinosa, PTA

Academic Coordinator of Clinical Education

Ms. Espinosa received her A.A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant from Wharton County Junior College in 2012.  She is a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in Texas and has practiced for five years. She teaches Physical Agents Functional Anatomy, Pathophysiology for the PTA, Clinical Physical Therapist Assistant I, Clinical Physical Therapist Assistant II and Clinical Physical Therapist Assistant III.

Office: Wharton Campus
Phone: (979) 532-6373
Email: espinosam@wcjc.edu

Additional Program Information

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at WCJC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Address:
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 
Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085

Phone: (703) 706-3245

Email: accreditation@apta.org

Website: http://www.capteonline.org.

If you need to contact the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at WCJC directly, please call (979) 532-6491 or email the PTA Program Director at wallacek@wcjc.edu.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Wharton County Junior College was granted initial accreditation on April 24, 1991. Accreditation extends from November 9, 2016, to December 31, 2027.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Wharton County Junior College 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 Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org 

Complaints regarding the PTA Program, its faculty, or students should be submitted to the PTA Program Director in the Johnson Health Science Building at the Wharton campus. You may call (979) 532-6491 or email wallacek@wcjc.edu. Interested parties who have questions about the program's accreditation status should contact the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education at http://www.capteonline.org

CAPTE

 

  2021-2022 Average 2023-2024 Average
Graduation Rate 84.15% 85.7%
First Time Pass Rate 68.35% 72.5%
Ultimate Pass Rate 85.85% 81.65%
Employment Rate 100% 100%
  • Christopher Dempsey, PT Matagorda Regional Medical Center, Bay City, TX
  • Kelley Drabek, PTA Oakbend Medical Center, Richmond, TX
  • Grace Hankins, PT Kittie Nash Groce Rehabilitation, West Columbia, TX
  • Allison Holt, PT Brazosport Rehabilitation, Lake Jackson, TX
  • Nancy Johnson, PT, DPT Matagorda Regional Medical Center, Bay City, TX
  • Marjo McLaughlin, PT El Campo Memorial Hospital System, El Campo, TX
  • Colleen Rasmussen, PT Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine and Rehab, Wharton, TX
  • Hannah Trojecek Mica, PTA Columbus Physical Therapy, Columbus, TX
  • Matthew Vargason, PT, DPT CHI St. Lukes, Lake Jackson, TX

Questions?

Contact Carol Riley with your program and application questions.
Phone: 979-532-6491
Email: carolr@wcjc.edu