Application Process

Admission to Austin Community College does not guarantee admission to a Health Sciences program. ALL Health Sciences program applicants must:

1. Apply to ACC and begin taking relevant program prerequisites
2. Follow the admission steps for the Health Sciences program you prefer.
3. Collect the required documentation and/or complete all immunizations before applying for program admission.
4. Submit your program application (a criminal background check may be required)

Download Application Process WORD (67 KB) PDF (45 KB)

Admission Procedures

Thank you for your interest in applying to the PTA program. The PTA Program last received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in May 2000. Upon successful completion of the PTA degree plan, graduates will receive an Associate of Applied Science Degree and become eligible to take the national licensure examination as a Physical Therapist Assistant.

The PTA program is committed to a thorough and fair admissions process. We typically accept 20 students each year. The PTA program requires admitted students to complete a criminal background check (CBC) prior to entering the program.

The following information is provided as a guide for successful completion of the admissions process. The selection process is competitive and successful completion of the admissions requirements does not guarantee acceptance into the PTA Program.

Program Admission Requirements
The following admissions requirements are considered in the selection process:

1. 2.5 GPA in applicable courses (See degree plan)
2. Selected Prerequisite courses (See degree plan)
3. Satisfy ACC basic skills requirements
4. Completion of the HOBET
5. Volunteer Experience and associated work skills assessment forms
6. Attend a Program Information Session
7. Completed Application
8. Meets all Technical Standards
9. Documentation of immunization requirements

Procedure

1. For entry in the fall of any year, submit all application materials to the department office by May 18th, of that year.
2. To request an application packet, please contact:
   Tamala Tatum
   PTA Program, Eastview Campus
   3401 Webberville RD
   Austin, TX 78702
   All application forms are on the application packet page
3. Complete immunization requirements.
4. The Applicant Data Record is optional. However, several of our accreditation agencies require that this data be collected and analyzed. Your cooperation in completing this form is greatly appreciated. This form will be removed from your application packet upon receipt and kept separate from your application file.
5. ACC requires students to successfully complete the THEA, COMPASS, or ACCESS test before enrolling in college–credit classes unless the student meets approved exemptions as listed in the college catalog. See this web site for a list of exemptions. See catalog or an admissions counselor for more information
6. Submit a signed copy of the Technical Standards.
7. The HOBET exam is required for all applicants. This exam is offered at regularly scheduled times. Results must be no more than two years old. The PTA Program only uses the final composite score in the selection process. Other portions of this assessment are used by the program to improve the educational process. Please contact ACC’s Business Assessment Center at Highland Business Center at 512.223.7769 to schedule this exam.
8. Submit official transcripts or official ACC Admissions and Records transfer credit documentation of previous educational experience to validate completion of:
   • PSYC 2301 Introduction to Psychology
   • MATH any three hour college-credit math from the general education course list
   • ENGL 1301 English Composition I
   • BIOL 2304 Human Anatomy or equivalent
     • Other required general education courses in the degree plan that have been completed will be used to determine applicant’s GPA. All students must receive a minimum of a C in all courses in the degree plan.
9. Each applicant must complete a minimum of 40 hours of volunteer experience. This experience must have occurred within the last two years. Physical Therapy aides or technicians may count employment for this requirement. Three work skills assessment forms are required; at least two work skills assessments must be from licensed physical therapy personnel who have knowledge of the applicant’s volunteer or work experience. The third work skills assessment form may be from an individual who has experience with the applicant outside of physical therapy (i.e., employer, supervisor, instructor). Accepted documentation of the volunteer experience is as follows:
• Documentation of this experience:
  1. Volunteer experience–Two licensed physical therapy personnel from the facility must document this experience on the work skills assessment form provided. Present the cover letter, the form, and log to the appropriate individual at the beginning of your volunteer time to allow the evaluator familiarity with the criteria throughout the experience.
  2. Work experience–You may use the log form provided or similar work log from your employer. Two licensed physical therapy personnel must document this experience on the work skills assessment form provided.
     All three forms submitted are used in calculating the applicant’s admission score.
     Work skills assessment forms are available for downloading on the application packet page
     
10. Attend a PTA program information session. You may obtain dates of sessions from Tamala Tatum at 512.223.5935

Selection Process
Successful completion of the application qualifies the applicant for the selection process. Listed below are the criteria used in ranking the applicants:

1. Academic GPA
2. HOBET exam score
3. Completed work skills assessment forms
4. Information session assessment score
   Applicants with completed course work will have additional points added to the scores used in ranking all applicants. See next section for full explanation of the selection process. The bonus points are calculated in the following manner:
   1. Five points for Human Physiology or equivalent
   2. One point each for other general education requirements
      1. HPRS 1106 Medical Terminology PCM (or any other 1-3 hour medical terminology course)
      2. SPCH
      3. PSYC 2314 Human Growth and Development; must include information from birth through aging
      4. Elective in Humanities/Fine Arts

Final Selection and Notification
Each applicant will be ranked according to the following criteria:

1. GPA of applicable academic course work 38%
2. HOBET scores 38%
3. Work skills assessment scores 15%
4. Information session assessment score 9%
5. Bonus points

The program will notify applicants of their status in early June. Applicants will receive one of the following letters:

• Conditional Acceptance--—complete criminal background check and attend required orientation; directions and dates included with your acceptance letter
• Alternate—if you are selected as an alternate and wish to know your alternate position or if you would like advising for application the following year, you may contact the Program Department Chair.
• Rejection—if you would like advising for application the following year, you may contact the Program Department Chair.

Optional 5 Semester Degree Plan

For PTA applicants wishing to apply for the Optional 5 Semester Degree Plan please be aware of the following differences in the application and selection process.

Those students preparing to apply for the “fast track” plan do not have to satisfy number 2 in the Program Admission Requirements. There are no required pre-requisite courses. Students will also have to make a score of 75 or higher in the composite reading and math score of the HOBET Exam. There is no minimum HOBET score for those students applying for the “traditional track”. See number 4 in the Program Admission Requirements. 

The selection process for applicants to the optional degree plan is as follows. The scores for the HOBET, Works Skills Assessments and Information Session Assessments will be totaled and applicants ranked accordingly. Applicants who have completed Human Anatomy will receive 5 bonus points which will be added to the above total score.

The PTA program in either format is a rigorous course of study. Students wishing to take the “fast track” plan may consider taking the general education courses while in high school or in the summer prior to admission into the program. Students typically are more successful in the program if their focus is on PTA course material.

Students who do take the general education courses prior to being admitted into the program however may not meet the required course credit load for financial aid.

 

Contacts
Address any questions or concerns regarding this procedure to:

Jana Israel, PT, M.Ed.
Department Chair 512.223.5938
3401 Webberville RD Fax: 512.223.5897
Austin, Texas 78702

Important
PLEASE NOTE: We reserve the right to update this information periodically. The PTA Program is not responsible for misinterpretation of information printed herein or elsewhere on the website.

Employment at the College and access to its programs or activities shall not be limited on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or physical disability. All recruitment and admissions material complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.