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Application & Selection Process

Applications for admission to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are accepted during the Spring semester. The deadline for submitting an application and all supporting documents is March 31. Applications are reviewed and processed at the end of the Spring semester for consideration for the next available beginning class. 

In addition to completing requirements for St. Philip's College, the student must submit:

  • Completed Allied Health Application Form and supporting documentation (Select link to download a copy.)
  • Official college transcript(s)
  • College Entrance Exam Score if applicant has not successfully completed 12 or more college hours. (Accuplacer, SAT, ACT) Please see a college advisor for more information about the college entrance exam.
  • Complete the health professions standardized test. (Test available beginning Spring 2010; details available later.)
  • Documentation of at least 40 hours of volunteer or work experience.
    • Volunteer or work experience must be in a physical therapy clinic/department overseen by a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. 
    • Each student selects his/her own site for volunteer experience.
    • It must be documented and signed by PT/PTA on the provided form below.
    • Click to download a copy of Applicant Volunteer or Employment Verification Form .  

Completion of the application criteria does not guarantee program selection or admission. 

Selection Criteria and Formula Weight
Completed application 10%
GPA Cumulative or College Entrance Exam 40%
Standardized test 40%
Observation (40 hours) 10%

Bonus points will be given for the following items:

Bonus Point Items Value
Biol 2401 (A&PI) 5 points
Biol 2402 (A&P II) 5 points 
Engl 1302 (Fresh Comp I) 5 points
Engl 1302 (Fresh Comp II) 2 points
College Algebra (or higher math) 2 points
Psychology (General or Introduction) 2 points
Physics 2 points
Completed college degree 5 points
Physical Therapy work experience 2 points
NOTE: Grade of C or higher for courses  

Qualified applicants will receive notification to attend a meeting with PTA faculty that furthers the selection process.  They will be given more specific information about the program and learn what to expect if accepted into the program.

The PTA Program will subsequently select the 24 highest ranked applicants. All qualified applicants will receive notification of acceptance or nonacceptance.

The College, the Allied Health Department and the PTA Program are not responsible for any misinterpretation of the above processes for admission and selection.

Acceptance into the PTA program is conditional until the student passes a criminal background check and a drug screen.  Additional information and required forms will be given to students accepted into the PTA program.

A felony conviction, while not precluding a student from the academic component of the PTA program, may prevent the student from sitting for the licensure examination in the State of Texas.  Students with concerns should contact the physical therapy chief investigator at address below:

     Executive Council of Physical Therapy Examiners
     333 Guadalupe, Ste.  2-510
     Austin , TX  78701
     Phone:  512-305-6900

1801 Martin Luther King Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78203 (210) 486-2000
Southwest Campus 800 Quintana Road San Antonio, Texas 78211 (210) 486-7000

St. Philip's College is a member institution of the Alamo Colleges.