The information below is based on the application requirements for Fall term 2023 admission. It is provided as an example to guide potential applicants on the admission process and application requirements which may be subject to change as program criteria can change for each new application year.

Thank you for your interest in Mt. Hood Community College’s Physical Therapist Assistant program!

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work under the supervision of a physical therapist. Their duties include implementing intervention techniques (i.e., exercise, patient instruction, gait training, application of physical agents and manual techniques) according to the plan of care established by the physical therapist, monitoring a patient’s response, reporting to the therapist as appropriate, and documenting the care provided.

Physical therapist assistants must complete a two year education program, usually offered at a community college. The course of study includes general education courses, technical courses on physical therapy interventions and clinical rotations, working with licensed physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

A PTA can work in any setting where a PT practices, such as in acute hospitals, out-patient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, school settings, or acute rehabilitation facilities.

Important Note: Some external links may be inaccessible. People requiring accommodations due to a disability should contact the Accessible Education Services at 503-491-6923 or aes@mhcc.edu.

Program Overview

This is a restricted entry program, meaning a candidate needs to apply and be selected to join the program.

• 24 students start the program each fall after a previous spring selection process.
• The program runs two (2) years for a total of seven (7) terms beginning in the fall.
• Core class schedule is Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. THIS IS A FULL-TIME DAY PROGRAM.
  
• 22-24 students graduate after completing the program.
• Students earn an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Physical Therapist Assistant after completion of required coursework and are then eligible to sit for the national licensing exam.
• Licensure pass rates: 85-100% on the first attempt (exceeds national average).

Students who seek to earn a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy should contact the transfer university to confirm specific admission/major/degree requirements. This is NOT a stepping-stone to PT school, and PTA core curriculum courses are generally not transferable to four-year institutions.

How to Apply

Admissions Requirements

The information below is based on the application requirements for Fall term 2023 admission. To be eligible to apply, applicants must show they meet the requirements described below by the application deadline date of April 7, 2023, 5 p.m.

Applicants should thoroughly review the program application requirements and start the application process early to ensure all required items are received by the application deadline. Below are your steps for applying:

1. Admission to MHCC

Apply for General Admission to MHCC if you are new to MHCC or not have attended in the last four (4) terms. Select AGS in Health Professions as your major. Please note it could take 1-2 business days to receive your MHCC ID number.

2. MHCC-PTA Application Fee ($35)

Pay the $35 MHCC-PTA non-refundable application fee located at https://mhcc.edu/PTAApplication. You will need to upload your payment receipt to submit with your application.

3. Academic Prerequisite Coursework

Complete all prerequisite courses by the application deadline with a “C” grade or higher. All courses must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of writing (see chart below). Courses taken as pass/fail, satisfactory/unsatisfactory or audit do not fulfill the admission criteria for the PTA program.

*This is the last year (Fall 2023 admission) that BI121 & BI122 A&P series will be accepted. Applications for Fall 2024 admission will require the BI231/BI232/BI233 series.

** Students must have A&P cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the complete series to be eligible for the program. If BI233 is in progress, cumulative A&P GPA will be assessed after course completion.

4. College Transcript Requirements

Official transcripts from every regionally accredited college/university attended, regardless of program relevancy, program length, or age must be received. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have applied in the recent years through PTACAS, you must submit official transcripts for non-MHCC institutions.

If you’re finishing prerequisites in winter term, wait until grades are posted before requesting transcripts. Otherwise, complete this step as soon as possible.

Transcripts must be issued directly by the institution from which the course(s) were taken. Coursework showing as transferred from one institution to another is not accepted. Official electronic transcripts (e-transcripts such as Parchment or EDI) via secure electronic delivery service may be submitted to ar@mhcc.edu. E-transcripts cannot be sent from the student to MHCC as they are not considered official. If submitting transcripts by mail, send to:

Mt. Hood Community College – PTA Application
Admissions, Registration and Records
26000 SE Stark St.
Gresham OR 97030

• Regionally Accredited Institutions: Required from all institutions attended.  
• Non-Regionally Accredited Institutions: Not required.
• AP, CLEP or IB Transcripts/Scores: Required only if using for meeting the writing admission requirement and must be issued directly from College Board, DSST or International Baccalaureate in a sealed envelope (see https://mhcc.edu/CreditAlternatives) and sent directly to MHCC.
• Foreign/Non-US Based Educational Transcript: Required only if using to meet admission requirements and must first be evaluated by an outside credential service. The evaluated transcript must be submitted by the application deadline for the program. For more information, visit: www.mhcc.edu/internationaltranscript. Evaluation processing for foreign transcripts is time consuming, and the process could take up to six weeks. It is best to start this process early. A foreign bachelor's degree does not fulfill the prerequisite requirements.
• MHCC transcript: Not required, already on file. 

Applicant and Point Selection Process

PHASE 1: Evaluation of Completed Applications

The maximum points that may be awarded for Phase 1 is 31. After the application deadline has passed, the admissions evaluator will review the applications. Applicants who have submitted their completed application by the deadline will be awarded points based on the criteria below. Up to 64 applicants will then be invited to Phase 2 which consist of a group style interview for selection into the program.

PHASE 2: Group Style Interview

Points earned during Phase 1 do not carry forward. All applicants start at zero points during the interview phase. Applicants selected for Phase 2 will participate in a small group style interview with other candidates. Applicants should prepare for this interview as if it is a professional job interview. Applicants will be asked to respond to questions verbally and in writing.

Points earned during Phase 2 determine which applicants are admitted to the program. Qualified candidates that were not selected may be placed on an alternate list and offered a position in the program if an accepted applicant declines their position in the program.

Tiebreaker for Phase 1 & Phase 2: In the event that two or more applicants have the same score for Phase 1 or Phase 2, the Admissions office will use tiebreakers in the following order: the date the application is complete (all requirements met), prior year accepted/alternate, prerequisite courses taken at MHCC, residency.

PTA Program Costs

PTA Program Frequently Asked Questions