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Maybe you want to start a career as a physical therapy assistant.
In that case, read on for the requirements you must meet in Texas.
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Earning the Physical Therapist Assistant License in Texas
The first step to becoming a physical therapy assistant in Texas is to join a training program.
To get a license you have to first pursue a Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science (AAS) or an Associate of Science (AS) degree.
Keep in mind that the program needs to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and by the Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy Examiners.
The Council is also the licensing entity in Texas.
Training means you will get to join theory classes but also hours of practice in a medical facility.
Health centers and clinics generally first require you to pass a background check.
Some of the clinics you can practice also request you pass a background check.
Clinics and medical centers where you can train in Texas include the following:
- Providence Memorial Hospital – El Paso
- Methodist Hospital – San Antonio
- El Paso Specialty Hospital – El Paso
- Acuity Hospital of South Teas – San Antonio
- Houston Methodist Hospital – Houston
- Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center – Houston
You will get to attend subjects like:
- Human Anatomy
- Physical Disabilities
- Introduction to Physical Therapy
- Human Physiology
- Physical Therapy Procedures I and II
- Neurology and Pathology
- Kinesiology
- Therapeutic Exercise I and II
- Medical Office Management
- Psychosocial Aspects of Physical Therapy
In this state, you may have to attend between 14 and 16 weeks of practice.
After you graduate, you need to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for physical therapy assistants.
This test is organized by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
You will have to pay $400 to the Federation to take the exam.
You’ll need to submit the paperwork below to the Texas Executive Council of Physical Therapy Examiners:
- Submit Physical Therapist Assistant Online Application
- Have school send official school transcripts
- Submit Letter of Completion (directly from your school)
- Send a recent 2×2 photograph
- Register to take the national exam with FSBPT
- Pass the jurisprudence exam
- Send $125.00 application fee
After you mail your documents, you will be sent an Authorization to Test (ATT) by the FSBTP.
Then, you can schedule your written exam with Prometric, for which you have to pay a $70 fee.
The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for physical therapy assistants includes the next topics:
- Physical Therapy Data Collection
- Interventions
- Diseases and Conditions
- Equipment and Devices
- Therapeutic Modalities
- Safety and Protection
- Metabolic & Endocrine Systems
- Gastrointestinal System
- Genitourinary System
- Musculoskeletal System
- Neuromuscular & Nervous Systems
The exam includes 200 questions, for which you need a score of 80%.
Employment and Salary Information for Physical Therapist Assistants in Texas
If you get a physical therapy license, you can work in any healthcare facility.
You can also choose to work independently if you prefer being self-employed.
Some of the facilities hiring physical therapy assistants in Texas are:
- Methodist Hospital – San Antonio
- The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society – El Paso
- Brookdale – San Antonio
- University Medical Center of El Paso – El Paso
- San Antonio Home Health and Hospice – San Antonio
- Reliant Rehabilitation – El Paso
- Guardian Healthcare – San Antonio
- Las Palmas Medical Center – El Paso
- Comprehensive Chiropractic & Physical Therapy – San Antonio
- Epic Health Services Inc. – El Paso
- AccentCare, Inc. – San Antonio
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Houston | $57,259 |
| San Antonio | $54,321 |
| Dallas | $55,500 |
| Austin | $54,941 |
| Fort Worth | $54,433 |
| El Paso | $48,861 |
| Arlington | $54,344 |
| Corpus Christi | $52,433 |
| Plano | $55,262 |
| Laredo | $49,790 |
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.
Additional Information for Physical Therapist Assistants in Texas
In Texas, you will need to renew your physical therapy assistant license.
To renew it, you need to follow the next steps:
- Send the renewal application
- Submit the $180 renewal fee
- Send a continuing competency activities report
- Take the jurisprudence test
You will also have to attend some hours of extra education, from which 2 hours should be covering ethics.
In addition, you will still have to take 18 hours of class.
The additional education hours should be completed in a course accredited by the Texas Physical Therapy Association (TPTA).
Read the full guide: How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistant Schools by State