Physical Therapist Assistant

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program at Saddleback College is a Career Education (CE) program designed to prepare students for employment as licensed physical therapist assistants working under the supervision of physical therapists. Education includes classroom instruction, evidence-based practice, skilled laboratory training, simulation-based education, and supervised clinical experiences at healthcare facilities throughout Orange County. Graduates are prepared for entry-level positions in settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, and home health, and are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for licensure.

Program Mission

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Saddleback College delivers a student-centered, equity-driven education that develops highly competent, ethical, and compassionate clinicians who, through rigorous training and immersive clinical experiences, are prepared to lead within the regional healthcare workforce, advance standards of care, and improve community health and quality of life.

The program provides:

Direct entry to a healthcare career that currently has a labor market shortage
Entry level PTA salary meets Orange County livable wage
21 months, full time, 5 semesters including summer between year 1 and 2
Orientation and Summer boot-camp prior to the start of the program
3 clinical experiences totaling 20 weeks in varied clinical settings

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Associate of Science

Physical Therapist Assistant

Certificate of Achievement

Physical Therapist Assistant

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Application Requirements

Pre-requisites:
- Anatomy (Bio 11)
- Pysiology (Bio 12)
- English (ENGL C1000 or C1000H)
- Statistics (STAT C1000, C1000H)
- Introduction to Physical Therapy (PTA 200- available starting Spring 2028)
Cumulative minimum GPA of 2.5 or higher
Anatomy and Physiology grades C or higher
A minimum of 40 hours of volunteer or paid experience in movement science or health related field, signed by a licensed or certified practitioner. (Physical therapist, Physical therapist assistant, Occupational Therapist, Athletic Trainer, Chiropractor, Medical Doctor, Physician's Assistant)
Follows a multi-criteria selection process
Application widow coming January 2028

Accreditation

CAPTE website: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education | Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education

Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditationsupport@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 (FSBPT;www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website.

Saddleback College 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 November 1, 2027. 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.

Program Tuition and Fees

Program tuition for core PTA units: 47.5 units @ $46/unit: $,2185.00; Full tuition if completing all GE courses at Saddleback: $3,519
Common out of pocket expenses: Uniforms, student health free, background check, medical screening, physical immunization and titers, parking fee, PTA student kit, BLS; approximately $1500
Textbooks: average $1000 - 1500
Licensure costs: NPTE, livescan finger printing, application and CA license fee, Prometric sitting fee, CA law exam, passport photo: approximately $1000

2026 - 2027 Estimated Cost of Attendance

The estimated cost of attendance at Saddleback College includes an estimate for tuition and fees, books and supplies as well as basic living expenses like food and housing, and personal and miscellaneous expenses. Your actual expenses may be higher or lower than the amounts listed below.

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Fall 2026 and Spring 2027 (9-months)

Expenses	Living With Parents (2 Semesters)	Living Away from Parents (2 semesters)
Tuition and Fees	$1,436	$1,436
Books and Supplies	$1,305	$1,305
Living Expenses: Food and Housing	$18,429	$32,399
Personal & Misc	$4,563	$5,706
Transportation	$1,206	$1,656
Total Resident	$26,939	$42,502
Total Non-Resident	$40,919	$56,482

Summer 2026 (2-months)

Expenses	Living with Parents	Living Away from Parents
Tuition and Fees	$574	$574
Books and Supplies	$363	$363
Living Expenses: Food and Housing	$4,627	$8,487
Personal and Misc	$1,380	$1,689
Transportation	$606	$663
Total Resident	$7,570	$11,776
Total Non-Resident	$12,970	$17,170

Less Than Half-Time (less than 6 units)

Expenses	Living With Parents Fall and Spring	Living With Parents Summer	Living Away from Parents Fall and Spring	Living Away from Parents Summer
Tuition and Fees	$1,432	$712	$1,432	$712
Books and Supplies	$1,089	$363	$1,089	$363
Transportation	$1,818	$606	$1.989	$663
Total Resident	$4,339	$1,681	$4,510	$1,738
Total Non-Resident	$17,839	$7,081	$18,010	$7,138

Factors in Calculating the Estimated Cost of Attendance

Enrollment Fee: $46 per unit
- Based on 15-units for Fall, Spring and 12-units for Summer
Health Fee $28 for Fall and Spring, $22 for Summer
Non-Resident Tuition (in addition to the $46 per unit enrollment fee): $466 per unit ($409 non-resident tuition fee + $57 capital outlay fee)
Estimated cost of attendance may be adjusted for documented circumstances such as dependent care expenses, purchase of a computer, and other special circumstances (except for students enrolled less than half-time)
- A Cost of Attendance Appeal may be requested by emailingscfinaid@saddleback.edu