PT Assistant Selection Criteria & Application Process
Annual Application Deadline: May 15th
Applicants for the Physical Therapist Assistant program are evaluated for admission based upon the Selection Criteria Point System. Program entry is once each academic year, starting in the Fall Term, and runs consecutively for five semesters. After reviewing the Selection Criteria details, prospective students must follow the specialized Application Process to apply for the program.
Application files must be completed and received by the Health Science Admissions and Advising Office on the Melbourne Campus, Building 15, Room 101 by the May 15th annual application deadline. Students may also email documents to healthscience@easternflorida.edu. Incomplete files will NOT be considered for program admission.
PT Assistant Selection Criteria
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program, offered by the Health Sciences Institute at EFSC, has limited enrollment. Admission to the program is based on a point system in which the Selection Committee tabulates and confirms the points accumulated by each applicant by the application deadline. The top candidates will then be notified for a video interview. Following the interviews, the top 16 applicants will be sent letters of acceptance. Applicants interviewed but not accepted may be placed on the alternate list and admitted only if an accepted applicant declines a spot through the first week of class.
Selection criteria are subject to change at the discretion of the PTA Program Faculty and EFSC Administration.
As an entrance requirement, all applicants must take the TEAS Test (Test of Essential Academic Skills). PTA applicants may take the TEAS twice before the application deadline; the highest score earned will be used.
We will accept TEAS scores taken within two years of the application deadline. Applicants must earn a minimum of 63% on the overall score to be considered. Points will not be given for students receiving scores between 63 and 64%, as this is a minimal expectation for program admission. Scores greater than 65% will be awarded the following points:
91-100% ⇒ 15 points
89-90.9% ⇒ 13 points
84-88.9% ⇒ 11 points
79-83.9% ⇒ 9 points
74-78.9% ⇒ 7 points
70-73.9% ⇒ 5 points
65-69.9% ⇒ 3 points
63-64.9% ⇒ 0 points
All applicants are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA. The most recent grade point average will be used. For the college grade point average to be used, at least 12 credit hours of college courses must be completed. Please Note: 4 credit hours of science must be included in the 12 credit hours from college.
No points will be awarded for GPA.
Applicants are required to complete an advisement session with a Health Science Student Advisor, as evidenced by a signed advisement card. This card can only be obtained from a Health Science Student Advisor, and no duplicates will be issued. If lost, the student must attend another advisement session for another card. The card is valid for only 1 year after the issue date, and the original blue card with the point sheet must be submitted.
Students with myEFSC access should schedule Health Sciences Advising using the link in the Student Services Appointments section of myEFSC. Future Students with no EFSC login, use the guest appointment button.
No points will be awarded for the Health Science Advisement Session.
A panel discussion will be held in the Spring Term for students to attend in order to ask questions regarding the field of physical therapy and about the program. 5 points will be given for attending.
Upcoming dates are Wednesday, Feb. 26 or Wednesday, April 2, 2025, with both sessions from 6 PM to 7:30 PM in Building 15 on the Melbourne Campus.
Each of the following courses are worth a maximum of 5 points each for a total of
15 possible points. An "A" is worth 5 points, a "B" is worth 3 points and a "C" is worth 1 point.
- General Biology
- Medical Terminology
- Introduction to Healthcare
Each of the following courses are worth a maximum of 10 points each for a total of 20 possible points. An "A" is worth 10 points, a "B" is worth 7 points and a "C" is worth 5 points.
- Anatomy and Physiology I
- Anatomy and Physiology II
Students who have successfully completed Advanced Placement Courses (with a score
of 3, 4, or 5) and have chosen not to repeat the above courses, will receive 3 points for each course.
Courses which have earned credit through CLEP will not be accepted.
Please review the program’s course sequence. Students must be enrolled during the Summer Term or have taken the following courses prior to the start of the Fall Term semester in which they are accepted into the program:
- HSCC 1000: Introduction to Healthcare
- BSCC 1010: General Biology
- HSC 1531: Medical Terminology
- ENC 1101: Composition I
Students who have elected to take the above courses during the summer prior to the fall program start MUST submit a summer schedule indicating their enrollment. Should a student not successfully pass the above courses, their position in the program will no longer be valid.
Note: The Physical Therapist Assistant admissions committee reserves the right to give special consideration for repeat applicants who have met the admission criteria and students previously withdrawn from the program.
Following the application deadline, the top candidates will be notified by phone and scheduled for a video interview with members of the admissions committee.
PT Assistant Application Process
In order to be considered for the Physical Therapist Assistant program, students must follow the steps detailed below and submit all required items by the application deadline.
See a Health Sciences Advisor to go over the Selection Criteria, deadlines, testing requirements, and set up a course plan for completing prerequisite classes.
Students with myEFSC access should schedule Health Sciences Advising using the link in the Student Services Appointments section of myEFSC. Future Students with no EFSC login, use the guest appointment button.
Students must be current students at Eastern Florida State College before they can apply to the PT Assistant A.S. program.
NEW STUDENTS: For students new to EFSC, complete the EFSC online application for admission prior to the Physical Therapist Assistant program application deadline. There is a $30 non-refundable application fee that must be paid before the application can be processed.
Please note that application processing can take up to 14 days due to the current volume of applications. Check your email frequently for your acceptance letter.
In addition, new EFSC students need to
- Submit official High School Transcripts (or GED® scores) to General Admissions.
- Submit official transcripts from any and all colleges attended prior to EFSC (if applicable)
- Provide FL Residency documentation, complete the New Student Orientation, and finalize any other EFSC General Admissions requirements.
RETURNING STUDENTS: Returning/readmit students who have not completed a course in the past year must also re-apply online. There is no application fee for a readmit application. Readmit Students need to
- Submit official transcripts from any and all colleges attended since their last enrollment at EFSC (if applicable).
- Provide FL Residency documentation, and complete any other EFSC General Admissions requirements.
CURRENT STUDENTS: Current Students may move on to the next step.
Complete the online Health Sciences Application. A $25 payment can be paid online or at a campus student accounts office by the application deadline. This fee is non-refundable.
An UNOFFICIAL copy of every college transcript is required with the Health Science application. Unofficial EFSC transcripts can be accessed from myGPS or at www.floridashines.org.
Application files must be completed by May 15th each year. All application materials must be turned in to the Health Science Admissions and Advising office on the Melbourne Campus (Building 15, Room 101).
A file ready for the Admissions Committee review must include:
- Health Sciences Application to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program
- $25 application fee paid online or at a campus Student Accounts Business Office
- All unofficial transcripts from EFSC and any other schools attended
- TEAS Test Scores Visit the EFSC TEAS webpage for registration instructions and information.
- Health Science advisement session card (must be original point sheet with blue card)
- Attendance at the optional Physical Therapy Panel Discussion, if applicable. Dates are available on the program landing page.
Following the application deadline, files are closed to additional information and sent to the Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Committee for consideration. Incomplete files will NOT be considered for program admission.
This step ONLY applies to applicants notified that they are top candidates.
Top Candidates will be notified by phone and scheduled for a video interview with members of the Physical Therapist Assistant Admissions Committee.
Eastern Florida State College is dedicated to providing a nondiscriminatory environment which promotes equal access, equal educational opportunity, and equal employment opportunity to all persons regardless of age, race, national origin, color, ethnicity, genetic information, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, pregnancy, disability, marital status, veteran status, ancestry, or political affiliation in its programs, activities, or employment.
EFSC recognizes the rights of students and applicants with disabilities, including those with hepatitis B, under the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.