Amarillo College's Physical Therapist Assistant Program awards an Associate in Applied Science degree. Students prepare for entry-level work under a physical therapist's direction and supervision through academic and clinical learning. Admission is selective and uses prerequisite-course grades, TEAS results and, for invited applicants, Casper. Applicants also complete observation hours and program-specific admissions steps.
- Program
- Physical Therapist Assistant Program
- Credential
- Associate in Applied Science (AAS)
- Location
- Amarillo, Texas, United States
- Casper
- Required
- Seats
- 22 selections stated on the PTA Application Considerations page
- Length
- 2 years
Casper Requirement for Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant
Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant requires Casper for the 2026-2027 cycle.
- Test to book
- Casper
Check available Casper test dates in your Acuity Insights account at takecasper.com.
Only applicants invited after initial application scoring take Casper. The published point sheet identifies the top 48 applicants and awards up to 20 points for Casper percentile results; applicants without an invitation do not take it.
Casper format
Casper is an online, open-response situational judgment test run by Acuity Insights. The current format has 11 scenarios (4 video-response and 7 typed-response) with 2 questions each and takes about 65 to 85 minutes, including optional breaks. Typed-response scenarios allow 3.5 minutes to answer both questions.
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Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant Application Deadlines 2026-2027
- Apply through
- Amarillo College general admission plus the Health Sciences online application in Blackboard
Fall PTA application dates are not published.
Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Statistics
Period: Published selection criteria and historical program outcomes
- Seats / class size: 22 selections stated on the PTA Application Considerations page
- May 2023 applicants meeting requirements: 70
- May 2023 entrants: 20
- 2021-2022 average graduation rate: 94.0%
- 2021-2022 average licensure pass rate: 97.2%
- 2021-2022 average employment rate: 100%
Eligibility Requirements for Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant
- Degree / credits
Be an active Amarillo College student before applying to Health Sciences.
Students without an AC course in the preceding 12 months must reapply to the college. Submit official transcripts from other institutions for evaluation.
Other requirements
- Meetings: Attend a Health Sciences application-process meeting and a PTA information meeting.
- Application immunizations: Provide the listed hepatitis B, varicella, MMR, tetanus, meningitis, flu, TB and COVID documentation or approved COVID exemption.
- After conditional acceptance: Submit essential-expectations or physician-examination and liability-waiver forms; complete a Complio background check and 10-panel drug screen.
- CPR/BLS: Healthcare-provider certification; online-only certification is not accepted.
Selection Factors Amarillo College Considers
Prerequisites
| Course | Requirement |
|---|---|
| BIOL 2401 | Anatomy and Physiology I |
| BIOL 2402 | Anatomy and Physiology II |
| PSYC 2314 | Lifespan Developmental Psychology |
| ENGL 1301 or 1302 | Freshman Composition |
| HITT 1205 | Medical Terminology |
| SPCH 1315, 1318 or 1321 | Speech |
| Language/Philosophy/Culture or Creative Arts | 3 credit hours |
| PTHA 1301 | Enrolled or completed when applying |
GPA
- How it is calculated
Selection uses course-grade points, not a published GPA cutoff: A=10, B=7 and C=4 points per credit hour; the highest grade in a repeated course counts. The sheet assigns up to 200 course points and awards no HITT 1205 points for that application cycle.
Complete developmental coursework before acceptance.
Admissions tests
- ATI TEAS 7 (required): One attempt per admission cycle; a composite below 58.7% is not considered for admission. Composite score x 0.20 contributes up to 20 points.
Experience and volunteer hours
Required.
Complete 8 observation hours with a licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant and submit the observation log through the online application.
Supplementary application
Complete the required Health Sciences application-process video and its quiz with 100% before the Blackboard application becomes available; meet the Health Sciences advisor before applying.
How applicants are ranked
Applicants receive course-grade and TEAS points; the top 48 in the published point sheet proceed to Casper, worth up to 20 more points out of 240. The PTA Application Considerations page says 22 highest-scoring applicants are selected, with others wait-listed. Its TEAS tie-break rule supersedes the older HESI wording on Program Information.
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Start Practicing FreeCurriculum at Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant
- Program length
- 2 years
- Structure
Associate in Applied Science study with classroom, laboratory and clinical education
- Campuses
- West Campus
The published financial sheet describes 74 weeks excluding breaks, 89 including breaks, and clinical placements that can require travel or alternative housing.
Campus and facilities
PTA information meetings take place at the Allied Health Building, West Campus, 6222 SW 9th Ave., Amarillo, TX 79106.
Tuition and Funding at Amarillo College
- 2022-2023 total program cost, in-district/in-state: $6,527
- 2022-2023 total program cost, out-of-district/out-of-state: $8,505
Historical estimates include tuition, institutional fees and other program expenses; clinical travel, housing and food are the student's responsibility. Costs may increase.
Amarillo College's Mission and Values
Provide positive learning experiences in an atmosphere of academic excellence so students acquire the knowledge, skills and abilities of entry-level physical therapist assistants and serve the surrounding area.
How to Prepare Your Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant Application
- Apply to Amarillo College and arrange transcript evaluation
- Meet a Health Sciences advisor and plan the prerequisite courses
- Arrange 8 documented PT or PTA observation hours
- Complete the required application-process video, quiz and meetings
- Prepare for TEAS and submit the Health Sciences application
- Take Casper only if the PTA program invites you
Frequently Asked Questions About Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant
What degree does the program award?
An Associate in Applied Science.
How long is it?
Two years.
Must everyone take Casper?
No; only applicants invited after initial scoring.
Are observation hours required?
Yes, eight hours with a licensed PT or PTA.
How do I apply?
Apply to AC, then complete the separate Health Sciences application in Blackboard.
What TEAS score is needed?
A composite below 58.7% is not considered under the published criteria.
When is the Fall deadline?
The PTA pages have not published one.
Is a PTA meeting required?
Yes, attendance at one is required.
Sources
- Amarillo College — Program Information
- Amarillo College — Application Considerations
- Amarillo College — 2026 PTA Program Point System
- Amarillo College — Health Sciences Application Process
- Amarillo College — Prerequisites
- Amarillo College — Admissions Requirements
- Amarillo College — Licensure Pass Rates and Employment Rates
- Amarillo College — PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet, 2022–2023
Last updated: September 26, 2026