Physical Therapist Assistant

2023 Bishop State PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet

PTA Program Outcomes

• Employment Rates
  • 2024: 100%
  • 2023: 100%
  • 2022: 100%
  • 2-year weighted averages: 100% (2023/2024) 100% (2022/2023)

• Graduation Rates
  • 2024: 80.0%
  • 2023: 90.0%
  • 2022: 83.3%
  • 2-year weighted averages: 85.7% (2023/2024) and 100% (2022/2023)

ADMISSSIONS

NOTICE: THE APPLICATION FOR THE CLASS OF 2026 IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN ON DECEMBER 1. APPLICATIONS ARE DUE BY MAY 15, 2025

The PTA Department began utilizing the APTA-sponsored Centralized Application System (CAS) for its admission process on March 1, 2021. This system will no longer be available. The Director is currently working with administration to move the application into the same system as the Bishop State Community College application. Applicants will STILL need to complete College and Program applications, but the process will be much simpler.

Please request your transcripts to be sent to Bishop State Admissions and Records electronically, if possible. Choose the option to have transcripts forwarded once grades are posted when ordering transcripts.

Two steps are required to apply for admission:

1. Complete application to Bishop State Community College (if not already enrolled) at:

• Bishop State Community College Application Page

2. Complete PTA Program Application at:

• (updated link coming soon).
  

The following requirements are the minimum for consideration for admission to the program. Applicants should be aware that our program has a competitive admissions process and meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission to the program.

• Unconditional admission to Bishop State Community College.
• Applicant must complete ALL pre-requisite courses by Spring Semester of application year. (See Program Courses button at the end of this page.)
• Minimum GPA and Math/Science GPA: 2.75 (pre-requisite courses only; GPAs calculated by PTA CAS and/or Office of Records and Admission)
• Minimum TEAS: PROFICIENT (Note: We are currently collecting data for TEAS and student outcomes. TEAS score may change for future application cycles as data is collected and analyzed.) Online TEAS scores are not accepted. TEAS must be taken at a testing center with in-person proctoring (effective December 2023). TEAS score submitted be from exam taken 12 months or less prior to application (effective January 2021). Students may request in-depth review of score reports should they feel the TEAS score is not reflective of their knowledge (effective April 2024).
• 2024-2025 APPLICATION SEASON IS THE LAST ADMISSION CYCLE WHICH WE WILL ACCEPT THE TEAS. WE HAVE WORKED WITH ACCUPLACER TO DESIGN A TEST WHICH REFLECTS THE PRE-REQUISITE MATERIALS FOR OUR PROGRAM. THIS TEST WILL BE PROCTORED ON CAMPUS BY OUR LEARNING ASSISTANCE CENTER AT A SIGNIFICANTLY LOWER COST THAN THE TEAS. APPLICANTS MAY REGISTER TO TAKE THIS TEST BEGINNING SPRING 2025. (UPDATED OCTOBER 2025)
• Minimum of 50 observation hours in 2 different physical therapy settings (not locations): outpatient clinic/hospital/ nursing home (25 hours each). Home health is NOT accepted.
• Minimum of 2 letters of recommendation. NEW PROCESS FOR SUBMISSION COMING SOON.
• Applicants must submit official transcripts for ALL institutions of higher education attended. (This is a matter of federal law.)

Note: Pre-requisite science courses (A&P I, II, and Physical Science 112 should be no more than 5 years old at the time of application to the program. However, we encourage applicants to take A&P within 1 year of application. This is a science-based program, and thorough knowledge of these concepts is imperative to succeeding in the Program.

With Respect to code 668.43 (a)(5)(v)

This program has determined that its curriculum meets the state education requirements for licensure in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical therapy Education based on the following:

CAPTE accreditation of the 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, graduates of CAPTE-accredited physical therapist or 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 Rice, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. From more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy Website at www.fsbpt.org.

Accreditation

Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bishop State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Dr. Gail Williamson, PT, DPT, cert. MDT at 251-405-4447 or email gwilliamson@bishop.edu.

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