Physical Therapist Assistant (APPTA) Admissions
Applications are only accessible during each program’s designated application window.
The application window for the Fall 2025 semester is closed.
2026 Admissions Requirements
The admission requirements and information outlined below are for the Fall 2026 admission cycle (2026-2027 academic year). The application is expected to open in mid-October 2025. The deadline to submit your program application is Monday, February 2, 2026 at 11:59 p.m (end of day). We strongly recommend submitting your application before the final day to avoid any last-minute issues. If problems occur after office hours, staff may not be available to help, and exceptions to the deadline will not be made.
The next admission cycle is for the Fall 2027 semester. The application is expected to open in mid-October 2026, with an anticipated deadline in early February 2027.
This program is designated as high demand and follows WCC’s Competitive Admission Process for determining admissions. Applicants are required to meet all admission requirements and are ranked based on a point system. The best qualified applicants are selected for admission.
Each year, approximately 20 students are admitted to the program for a Fall semester start. In addition, approximately 10 alternate candidates are selected in case any seats become available before the program begins. This is a full-time program, and part-time enrollment is not available.
Application Extension Process
If there are not enough applicants to fill all accepted and alternate seats by the initial application deadline, the application may be reopened until all seats are filled. If this occurs, WCC’s Application Extension Process will be implemented. More details can be found under point 8 of the Point Scales for Competitive Admission Programs.
Students who are not eligible to apply by the initial deadline—but expect to meet all admission requirements by the end of Winter 2026—are encouraged to check WCC’s website two days after the initial deadline to see if the application has been reopened.
Do not submit an incomplete application by the initial deadline. Incomplete applications will only be accepted if the application is officially reopened, beginning Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Any incomplete applications submitted by the initial deadline may be closed and will not be considered under the extension process.
Reqiured Checklist
All required checklist items below must be successfully completed and verifiable before you are eligible to apply to the program.
1. Mandatory Advising Meeting
Students must complete all required checklist items and have their application approved by a Health Program Advisor before they are eligible to apply and gain access to the program application. To ensure advisor availability, students are encouraged to schedule their advising appointment as soon as the application window opens by calling Academic Advising at 734-677-5102.
2. Program Prerequisite Courses
- Academic Math Level 3 or higher, MTH 160 (Basic Statistics), or MTH 160X (Basic Statistics) with a minimum grade of C/2.0.
- If a level 3 or higher-level college math course (e.g., MTH 125, MTH 125X, MTH 167, MTH 168, MTH 169, MTH 176, etc.) was successfully completed, the grade will be used in the GPA calculation for points. If a math level 3 or higher level was established based on test scores or remedial level courses (e.g., MTH 094, MTH 097, etc.), the score/grade will not be used in the GPA calculation for points.
- Completion of MTH 125X or MTH 160X does not raise the student’s Academic Math Level to 3, which is required for at least one course or course prerequisite in this program.
- HSC 101 (Healthcare Terminology) with a minimum grade of C/2.0
- HSC 124 (Medical Terminology) may be substituted.
- ENG 111 (Composition I) or ENG 111X (Composition I) with a minimum grade of C/2.0.
- ENG 226 (Composition II) may be substituted. Other substitutions may be noted in DegreeWorks.
- BIO 111 (Anatomy and Physiology-Normal Structure and Function) with a minimum grade of B-/2.7.
- Students may combine courses and labs from transferring schools to fulfill the BIO 111 requirement. If coursework is taken at more than one school, a course substitution request must be submitted and approved by the department.
3. Minimum Cumulative Program Prerequisite GPA of 2.8
The calculation of all admission prerequisite courses (College Level MTH, HSC, ENG, and BIO).
4. 12 hours of observation in a physical therapy setting with a minimum of three (3) hours in at least two (2) different types of physical therapy settings
Guidelines for completing observation hours can be found on our Clinical Observation website. The Observation Verification Form must be completed by the student and the PT/PTA observed to verify the hours.
5. Residency Verification
Students must verify their residency status to determine points under our competitive admission process. Submit a copy of the front and back of your Driver’s License, State ID Card, or three (3) documents. For a list of approved documents for verifying residency, visit WCC’s website. The address on your documents must match the “basic” address we have on file. Your residency status may be updated based on the documentation you provide.
To update your contact information, log in to your MyWCC account. For residency status or name changes, contact the Student Welcome Center.
6. Review Important Information
You must confirm that you reviewed this information in order to access and submit your program application.
- Technical Standards for Health Science Programs at Washtenaw Community College (WCC): Physical Therapist Assistant (APPTA)
- WCC reserves the right to request, before or during the program, that students successfully demonstrate the specific physical and cognitive abilities related to the program.
- Technical Standards Process for Requesting Accommodations
- Degree requirements, including continuing eligibility requirements.
- Department website for additional details and resources, including the Student Handbook.
7. Middle College Students
Students currently enrolled in a Middle College program must submit a completed Middle College Status Verification Form, which must be filled out by their advisor.
Optional Checklist
The following items are not required, but if applicable, may enhance your competitiveness. Successfully meeting these items by the application deadline could earn you additional points towards your application.
1. Military or Veteran Status
Veterans or students currently serving in the military. Submit appropriate documentation to verify your status if currently serving or submit Form DD-214 if you are a veteran.
2. Alternate Candidate Status
Students who previously applied and were given alternate candidate status, but were not accepted during the same admission cycle, will receive additional points. No documentation is needed—this information is already on file.
- Points are only awarded to students granted alternate status through WCC’s Competitive Admission Process, not the previous Waitlist Process.
3. Experience
Students may earn additional points for one (1) of the categories below (a or b). For additional details, refer to point 3 of the Point Scales for Competitive Admission Programs.
- Employment: Students must verify direct patient care employment in a hospital or healthcare facility/agency within 8 years of the application deadline.
- Submit a completed Experience Form. Veterans may submit Form DD-214 in place of the form.
- High School Health Science Technology Program: Students must verify completion of a Health Science Technology Program (minimum of
1 year) at a high school level with a minimum grade of C/2.0.
- Submit a high school transcript. If the program name or grade is not clearly indicated, include additional documentation from the school to verify completion.
Additional Information
- To earn your associate’s degree, you will need to complete all required PTA courses as well as the necessary general education courses. Given the demanding nature of the PTA program, we recommend that you complete any outstanding general education courses before starting the program. These courses are listed below. A minimum grade of C/2.0 is required in each course.
- All Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) courses and support courses to the program must be completed with a minimum grade of C/2.0, unless otherwise specified.
- Students must have reliable transportation to clinical education sites which may require a commute of up to one hour.
- Students who are dismissed from the program may not be eligible to reapply to the program.
Entrance Requirements (After Admission & Before Program Start)
Upon admission, the following entrance requirements must be successfully completed in order to begin the program. Failure to meet or comply with these requirements will result in forfeiting your status in the program. Detailed instructions and deadlines will be provided to students who are offered acceptance or alternate status after admission decisions are released.
1. Mandatory RSVP
Students must RSVP to the department by the deadline provided in their acceptance or alternate candidate notification email. Further instructions on completing entrance requirements will be sent after RSVP confirmation.
2. Mandatory Orientation (First Session)
Attendance at the first program orientation session is required for all accepted and alternate students.
3. Mandatory Orientation (Second Session)
Attendance at the second program orientation session is required by all accepted students. Alternate students will not attend this session unless moved into the program and informed to do so prior to the session.
4. Health Records and Criminal Background Check
Students are required to submit health records and complete a full background check paid to an outside vendor selected by the College. The background check must be completed prior to the first orientation session.
If any of the convictions indicated below are found on your criminal background record check, you will not be eligible to begin the program.
- A felony or an attempt or conspiracy to commit a felony within the previous fifteen (15) years.
- A misdemeanor that involved abuse, neglect, assault, battery, or criminal sexual conduct against anyone or fraud or theft against a vulnerable adult (as defined under the Michigan Penal Code) or a substantially similar state or federal crime within the previous ten (10) years.
- Other criminal convictions affecting clinical education and licensure.
Our clinical partners require health records pertaining to many transmissible diseases, including MMR, Varicella, Hep B, TB, Influenza, COVID-19, and others for placement in clinical education experiences.
5. Online Learning Management System
Students who have not completed a class using an online Learning Management System (LMS) through their high school or at WCC must familiarize themselves with WCC’s LMS system (Canvas). WCC offers LMS help and students can find information on the website of the LMS system. The student must sign a statement confirming fluency using WCC’s online Learning Management System upon admission. The department will not provide LMS training.
7. Course Registration
Accepted students are required to register and remain registered in all first-semester courses by the specified deadline. Detailed registration instructions will be provided by the department. First-semester PTA courses include:
- PTA 100 (Fundamentals of Physical Therapy)
- PTA 150 (Therapeutic Procedures I) - including lecture & lab
- PTA 180 (Clinical Kinesiology) - including lecture & lab
It is strongly recommended that accepted students complete the five (5) general education courses required for the associate’s degree prior to starting the PTA program. However, if these courses are not completed beforehand, it is recommended that the following general education courses be taken during the first semester of the PTA program:
- COM 101 (Fundamentals of Speaking) or COM 102 (Interpersonal Communications)
- HSC 147 (Growth and Development)
7. Failure to Meet Requirements
Students who fail to meet or comply with any of the above requirements will not be eligible to begin the program and will forfeit their status.