Tri-County Technical College announces new workforce development program
Press Release
Date: March 26, 2025
Contacts: Karen Potter, TCTC, kpotter2@tctc.edu
Michael Burns, AnMed, michael.burns@anmed.org
Paul Hecker, Elite Integrated Therapy Centers, paulh@elitetherapycenters.com
Tri-County Technical College announces new workforce development program
Pendleton, SC – Officials from Tri-County Technical College, AnMed and Elite Integrated Therapy Centers signed an agreement today (March 26) outlining a new Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) program that will launch at the College’s Easley Campus in fall 2027.
The new two-year associate degree program aims to address a critical shortage of physical therapy assistants in the area and create a pathway into additional physical therapy education programs.
What makes the program unique is that it is fully funded by AnMed and Elite Integrated Therapy Centers. In addition to covering the cost of equipment and program faculty, AnMed and Elite will provide internships, work placement and clinical rotations for students.
“Rigorous, quality education and training for health care professionals is critical both for our not-for-profit health system and the community at large, and we’re grateful to be able to team up with wonderful partners like Tri-County Technical College and Elite Integrated Therapy Centers to make a program like this happen,” said William Kenley, CEO of AnMed. “Physical therapists and assistants are needed by neighbors, friends and family members throughout the Upstate, and that need is growing. With the help of this wonderful new program, we’re going to educate and train people to make a difference and launch rewarding careers in health care in the process.”
Students enrolled in the PTA program will gain foundational knowledge in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, and patient care with a focus on therapeutic exercises, modalities, and clinical skills for rehabilitation. They will also engage in clinical rotations to gain hands-on experience.
Upon graduation, students must pass a national exam to become certified. Once certified, they can work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, and schools.
Students may also choose to pursue further education, such as a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree to become a physical therapist. TCTC has transfer agreements with four-year colleges and universities to aid students in their preferred career pathway.
“Whatever the student decides, there is no shortage of career opportunities for them,” said Dr. Ahmad Chaudhry, dean of TCTC’s Health Education Division. “The demand for physical therapy assistants and physical therapists continues to grow as our population ages and the prevalence of chronic conditions increases.”
According to a 2024 report produced by the American Physical Therapy Association, the national vacancy rate for outpatient physical therapy practices stands at 9.5%, nearly double the U.S. national average vacancy rate for all industries of 4.8% as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Additionally, roughly 13% of all physical therapist and physical therapy assistant positions at outpatient practices are open.
These shortages are projected to continue through 2037, further impacting patient access to timely care.
"By offering a local PTA educational program, we are not only addressing the critical shortage of skilled licensed therapists in our community, but we are also creating opportunities for local individuals to pursue rewarding careers close to home,” said Paul Hecker, owner and CEO of Elite Integrated Therapy Centers. “Those who are educated and trained within their own communities are naturally more invested in its well-being, leading to a higher level of care and a deep sense of responsibility to give back to the neighborhoods they serve."
The PTA program will be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Individuals interested in learning more about the program are invited to visit tctc.edu/pta.
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About Tri-County Technical College
Tri-County Technical College, a public two-year community and technical college serving Anderson, Oconee and Pickens Counties in South Carolina, enrolls more than 9,000 students annually and offers more than 70 major fields of study, including computer technology, business administration, mechatronics, nursing, and university transfer programs. Tri-County boasts the highest student success rate among two-year colleges in the state and ranks in the top one percent nationally for successful student transfers to four-year colleges and universities. To learn more, visit tctc.edu.
About AnMed
Founded in 1908, AnMed is an independent, not-for-profit health system serving Upstate South Carolina and northeast Georgia. It is licensed for 648 beds and anchored by AnMed Medical Center, a 495-bed acute-care hospital that’s earned the prestigious Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center since 2012. Also included are a heart and vascular center, a maternity center and a comprehensive cancer center. The AnMed Piedmont campus opening in 2025 is among new locations for the growing system. AnMed Rehabilitation Hospital, AnMed Cannon and more than 60 physician practices are also among service sites spread throughout the region. The system has 620 physicians on medical staff and about 3,600 employees.
AnMed Integrated Therapy locations from Powdersville to Hartwell, Georgia, were added to the system in 2025, enhancing and increasing access throughout the region to outpatient therapy services.
Guided by core values of compassion, innovation, integrity, accountability and collaboration, AnMed was named one of the nation’s “Great Community Hospitals” by Becker’s Hospital Review. It is one of three systems in the nation to earn the 2024 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award from the American Hospital Association. Learn more at AnMed.org.
About Elite Integrated Therapy Centers
Elite Integrated Therapy Centers is an independent, therapist-owned and operated for-profit medical practice. Elite opened in Greenville with three employees in 2006 and over the past 19 years has grown to include 30 centers in four states with 220 employees. Elite attributes its success to its three core values: clinical excellence, compassionate care and outstanding customer service. Elite boasts in-house residency and fellowship programs to educate clinicians to the highest level of clinical care possible. Elite also competes nationally with its ratings in patient satisfaction and clinical outcomes.
