PTA Program Outcomes
The physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a skilled technical health care worker who delivers physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist (PT). These services may include instructing patients in therapeutic exercises for strengthening, flexibility, balance/coordination, mobility, function; applying physical agents such as heat, cold, electricity, and traction; communicating with the PT as the patient鈥檚 medical condition changes; monitoring/documenting/reporting patient response to treatment.
According to the , the mean annual wage for physical therapist assistants working in the United States was estimated to be at $68,460, but can vary based on the geographical location.
The PTA Program鈥檚 average two-year employment rate is over 90% for graduates licensed within a year of graduation. Statistics on the program鈥檚 graduation rate, licensure exam pass rate, and employment rate can be found below.
Graduates of the PTA program at Gulf Coast State College earn an Associate in Science degree and may apply for licensure as a Physical Therapist by examination in the state of Florida.
Admission & Retention Data
Admission data describes the number of applicants to the PTA program at Gulf Coast State College received by the admission deadline. Acceptance rate describes the number of candidates offered 鈥渃onditional acceptance鈥� to the program out of the number of applications received. Retention rate by semester also shows those students that continue in the program, with successful completion of each semester.
| Cohort / Class | # of Applications Received | # of Applicants Offered a Spot (includes alternates) | Acceptance Rate | # of Students admitted | Retention Rate: successful completion by end of each semester | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | II | III | IV | V | |||||
| 2024 (applied 2022) |
54 | 20 | 20/54 37% |
18 | 15/18 83% |
14/18 77% |
14/18 77% |
13/18 |
13/18 72% |
| 2025 (applied In 2023) |
34 | 26 | 26/34 76% |
18 | 16/18 88% |
15/18 83% |
15/18 83% |
15/18 83% |
15/18 83% |
| 2026 (applied in 2024) |
26 | 22 | 22/26 84% |
16 | 14/16 88% |
12/16 77% |
12/16 75% |
||
| 2027 (applied in 2025) |
35 | 21 |
21/35 |
19 | |||||
Graduation Rate Data
This is the percentage of graduates by year for the PTA program at Gulf Coast State College. *The CAPTE graduation rate does not include admitted students that did not complete the program due to military, health, or issues not related to academic or clinical deficits.
| Cohort / class | # Admitted | # Graduated | *CAPTE Graduation Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 16 | 12 | 80% (12/15) |
| 2024 | 18 | 13 | 72.22% (13/18) |
| 2025 | 18 | 15 | 88.24% (15/17) |
| 2023-2024 Two-year average |
34 | 25 | 75.7% (25/33) |
| 2024-2025 Two-year average |
36 | 28 | 80% (28/35) |
Licensure Pass Rate Data
This is the percentage of graduates that passed the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTE) following graduation from the PTA program at Gulf Coast State College. This test is required as a part of licensure in many states, including Florida. First attempt indicates the first time the exam was attempted by the class. The ultimate pass rate includes the pass rate for all attempts by the class. This information is consistent with the information published by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
| Cohort | 1st Attempt Pass Rate | Ultimate Pass Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 83.3% (10/12) | 91.6% (11/12) |
| 2024 | 53.9% (7/13) | 100% (13/13) |
| 2025 | 81.8% (9/11) | *Not yet determined |
| 2023 - 2024 Two-year average |
68% (17/25) | 96% (24/25) |
Employment Rate Data
This is the percentage of graduates who sought employment and were employed as a physical therapist assistant within one year of graduation from the Gulf Coast State College PTA program.
| Cohort | Employment Rate |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 100% (11/11) |
| 2024 | 100% (13/13) |
|
2023 - 2024 |
100% (24/24) |