The Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners defines a physical therapist assistant as a person who is licensed by the state board as a physical therapist assistant.
The definition also indicates that the person assists and is supervised by a physical therapist in the practice of physical therapy.
They perform activities that require an understanding of physical therapy.
The need for licensed physical therapist assistants has grown across the country over the past few years.
The state of Texas indicates that there are 11,256 licensed physical therapist assistants in the state, as of December 31, 2023.
Texas residents who want to work as a physical therapist assistant need to complete the requirements to obtain their licensure.
Page Navigation
How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant in Texas
No person is permitted to work as a physical therapist assistant in Texas who has not successfully completed the state’s requirements.
No person is allowed to use the title of physical therapist assistant unless they are a physical therapist assistant.
Complete the Education Requirements
Section 453.203 of the state’s Occupations Code requires that anyone who wants to work as a Texas physical therapist assistant is required to complete an accredited physical therapist assistant program.
Texas considers the program to be an accredited program if it is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Many Texas colleges offer associate degree programs that prepare students to become physical therapist assistants.
Students who successfully complete the accredited program are eligible to sit for exams.
Complete the Licensure Requirements
Texas requires that physical therapist assistant applicants pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants.
Applicants must also take and pass the online Texas Jurisprudence Assessment Model.
Test takers must answer 80 percent of the questions correctly to pass the Jurisprudence Assessment Model.
License applicants need to know the current fees, if any, and submit the fees by the required date to sit for the exams.
Submit an Application
The state of Texas requires that people who want to work as a physical therapist assistant in the state submit their application and required documentation.
They must submit the required fee along with the application.
Submit an official transcript and criminal background check documentation.
Texas applicants are required to provide a passport-type photo with their application.
The program director of a CAPTE accredited school sends a Letter of Completion directly to the board that has the names of graduating students.
Physical Therapist Assistant Schools in Texas
Texas schools that offer physical therapist assistant programs may change their curriculum or their tuition costs at any time.
Houston Community College 
The physical therapist assistant program at Houston Community College starts in the fall term.
The five semester, associate of applied science program prepares graduates to work in a variety of settings under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
Program courses include Essentials of Data Collection, Therapeutic Exercise, and Rehabilitation Techniques.
Students also complete practicum or field experience hours.
The tuition is $84.50 per hour in-district, and $180.50 for out-of-district students.
Lone Star College 
Lone Star College offers a two-year Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program.
The school indicates that the program offers low tuition and a low faculty to student ratio.
Some courses include Biophysical Agents, Pathophysiology for the Physical Therapist Assistant, and Neurology.
Students complete clinical hours.
Tuition is $231 per credit hour for most Texas residents.
Amarillo College 
The Amarillo College Physical Therapist Assistant program is a two-year program.
The program prepares students to become clinically competent graduates who have excellent communication skills, and who exhibit effective critical thinking skills.
Students complete courses such as Rehabilitation Techniques, Physical Agents, and Special Topics in Physical Therapy.
The program also requires students to complete clinical and practicum hours.
Tuition is $112.50 for in-district and $155.50 for non-district Texas residents.
El Paso Community College 
El Paso Community College offers a Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program that prepares graduates to work as licensed physical therapist assistants.
Graduates qualify to sit for exams.
Courses include Physical Agents, Professional Issues, and Therapeutic Exercise.
Tuition is $116 per credit hour.
Kilgore College 
Kilgore College admits one cohort of 16 students to the competitive Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program each fall semester.
The 66-credit program prepares students to take the licensing exams.
Students complete classwork, labs and clinical experiences.
Courses include Essentials of Data Collection, Rehabilitation Techniques, and Neurology.
The tuition is $53 per credit hour for Texas residents.
Laredo College 
The Laredo College Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program consists of 66-credit hours.
Students must complete 20 hours of job shadowing as part of the application process.
The program includes classwork, labs, and three full-time clinical experiences.
Program courses include Concepts in Physical Therapy, Functional Anatomy, and Professional Issues.
Annual tuition is $1,050.
South Texas College 
The South Texas College Physical Therapist Assistant program is a full-time competitive program that starts each fall term.
The program had a 100 percent first time exam pass rate in 2023.
Program courses include Therapeutic Exercise, Pathophysiology for the PTA, and Neurology.
Students also complete clinical requirements.
The tuition is $170 per credit hour.
Victoria College 
The two-year Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program at Victoria College prepares students to sit for licensing exams.
Students learn the skills and values to work as successful physical therapist assistants.
Program courses include Profession of Physical Therapy, Therapeutic Exercise, and Management of Neurological Disorders.
The in-county tuition is $58 per credit hour.
McLennan Community College 
Students who enroll in the two-year Physical Therapist Assistant program at McLennan Community College complete coursework, labs, and clinical experiences.
Applicants complete 40 hours of volunteer time as part of the application process.
Students complete courses such as Functional Anatomy, Pathophysiology, and Neurology.
Tuition is $106 per credit hour.
Weatherford College 
The Weatherford College two-year Physical Therapist Assistant program courses are taught in a traditional classroom setting.
The 66-credit program also includes clinical internships.
Some courses include The Profession of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Techniques, and Therapeutic Exercise.
Tuition is $117 per credit hour.
Northeast Texas Community College 
The Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science program at Northeast Texas Community College consists of 66 credit hours.
Admission to the program is a competitive process.
Courses include Physical Agents, Rehabilitation Techniques, and Clinical Pathophysiology.
Tuition is $139 per credit hour.
Top 11 Schools in Texas
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Houston Community College | 1990 Airport Blvd, Houston, TX 77051, United States |
| Lone Star College | 4141 Victory Dr, Houston, TX 77088, United States |
| Amarillo College | 2201 S Washington St #2411, Amarillo, TX 79109, United States |
| El Paso Community College | 919 Hunter Dr, El Paso, TX 79915, United States |
| Kilgore College | 1100 Broadway Blvd, Kilgore, TX 75662, United States |
| Laredo College | West End Washington St, Laredo, TX 78040, United States |
| South Texas College | 3201 Pecan Blvd, McAllen, TX 78501, United States |
| Victoria College | 2200 E Red River St, Victoria, TX 77901, United States |
| McLennan Community College | 1400 College Dr, Waco, TX 76708, United States |
| Weatherford College | 225 College Park Dr, Weatherford, TX 76086, United States |
| Northeast Texas Community College | 2886 FM1735, Mt Pleasant, TX 75455, United States |
Salary
Texas has some of the highest median salaries for physical therapist assistants.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists Texas as the second-highest paying state for the profession.
The area where physical therapist assistants work, and the setting may affect their salary.
One example is that physical therapist assistants working in Dallas earn an average salary of $63,301.
Physical therapist assistants working in El Paso earn an average salary of $55,701.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Physical Therapist Assistants in Texas
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Houston | $64,801 |
| Dallas | $63,301 |
| San Antonio | $61,401 |
| Austin | $62,601 |
| El Paso | $55,701 |
| Fort Worth | $62,001 |
| Arlington | $61,901 |
| Corpus Christi | $59,801 |
| Plano | $63,301 |
| Garland | $63,301 |
Regional Salary in Texas
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene, TX | 40 | $70,860 | $34.07 | $93,600 | $51,100 |
| Amarillo, TX | 130 | $67,400 | $32.41 | $84,300 | $30,800 |
| Austin-Round Rock, TX | 720 | $73,570 | $35.37 | $97,550 | $46,660 |
| Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX | 110 | $71,570 | $34.41 | $98,830 | $49,350 |
| Brownsville-Harlingen, TX | 110 | $68,070 | $32.73 | $94,680 | $48,180 |
| College Station-Bryan, TX | 90 | $69,910 | $33.61 | $82,950 | $50,730 |
| Corpus Christi, TX | 200 | $69,290 | $33.31 | $89,930 | $48,550 |
| Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 2,070 | $77,390 | $37.21 | $112,980 | $35,420 |
| El Paso, TX | 240 | $64,670 | $31.09 | $89,970 | $44,750 |
| Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX | 1,650 | $77,410 | $37.22 | $105,500 | $52,200 |
| Killeen-Temple, TX | 120 | $70,750 | $34.02 | $102,050 | $35,850 |
| Laredo, TX | 100 | $75,420 | $36.26 | $105,080 | $48,670 |
| Longview, TX | 100 | $69,980 | $33.64 | $95,250 | $31,130 |
| Lubbock, TX | 140 | $71,240 | $34.25 | $92,930 | $50,270 |
| McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX | 300 | $71,290 | $34.27 | $106,710 | $48,020 |
| Odessa, TX | 50 | $70,530 | $33.91 | $86,400 | $55,070 |
| San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 850 | $73,370 | $35.27 | $101,630 | $44,810 |
| Sherman-Denison, TX | 50 | $66,880 | $32.15 | $81,830 | $52,450 |
| Texarkana, TX-AR | 60 | $73,260 | $35.22 | $91,820 | $50,440 |
| Tyler, TX | 120 | $69,860 | $33.59 | $90,600 | $51,540 |
| Victoria, TX | 90 | $68,320 | $32.85 | $86,060 | $42,490 |
| Waco, TX | 90 | $65,530 | $31.5 | $95,680 | $30,790 |
| Wichita Falls, TX | 50 | $68,280 | $32.83 | $97,700 | $36,820 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a Texas physical therapist assistant’s license expire?
A Texas physical therapist assistant license expires on the second anniversary of the date that it was issued.
Are physical therapist assistants required to complete continuing education courses?
The state of Texas requires that physical therapist assistants complete continuing competence activities and required competence units.
What happens if I fail the national exam the first time that I take it?
Physical therapist assistant applicants who fail the exam may retake the exam per the policies of the national testing entity.
They must submit a reexamination application and pay the application fee.
