Overview

Physical Therapy is a helping profession. The program at Weatherford College prepares you to work with people from all ages recovering from injuries that vary from sports injuries to trauma from accidents, neurologic conditions, degenerative diseases, and congenital diseases.

We are accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation in Physical Therapy (CAPTE) ensuring the highest quality of education for PTA students. All of our courses are taught face to face in small class sizes by experienced physical therapy clinicians. Our students participate in clinical internships in hospitals and clinics throughout the Fort Worth Dallas area and cities to the north, south, and west of the metroplex.

If you like working with people from all ages and stages in life, this program might be for you.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Weatherford College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.  If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Cindy Lavine 817-598-8873 or email clavine@wc.edu.

Requirements

There are some physical requirements needed to be able to work in physical therapy but you don’t have to buy special equipment. The equipment you will work with is provided by the hospital or clinic. The physical requirements needed to work in physical therapy are called “Essential Functions of the PTA”. Follow this link to read about them: Essential Functions.

Career Options

After graduating and passing the licensure exam, most PTA’s work in hospital settings or private clinics. Many work in rehab hospitals, home health, or school settings.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics
The annual median wage for physical therapists in May 2020 was
$59,770

Job Outlook

Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 29 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for physical therapy is expected to increase in response to the healthcare needs of an aging population and individuals with chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.

The average wages in Texas are available through the Texas Workforce commission.

Transfer Options

  • To the workforce.

Scholarships

The Weatherford College Foundation has endowment funds that provide scholarships specifically for student enrolled in the PTA program. Additionally Dr. Luke Haynes of Haynes Physical Therapy and The Estate of Mary Zielinski provide scholarships for PTA students through the WC Foundation.

https://wc.academicworks.com/donors/mary-m-zielinski-estate 
https://wc.academicworks.com/donors/dr-luke-and-ashtyn-haynes

Faculty

  • Cindy Lavine, PTA, MPH 
  • Christi Mills, PT 
  • Rich Ritcherson, PTA, BS
  • Rick Ward, PT, GSC, CWC, CEEAA, Faculty

Physical Therapist Assistant
Number of Credits
66
Amy Jones headshot

Testimonial

quotes
Wherever in life you maybe it's never too early or late to follow an undiscovered path or dream. The PTA program has made me realize that with hard work and effort you can achieve anything that you put your mind too. Keep following the path and stay strong, in the end it will be all worth it!
Amy Jones
PTA Program
Macie Southard headshot

Testimonial

quotes

The PTA Program is a big team, and I love that we help and support each other the whole way.

The professors of the program go above and beyond, and will do anything to help you succeed.

Macie Southard
PTA Program

CONTACT

Cindy Lavine
Program Director
clavine@wc.edu
817-598-8873