Physical Therapist Assistant Associate in Applied Science

Lake Michigan College’s PTA program will launch in Fall 2027, with applications opening February 1, 2027. Admission is selective, with up to 18 students accepted each fall. To be considered for the PTA program, applicants must meet the following requirements by the end of the Spring semester during the application year. The summary below outlines the key steps. For complete details, please refer to the PTA Advising Guide.

1. College Admission

   • Apply to Lake Michigan College.

   • Submit official transcripts from your high school/GED and all colleges attended to records@lakemichigancollege.edu.

2. Required General Education and Prerequisite Coursework

   • All prerequisite courses must meet the required timeframes and minimum grades. Spring courses in progress are considered during the spring application cycle. EXSC 208 must be completed at LMC, as transfer credit is not accepted. One point is deducted for each retake of BIOL 110, HEAL 103, or EXSC 208; withdrawals do not affect scoring. For transfer or substitution questions, consult your advisor and review DegreeWorks.

Notes: ¹Students with a previous degree may be eligible for a general education waiver. Contact your advisor to discuss. ²BIOL 110 may require additional credits or course substitutions for transfer students. ³Acceptable Humanities/Fine Arts courses (100-level or higher): Art, Communications, Foreign Language, Humanities, Music, Philosophy, Drama, 200-level English courses, and select Honors courses (122, 171, 175, 195, 196, 204, 208, 256, 258).

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3. GPA Requirements
   • 2.75 cumulative GPA (college coursework from the past 10 years)
   • 2.75 GPA in prerequisite courses (BIOL 110, HEAL 103, EXSC 208)
4. PTA Program Information Session
   • All applicants must attend a PTA Information Session within 18 months of applying. 
   • Sessions are held on the second Tuesday of February, April, August, and October from 4–5 PM at the South Haven Campus (Room 220).
   • Students must register to attend; click here to register.
5. ATI TEAS Exam
   • Must be taken within 2 years of the application deadline
   • No minimum score required; points awarded based on performance
   1. Prepare and register at ATI Testing
6. Observation Hours
   • 20 hours of observation under a licensed PT/PTA, completed within 2 years of the deadline
   • May be completed in one setting; multiple settings encouraged
   • PT aide/tech experience with direct patient care qualifies toward this requirement
   • Verification form required
7. Direct Patient Care Experience (Optional)
   • 100+ hours in a qualifying role such as PT Aide, CNA, Medical Assistant, etc.
   • Must involve direct patient care; administrative roles do not qualify
   • Verified experience adds 5 points to your application score
8. Program Application
   • Submit the separate PTA Program Application by the deadline

Selection Process

Admission to the PTA program is selective and competitive. Each year, up to 18 students are accepted based on a point system that evaluates academic performance and completion of key requirements.

Applicants are ranked on a 100-point scale, with points awarded for prerequisite GPA, cumulative GPA, TEAS score, and optional direct patient care experience. One point is deducted for each retake of the following prerequisite courses: BIOL 110, HEAL 103, and EXSC 208.For a detailed breakdown of selection criteria, refer to the PTA Advising Guide.

You may use the PTA Application Scoring Calculator to estimate your application score. Final scores are verified by the program upon review of all submitted documentation. Meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.

Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305; 703.706.3245; accreditation@apta.org) is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards. A list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website (www.fsbpt.org).

Lake Michigan College (LMC) is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist assistant education program from CAPTE. The program is planning to submit an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage, on May 1, 2026. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program combines theoretical knowledge with practical application through dynamic, student-centered learning. All PTA courses are taken in a specific sequence and are primarily delivered face-to-face. While most instruction occurs in person, some courses include online components such as digital resources and synchronous or asynchronous learning activities.

Classroom instruction features interactive lectures, collaborative problem-solving, and case-based discussions that develop critical clinical reasoning. Students engage in clinical simulation scenarios, peer teaching opportunities, and evidence-based practice activities that deepen understanding of course concepts.

Laboratory sessions provide hands-on practice of essential physical therapy techniques with personalized faculty instruction and feedback. Students then apply these skills during clinical experiences in real-world healthcare environments. Throughout the program, professional development activities complement academic learning to prepare graduates for successful careers in physical therapy.

Students complete 72 credit hours to earn an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree, Physical Therapist Assistant.

Graduates must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants (NPTE-PTA), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), to become licensed to practice. For detailed information about the exam, visit: https://www.fsbpt.org

Physical therapy assistants work in diverse healthcare settings, such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, schools, home health agencies, and specialty practices. They treat patients of all ages, helping people recover from injuries, surgeries, and other medical conditions. Career opportunities include many specialty areas, such as sports medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, neurological rehabilitation, oncology, and women's health, allowing graduates to pursue their professional interests.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist assistants earn competitive salaries with a median annual wage of $65,510 as of May 2024, with the top 10% of earners making more than $87,630. (https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes312021.htm#nat).

The employment outlook is excellent, with PTA jobs projected to grow by 25% from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm#tab-6).

This strong growth is driven by the increasing healthcare needs of an aging population. PTAs can expect varying salaries based on location, experience, and practice setting, with opportunities for advancement through experience and specialization.