Learn about graduation rates, examination pass rates, and employment outcomes for Sacramento City College's Physical Therapist Assistant program.
PTA Graduate NPTE Pass Rates
The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for Physical Therapist Assistant, developed by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, is a requirement for PTA licensure in most states.
| Description | 2023-2024 Graduation |
2024-2025 Graduation |
2025-2026 Graduation |
Average (Years 2024-2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-time pass rate | 90.9% | 88.9% | 92.9% | 89.8% |
| Ultimate pass rate | 100% | 100% | 92.9% | 98.1% |
| Description | 2024-2025 Graduation |
2025-2026 Graduation |
Last 2 Years Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of total applicants (new and returning) |
90 | 74 | 82 |
| Number of approved applicants (new & returning) |
64 | 50 | 57 |
| Number of students enrolled after add/drop period | 28 | 30 | 29 |
| Number of students who graduated/on track to graduate | 18 | 21 | 19.5 |
| Graduation rate (CAPTE=Graduates/ enrolled – withdraw due to non-academic reasons) | 75.0% | 80.77% | 78.0% |
| Graduation Year | 2027 (enrolled in 2025) |
2028 (enrolled in 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Number of total applicants (new and returning) |
63 | 73 |
Employment of Graduates
Percentage data from survey of graduates in recent cohorts reporting actively sought and obtained employment as physical therapist assistants within 6 months of passing the NPTE for PTA’s licensure exam.
Job announcements are posted online through the California Physical Therapy Association website and other sources. Students often find employment in settings where they have completed clinical practicums. In addition, the program regularly forwards job announcements to recent graduates via email distribution lists.
Employment for 2024-2025 graduates (average):
100%
| Setting | Percentage of Graduates |
|---|---|
| Acute care | ~ 0% |
| Outpatient settings | ~ 12.5% |
| Home health | ~ 0% |
| Skilled nursing | ~ 87.5% |
| Pediatric / school | ~ 0% |
| Other | 0% |
Clinical Education
As of November 2025, program has clinical education agreements (contracts) with 87 sites within the typical service area, including organization with multiple sites. The majority of sites are in Northern California, particularly in the greater Sacramento area. Most sites do not accept students each year.
Many sites are multiple types of settings.
Of the clinical instructors who worked with SCC students in 2025, 61% were Credentialed Clinical Instructors and 19% held an advanced clinical skill certification.
The program has a range of clinical sites to provide students with inpatient and outpatient experience. The variety of clinical sites is approximately as follows:
| Setting | Percentage of Sites |
|---|---|
| Inpatient | ~ 43% |
| Outpatient | ~ 71% |
| Home health | ~ 1% |
| Hospital | ~ 16% |
| Pediatric | ~ 3% |
| Rehab | ~ 6% |
| Skilled nursing (SNF) | ~ 26% |