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The duties of a PTA include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs that may involve exercise, manual therapy and hydrotherapy; the use of heat, cold, electricity, or sound; and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient's responses. As clinicians, PTAs work in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, rehabilitation centers, and for physical therapists in outpatient independent practice settings.

Following graduation, graduates are eligible to sit for the state licensing examination. A criminal background check is required. 

CAPTE STATEMENT ON ACCREDITATION:
Effective April 29, 2026, the Physical Therapist Assistant at Southwest Tennessee Community College has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditationsupport@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Jennifer Stevens, PTA, MS- Program Director at 901-333-5395 or email jstevens@southwest.tn.edu.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Application Deadline Extended to June 15

The initial cohort will be admitted in Fall 2026 with a graduation date of May 2028. The date of the first licensure examination for which the graduates would be able to sit for the board exam will be July 2028.

Please complete 8 hours of observation at 2 different clinical settings for a total of the minimum of 16 hours of observation. Please follow the directions at the bottom of the document regarding how to submit the signed form.

Observation/Clinical Experience Verification Form

Students please use the following document as a guide to applying to the PTA Program. If you have additional questions, please contact the Program Director, Ms. Jennifer Stevens, PTA, MS, at jstevens@southwest.tn.edu or the Director of Clinical Education Ms. Jeanie Jarrell, PT, at sjjarrell@southwest.tn.edu

Student Recruitment Materials

PTA Program Curriculum

Related Links

• Allied Health Programs Admission and Retention Procedures
• NC-SARA/State Authorization
• Observation/Clinical Experience Verification Form
• Student Recruitment Materials