Attendance at an information session is highly recommended prior to submitting the Physical Therapist Assistant program application. Call 410-777-7310 for dates, times and locations, or view the schedule on the CACHE website.

• There is no cost to attend.
• We offer virtual information sessions.
• Detailed information regarding program, profession, admission and academic requirements, and selection criteria will be discussed.

You must demonstrate eligibility for ENG-101/ENG-101A. There are a number of ways this can be done:

• Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
• Appropriate score on the English placement test
• Unweighted high school GPA (if you graduated in the last five years)
• Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
• Transfer of credits for ENG-101
• Appropriate score on an AP exam
• Appropriate score on a CLEP test
• Appropriate score on GED test

See an academic advisor for information or visit our Determine Placement page.

You must demonstrate eligibility for College Algebra (MAT-137). There are a number of ways this can be done:

• Qualifying SAT/ACT scores
• Appropriate score on the mathematics placement test
• Unweighted high school GPA plus coursework (if you graduated in the last five years)
• Successful completion of developmental courses, if applicable
• Transfer of credits for a MAT-137 course
• Appropriate score on an AP exam
• Appropriate score on a CLEP test

Note: MAT-145, MAT-151, MAT-191 or MAT-230 satisfies the MAT-137 requirement. (Former MAT courses MAT-121, MAT-131, MAT-141 or MAT-142 will also satisfy the MAT-137 requirement.)

For information see an academic advisor or visit our Determine Placement page.

You must present evidence of successful completion of a chemistry course with a grade of C or better by the end of the spring term in which you apply as demonstrated by one of the following:

• U.S. high school general chemistry (1 credit) OR
• Noncredit Introduction to Chemistry (CHE-011) or credit World of Chemistry (CHE-111 or CHE-103)*
• Transfer of credits for a credit chemistry course from regionally accredited institutions*

*CHE-011, CHE-111 or CHE-103 courses are eligible for the Health Manpower Shortage Tuition Waiver.

*If your chemistry course was taken in high school or another college, official transcript will be required. 

If home-schooled, the high school curriculum must be under a recognized umbrella organization with the supervision of a state-approved curriculum. AACC may require a course syllabus so that our Chemistry department chair can review and approve the curriculum.

Before you submit your application, you must have your high school transcripts or GED® equivalency transcripts submitted electronically to AACC's records and registration office by the application deadline. A copy of a high school or GED® diploma will not be accepted. 

OR

Provide transcript verifying an associate degree or higher from a nationally recognized institution. An official transcript is required if course evaluation and transfer is required and/or if your chemistry requirement was completed in high school.

Note: A transcript/equivalency certificate is considered official when enclosed in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically by the sending institution. It must also include a graduation/completion date and a school official’s signature. Your application will not be considered complete if the required documentation is not received prior to or at the time your application is submitted.

You must have a minimum adjusted grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 at this college to be considered for selection to the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

If you have taken program prerequisites or other general education courses at a nationally recognized institution other than AACC, you must submit official transcripts with your application for review.

Learn more about transfer credit.

Note: A transcript/equivalency certificate is considered official when enclosed in a sealed envelope from the institution or sent electronically by the sending institution. It must also include a graduation/completion date, if applicable, and a school official’s signature. Your application will not be considered complete if the required documentation is not received prior to or at the time your application is submitted.

Foreign educated students must have their college and high school transcripts evaluated by one of the following credential evaluators:

• ECE (Educational Credential Evaluators)
• WES (World Education Services)
• SpanTran: The Evaluation Company

Foreign educated students must successfully pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) with a minimum score of 550 (213 is the equivalent computer score and 79 is the equivalent internet-based score) OR must have completed the ENG-101 or ENG-101A and ENG-102 course sequence with grades of C or better prior to applying to the program. If you need to fulfill this requirement, we recommend that you take the TOEFL test as soon as possible, as this requirement can take time to complete. You must have your official score report sent directly to Anne Arundel Community College.  Anne Arundel Community College’s code for TOEFL is 5019.

If you are an international student, there may be additional requirements for you. Visit our international student pages to learn more about visa status and other information.

Note: If you do not have a Social Security number, you may not be permitted at some clinical rotation sites and site availability could delay or inhibit your progression in the program. An international student admission specialist in AACC's Admissions and Enrollment Development office may be able to assist students with F-1 visa status to obtain a Social Security number through practical training. Contact them at 410-777-2677.

Instructions: To calculate your total score, multiply column 2 (# of credits) by the numerical grade and enter in column 4. Add all the scores in column 6 for your total score.

Applicants who have met the academic and admission requirements and have been selected into the program are given conditional acceptance. If you are granted conditional acceptance, you must submit a completed health examination record and criminal background check by designated deadlines. You must also submit verification of current American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification by a designated deadline. Students who do not meet this deadline will not be considered further for admission and the next person on the list will be contacted. Instructions on how to complete the criminal background check will be enclosed in the selection packet and are not to be done until instructed to do so.

• Waitlist: Qualified applicants not initially selected for conditional acceptance will be placed on a waitlist in order received and notified of selection when a seat becomes available. Waitlist applicants not given a seat for the term in which they applied must reapply for future consideration.
• Final acceptance into the program shall be contingent upon satisfactory completion of a health examination record, criminal background check and CPR.

Students must successfully complete the American Heart Association Basic Life Support (BLS) CPR certification course. CPR certification must be valid through graduation.

All Health Sciences students who are offered conditional acceptance and/or clinical placement into the Physical Therapist Assistant program are required to satisfactorily complete a criminal background check and possible urine drug screening. For complete details visit the Criminal Background Checks and Drug Screening page.

Students conditionally accepted to this program must submit a health examination record completed by a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant validating that the student meets the technical standard of good physical and mental health as established by the School of Health Sciences, and verifying that the student is free of communicable diseases as evidenced by required immunizations/titers.

Learn more about the health examination record to include vaccinations and technical standards.