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The first step to admission is to attend an information session.
These informal seminars discuss admission requirements, the application and selection process and curriculum and career opportunities. Click here for information session dates and times.
NOTE: Students from Anne Arundel County should contact Anne Arundel Community College for information and admissions requirements. Students from Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne’s and Talbot counties should contact Chesapeake College for information and admissions requirements. Students from Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties should contact College of Southern Maryland for more information and admissions requirements.
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Program Guidelines
- The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program only accepts students in the fall of each academic year.
- Admission to the PTA program is separate from regular admission to the college.
- Since clinical space is limited, prospective students must complete all academic and admission requirements by the PTA application deadline.
For each fall admission, applications will be available in November online and at your home college. If application deadline falls on a weekend, then applications will be accepted until the close of business on the next business day.
- Chesapeake College and College of Southern Maryland give first consideration for selection to candidates whose resident address is in the service areas of their home colleges. AACC no longer gives selection preference to Anne Arundel County residents.
- Students who are conditionally accepted into the PTA program must submit proof of CPR, a complete health examination record and criminal background check.
Admission / Academic Requirements
Please note: Selection criteria have been revised! Please review the admissions information carefully.
To view each college’s admissions requirements, please click on your home college below:
Applications
Applications for the Fall 2026 class is as follows:
November 15, 2025 to March 30, 2026 for College of Southern Maryland
January 2026 to April 30, 2026 for Anne Arundel Community College and Chesapeake College
Only one application to the CACHE PTA program can be submitted.
Technical Standards
- Students conditionally accepted to the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will be required to complete the health examination record. Once a physician certifies that the candidate meets the technical standard requirement (defined in #2 below) as established by the department within the scope of practice of the profession, and the department receives and concurs with the physician’s certification, the candidate will be considered as having met the technical standard requirement.
- Qualification: Good physical and mental health.
Admission Criteria (Technical Standards): Student must be free of contagion and possess sufficient stamina with or without reasonable accommodations, as may be required by law, and mental stability to fulfill the requirements of the program and the customary requirements of the profession:
- Work for 8-12 hours performing physical tasks requiring sufficient strength and motor coordination without jeopardy to patient and student safety such as, for example, bending, lifting, turning and ambulating patients.
- Perform fine movements and be able to manipulate instruments and wide variety of equipment according to established procedures and standards of speed and accuracy.
- Establish and work toward goals in a consistently responsible, realistic manner.
- Have auditory ability sufficient to monitor and assess health needs (for example: communicate verbally, in an effective manner, with patients and other personnel).
- Have visual ability sufficient for observation and assessment necessary for patient care (for example: read and process patient-related information like patient charts and requisitions).
CPR Certification
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