Gulf Coast State College | Physical Therapist Assistant

Program Snapshot

Academic CredentialAssociate in Science (AS)

Total Credit Hours74

Average Time to Complete2 years

Academic PathwayHealth Sciences

ADVISOR FOR LAST NAME N-ZMelinda Cumbaa, PT, DPT
PTA Program Coordinator
850.913.3312
mcumbaa@gulfcoast.edu

ADVISOR FOR LAST NAME A-MAdam Padgett, PTA, CKTP
Assistant Coordinator & ACCE
850.769.1551, ext. 6180
apadgett@gulfcoast.edu

Academic Programs SpecialistConnie Pimentel
850.913.3311
HealthSciencesGCSC@gulfcoast.edu

PATHWAY NAVIGATORAli Payne
850.769.1551 ext. 5863
apayne7@gulfcoast.edu

M. Cumbaa faculty page

A. Padgett faculty page

Visit the PTA Website

Track your progress Degree Audit Map out your courses Degree Plan

Physical Therapist Assistant, AS

Would You Like a Career as a Physical Therapist Assistant?

If you have an interest in healthcare, a strong background in science, and like to help people move, then our Physical Therapist Assistant, AS degree program is for you. This program is designed to prepare you for entry-level work as a physical therapist assistant. Gulf Coast State College offers the necessary courses to help you develop the skills that employers are looking for today. You will get hands-on training in the field of physical therapy through both academic laboratory and clinical practice. This program will prepare you to take the national licensure examination through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), and is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE).

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Gulf Coast State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone (703) 706-3245, email: accreditation@apta.org; website: CAPTE Online website. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (850) 913-3312, or email mcumbaa@gulfcoast.edu.

PTAs are employed in a variety of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, schools, and outpatient physical therapy clinics. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the mean annual wage for physical therapist assistants working in the United States was estimated to be between $37,000 - $80,000, with the mean at $60,000. In our geographical area, new graduates typically start at the lower end of this range.

Accreditation Curriculum Mission Program Outcomes Prerequisites Estimated Student Expenses

Physical Therapist Assistant Course Requirements

Communications Area

English I

Humanities Area

Visual & Performing Arts or
Philosophy/Religion or
Literature

Mathematics Area

Select One from a list of Math Courses

Natural Sciences Area

Anatomy and Physiology

Social Sciences Area

American National Government, United States History I, or United States History II and demonstrate Civic Literacy Competency
General Psychology

Major Courses

Anatomy and Physiology Courses
Medical Terminology
Physical Therapy Courses

A complete list of courses with descriptions can be found in the Catalog

What can you do with a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Gulf Coast program graduates typically site for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Exam following graduation. The following represents our first attempt pass rates:

Class of 2021: 79%

Class of 2022: 86%

Class of 2023: 80%

Two-Year rate:

2021-2022: 82%

2022-2023: 83%

Gulf Coast PTA alumni are incredibly employable. The following represents the percentage of students who found employment within one year of graduation:

Class of 2020: 86%

Class of 2021: 100%

Class of 2022: 100%

Class of 2023: 100%

Two-Year rate:

2020-2021: 93%

2021-2022: 100%

2022-2023: 100%

"The Physical Therapist Assistant program at GCSC was more than just 'the next stop' in my education. They prepared me academically and professionally for my future career; my classmates and instructors became my greatest friends. A large part of my success today is due to the hard work and attention to detail my instructors placed in my education."

-Adam Padgett

Physical Therapist Assistant, Excel Therapy, LLC

Who is Eligible for the Physical Therapist Assistant AS Program?

If you are a high school graduate, you can apply to this program. If you have earned credits from a regionally accredited college or university, you may have a head start at Gulf Coast State College. There are specific course requirements for entering this program. For more information, please consult the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Info Packet.

Why Choose Gulf Coast State College to Earn Your Degree?

You'll get a great education with one of the lowest tuition rates in the state. Get the personal attention you deserve with small class sizes and professors who care. The PTA program at Gulf Coast State College has a 94% employment rate, for graduates within 6 months of licensure.

Physical Therapist Assistant Lab

You'll acquire the skills you need to be successful in Gulf Coast State College's Physical Therapist Assistant Laboratory, overlooking the beautiful bay on our Panama City campus. Our state-of-the-art laboratory space will enable you to perform simulated treatments using current technology.

Are you ready to get Started ?

How to apply to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program

To apply, you’ll need to complete the general admission application to Gulf Coast State College . Visit the Gulf Coast admissions page to learn more about the application process.

Consult the Physical Therapist Program webpage and the Gulf Coast State College Catalog for specific program and course information about the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Apply to Gulf Coast