The NCCC program includes both theory and practice as well as extensive clinical experience in Western New York hospitals and other health care facilities. The program consists of four (4) semesters of classroom and laboratory instruction plus four (4) FULL-TIME clinical education courses. The first clinical education course is four weeks in length and is completed in the summer at the end of the second semester. The second clinical education course is also four weeks and is completed in February during the fourth semester. The final two (2) clinical education courses are five weeks each. One of these clinical education courses is completed at the end of the last academic semester and the other is completed in the summer after the fourth semester. Prior to attending each clinical education course, the student is required to demonstrate competency in the clinical skills learned in the classroom.

The health care facilities that the student will attend for clinical education courses may involve driving distances as far as outer Niagara, Erie and Orleans counties. Clinical education courses may also be arranged at facilities outside of WNY, as well as outside New York State for those students who are interested. Students must provide their own travel and housing expenses, both locally and nationally.

In addition to traditional classrooms, science laboratories, and multimedia lecture rooms, the NCCC Physical Therapist Assistant Program maintains a physical therapy laboratory in order to simulate the clinical environment. The lab has all the standard equipment and supplies necessary for physical therapy treatment interventions typically provided by PTA's.

All students receive extensive hands-on experience - first in the laboratory setting and then in the clinical setting.