Physical Therapist Assistant FAQs

I currently have or will have a bachelor’s degree within the next year.  Am I still able to apply to this program? 

Yes! Students who already hold a bachelor’s degree are welcome to apply to the PTA Program. However, you may need help determining how your previous coursework transfers and what prerequisites you still need to fulfill before starting the technical year.

We strongly recommend attending a virtual PTA Application Information Session, where faculty will explain the selective admission process and guide you through your next steps.

Important Financial Aid Information
If you already have a bachelor’s degree and are pursuing an associate degree, your financial aid eligibility may be limited. In some cases, students can submit a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) appeal to request reinstatement of aid.

Each appeal is reviewed individually, and approval is not guaranteed. Learn more about the appeal process.

The PTA Program is designed as a full-time, daytime program. While you can take some general education and prerequisite courses part-time before starting the technical year, the technical year itself is full-time and in-person, Monday through Friday.

This schedule ensures you get the hands-on learning and clinical experience essential for becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant. The technical year is accelerated and includes 15 weeks of full-time clinical education.

Most students find they can work about 8–10 hours per week outside of class and assignments during the technical year, but full-time employment is not recommended.

Yes, you may still need to complete certain prerequisite courses depending on your previous academic background. All courses in the curriculum need to be completed with a grade of C or better.

Science prerequisites must have been completed within the past 6 years.

Many general education courses will transfer if they were completed at an accredited college or university without a time constraint.

The ATI TEAS 7 is a standardized exam used to assess readiness for health science programs. It covers 4 areas: Reading, Math, Science, and English & Language Usage.

How should I prepare?

Preparation is important! Students often use a variety of resources such as TEAS & study guides, prep books, or online practice tests. ATI TEAS does offer study prep resources, but you are not required to use them.

Focus on the four key areas: Reading, Math, Science and English & Language Usage. Starting early and practicing regularly can help improve confidence and performance.

Helpful Resources: ATI TEAS Prep,  Free ATI TEAS Practice Test

UC Clermont offers the TEAS 7 exam each fall via on-campus proctoring, helping to keep testing costs lower for students.

For most of the general education courses, you are able to take these online. It is highly recommended that science courses be taken in-person, if possible. 

Once in the technical (2nd) year of the program, courses are only offered in-person, and a student is expected to be on campus full-time through those three semesters.

Yes. To practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant, you must:

1. Graduate from an accredited PTA program
2. Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE)

Once you pass the NPTE, you can apply for licensure in all U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.