Physical Therapist Assistant A.S. Degree

The physical therapist assistant (PTA) program at Chaffey College leads to an associate in science degree and is designed to prepare graduates for a career in physical therapy. A PTA is a licensed clinician authorized to provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. To meet licensure requirements, students must graduate from an accredited program and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for the PTA and a jurisprudence exam.

The PTA program is three semesters in length and begins each summer semester. The program includes didactic, practical, and clinical educational experiences to develop entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities. Upon CAPTE approval, the first cohort will begin in the summer of 2024. To apply for the program, applicants must complete all prerequisites before starting PTA coursework.

Applicants with a record of any felony are subject to review by the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC) before a license can be granted. Therefore, please contact the PTBC before applying to the PTA program to clarify eligibility for licensure.

Accreditation Statement

Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Chaffey College is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on June 1, 2023. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

The program will accept 24 students once a year for a summer semester start. The projected start date is Summer 2024, with prerequisites starting in Fall 2023.

The goal of the physical therapist assistant (PTA) program is to confer an A.S. in PTA degree to prepare graduates to qualify for licensure and perform the duties of an entry-level PTA under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

This is an independent program that utilizes courses from nursing, kinesiology, and general education to award an associates degree in physical therapist assistant. The program can be completed in 6 semesters: 3 semesters of prerequisite and general education coursework and 3 semesters of physical therapist assistant coursework.