Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions

All prerequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher and be within allowable time limit.

• BIOL-101, General Biology, OR BIOL-107, Fund of Microbiology, OR BIOL-200, Microbiology
  • 4 credits, completed within 10 years of start of clinicals
• ENGL-121, College Composition, 3 credits
• MATH-138, Statistics, 4 credits

Prerequisites taken at other institutions must officially be on file and evaluated by the application deadline.  See the Transfer Credit tab.

All corequisites must be completed with a minimum grade of C or higher.

The following courses may be taken with the clinical courses, but it is strongly recommended that all courses be completed PRIOR TO starting clinicals due to the demands and time commitment needed for success in clinical coursework.

• BIOL-203, Anatomy and Physiology I
• • 4 credits, must taken within 5 years of 1st clinical course if completed prior to clinical admission with a grade of B or higher.
• BIOL-204, Anatomy and Physiology II
  • 4 credits, must be taken within 5 year of 1st clinical course if completed prior to clinical admission.
• PSYC-101, General Psychology, 3 credits
• COMM-101, 105, or 110, Speech Requirement, 3 credits

Official transcripts AND the request to have credit evaluated must be on file by the supplemental application deadline.

• Students must contact their prior institutions to request that OFFICIAL transcripts be sent directly to HCC.  Transcripts that are opened or emailed to students are not considered official.
• Use the Transcript Evaluation Request Form to request that HCC evaluate your prior credit for your current degree program.

• All prerequisite and corequisite courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher.
• BIOL-203 must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
• A cumulative HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher is required.

Complete 50 hours observing a physical therapist in at least two different physical therapy sites.

PTA Clinical Experience Documentation 

Observation hours and completed form are both due by the May 15th application deadline. 

Previous applicants may resubmit an observation form that was submitted during a prior application cycle.

• Howard county residents should submit two residency documents for priority placement in the selection lottery.

• Applicants need an active HCC record with Program 282.  If you are not already an HCC student, please Apply for Credit Programs.
• Achieve a cumulative HCC GPA of 2.25 or higher.
• BIOL-203 must be completed with a grade of B or higher.
• All other  prerequisites must be completed with the required grades and within the specified time limits.
• Transfer credits require official transcripts and a Transcript Evaluation Form.
• Complete 50 hours of PT clinical observation experience and submit the Clinical Observation Form.
• Submit the Supplemental Allied Health Application for Fall admission during the application cycle of February 15 to May 15. Sign in to the application account using your personal email (not your HCC email) and find the Supplemental Allied Health Application under the section for Current Students.
• A one-time $25 supplemental application fee, payable by credit card, due at the time of submission of online supplemental application.  The fee is waived for active military, active military spouses and veterans with appropriate documentation--DD214 or PCS orders. A promo code will be provided to eligible applicants when applying.

The supplemental application for clinical admission may be found in your application account, under "Current HCC Student" during the cycle below:

• February 15 to May 15

For consideration, all prerequisites must be completed and transferred (if applicable) by the deadline.

• For consideration, all prerequisites and required documents must be completed and transferred by May 15.
• Priority is given to students that have ALL prerequisites and corequisites completed and by the application deadline.
• A randomized lottery is used when qualified applicants exceed available seats.
• Only qualified applicants are randomly selected and offered a seat or placed on a waitlist..
• Lottery selection order:
  • Howard County residents
  • Maryland residents (out-of-county)
  • Out-of-state residents
• Waitlisted applicants are admitted as seats open.
• The waitlist does NOT roll over to the next year; students must reapply each year. 

Only students admitted through the supplemental application cycle may enroll in clinical coursework.

• PTAP-100, Intro to Physical Therapy, 2 credits, Fall
• PTAP-110, Fundamentals of Practice I, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-120, Clinical Kinesiology, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-130, Therapeutic Modalities, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-150, Clinical Pathology, 3 credits, Spring
• PTAP-160, Orthopedic Dysfunctions I, 3 credits, Spring
• PTAP-210, Fundamentals of Practice II, 3 credits, Spring
• PTAP-240, Therapeutic Exercise, 3 credits, Spring
• PTAP-214, Clinical Education, 2 credits, Summer
• PTAP-265, Professional Issues in Physical Therapy, 1 credit, Summer
• PTAP-250, Clinical Neuroscience, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-255, Clinical Correlations for Physical Therapy, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-260, Orthopedic Dysfunctions II, 3 credits, Fall
• PTAP-270, Clinical Education II, 4 credits, Spring
• PTAP-275, Clinical Education III, 4 credits, Spring

• Admissions questions can be directed to admissions@howardcc.edu or you can make an appointment with an admissions coach.
• Clinical courses questions:  hsdcc@howardcc.edu 
• Program outcomes, clinical sites, student handbook, and clinical grading:  Ms. Lee Ann Roberts Sweeney, Program Director:  lrobertssweeney@howardcc.edu