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What Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Do?
The role of physical therapist assistant (PTA) is to aid physical therapists in the care and treatment of patients. Individuals working as physical therapist assistants will work to provide clerical and physical aid to qualified physical therapists under their direct supervision, the assistant will help exercise, stimulate, instruct, massage and assist patients. PTA's are also responsible for recording and reporting the results of treatments to the physical therapist. Physical therapy assistants help in the daily operations of a practice, provide standard care, and educate patients in regiments and exercises.
Career Summary
MEDIAN SALARY
PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE
TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT
85,580Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types
Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS
2025 Best Physical Therapist Assistant Schools
SABER College’s PTA program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. It is also fully accredited by the Council on Occupational Education and was licensed by the Commission for Independent Education. The program consists of 76 credit hours with a curriculum that is tailored to provide the combination of theory, skills, and clinical based training. As a result, their graduates successfully developed an entry level competency as a physical therapist assistant.
Acceptance Rate
83.33
Tuition
$42,475 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
24:1
You can achieve an Associate Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant in as few as 21 months at Concorde Career College – Aurora. This degree will permit you to work alongside with a Physical Therapist in helping patients recover from injuries and illnesses, manage pain, and regain mobility. This program will let you be exposed with patients before, during, and after therapy. Students here will learn how to report effectively and accurately their observations to the PT and treat patients using different techniques.
Acceptance Rate
61.58
Tuition
$15,955 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
41:1
Stanbridge University is inviting you to engage your passion for rehabilitation in a hands-on environment through their Physical Therapist Assistant degree. They take much pride in the pass rate of this program in 2019 which is 96.7%. They offer innovative learning with virtual reality, synthetic cadavers, and telemedicine. The program also guarantees to have experienced and caring faculty.
Acceptance Rate
63.33
Tuition
$33,751 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
A Program for Physical Therapist Assistant is available at Concorde Career College – San Diego. In this program, students will learn how to help patients with specific exercises. The education that this program provides prepares students to support patient therapy treatment and plans as a Physical therapist Assistant. The quality of this program offered at Concorde career College – San Diego was verified when it received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Acceptance Rate
90.96
Tuition
$35,469 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
25:1
Concorde Career Institute – Jacksonville is currently offering a CAPTE-accredited Physical Therapist Assistant degree program. Due to an aging generation of baby boomers as well as an increase in chronic conditions like obesity and diabetes, the field of Physical Assistant Therapist is forecast to continue its growth. Students who will successfully complete this program can find employment in a variety of work settings, such as in skilled nursing facilities, government hospitals, inpatient hospital settings, convalescent hospitals, or rehabilitation centers. Additionally, as part of their commitment to their students’ success, they guarantee to provide access to comprehensive information and guidance in navigating the financial aid process.
Acceptance Rate
76.61
Tuition
$50,048 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
38:1
The Physical Therapist Assistant major offered at Concorde Career College – Garden Grove is CAPTE-accredited. This program emphasizes real-world experiences which trains students from Day 1 to serve effectively in different settings, supporting physical therapy treatments. This program is designed to equip students comprehensively through an emphasis on functional training, ambulation training, therapeutic exercises, activities of daily living, and mobility training. This program was established due to its projected growth that hits a higher-than-average rate of 29% in the coming decade.
Acceptance Rate
95.22
Tuition
$31,866 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
27:1
A program for Physical Therapist Assistant that is CAPTE-accredited is what Concorde Career College – North Hollywood offers. This program can be completed in as few as 21 months. They offer this program because there is an increasing demand for qualified physical therapist assistants due to the continued need for therapy for persons with disabling medical conditions. One more reason why many are attracted to this program is because Concorde offers scholarship programs and financial aid to those who qualify.
Acceptance Rate
91.39
Tuition
$32,883 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
22:1
You can take a CAPTE-accredited Physical Therapy Assistant degree at Concorde Career Institute – Dallas. This field will allow you to work one-on-one with patients and feel the satisfaction in watching them make progress through treatment. This program can help you be able to help patients return to maximum function after an injury or due to a disease. This program is perfectly suited for those who enjoy working long-term with individuals and form rewarding relationships.
Acceptance Rate
88.09
Tuition
$16,875 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
44:1
Concorde Career Institute – San Antonio’s CAPTE-accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program incorporates real-world training and off-site clinical experiences. Students here are expected to learn treatment for impairments in physical strength, neurological disorders, aging, or balance or mobility resulting from injuries to the musculoskeletal system. This program teaches students how to work as part of a team under the immediate direction of a physical therapist to implement selected portions of a therapy plan. They also instill to their students the significance of tracking the patient’s progress.
Acceptance Rate
93.86
Tuition
$17,701 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
45:1
Concorde Career Institute – Miramar offers training to help you become expert in body mechanics and motivating patients to improve their ability to return to optimal physical functionality through a Program in Physical Therapy Assistant. This program will mold you to become compassionate yet persistent. This program is CAPTE-accredited and will lead you to an associate’s degree. When you successfully enter the profession, you will start to experience the great feeling of personal satisfaction as you watch your patients take their first steps for the first time after an accident.
Acceptance Rate
88.35
Tuition
$43,552 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
36:1
A program for AAS degree in Physical Therapist Assistant is offered at St Louis College of Health Careers – Fenton. This program is designed to prepare students to render professional assistance to patients that are recovering from injury and illness. Students in this program gain the ability to collect data on the progress of each patient and educate the patients and their families on how to apply therapeutic techniques to their everyday lives. This program will also teach how to use physical modalities and adaptive equipment.
Acceptance Rate
100
Tuition
$30,466 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
30:1
At Concorde Career College – Memphis, you can learn how to provide help to patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses through the Physical Therapy Assistant degree program that they offer. This program teaches how to help patients regain their movement and manage pain. In this field, you will experience the rewarding feeling as you take an important role in improving the quality of life of others through increased mobility and independence by rendering therapeutic treatments that decrease the pain and discomfort. This program can lead you to the kind of work that deals with patients of all ages in a variety of settings.
Acceptance Rate
93.38
Tuition
$15,840 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
35:1
Acceptance Rate
94.92
Tuition
$16,805 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
34:1
The Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University offers a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree that is looking for exceptional, compassionate, and innovative students. This can be completed in three academic years or two-and-a-half calendar years. Applicants of this program should demonstrate personal and professional behaviors. Some of the characteristics and skills that are evaluated through the application are initiative, acceptance of responsibility, integrity, sound judgment, and interpersonal communication.
Acceptance Rate
9.05
Student to Faculty Ratio
6:1
Master of Arts in Pathokinesiology, Doctor of Physical Therapy (Entry-level degree), Doctor of Physical Therapy (For practicing physical therapists), Clinical Residency in Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Physical Therapy Research, and Rehabilitation Sciences are the programs that the Department of Physical Therapy at New York University offers. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (Entry-level degree) is designed to prepare students of all backgrounds for careers in physical therapy through a comprehensive course of study paired with supervised clinical practice. Their innovative, entry-level curriculum is designed to encompass the study of normal and abnormal structure and function, theory, and practice of physical therapy. Their goal is to develop a competent, autonomous physical therapy practitioner. To see the details for the other programs you may click here.
Acceptance Rate
16.2
Student to Faculty Ratio
9:1
CBD College, located in Los Angeles, California, offers vocational and career programs in the medical field. The school employs qualified professionals to educate and train students in order to prepare them for their chosen career. CBD provides a pleasant learning environment, encourages camaraderie and personal growth, and assists its students through their personal educational needs.
Academics
CDB College offers five programs for its students to choose from. Each program has its own length and certificate/degree awarded. All programs prepare individuals to enter the work force as skilled and qualified individuals.
Programs offered:
- Vocational Nursing
- Associate of Applied Science in Vocational Nursing
- Surgical Technology
- Pharmacy Technician
- Medical Massage Therapy/Physical Therapy Assistant
Admissions and Financial Aid
Students interested in enrollment must be at least 17 years old, have a high school diploma or equivalent, complete and submit an application, have an interview with an admissions officer and have a passing score on the ACT exam. Tuition varies based on program and the financial aid office will help eligible students determine the best financial aid options for him or her.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$38,635 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
20:1
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$36,900 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
34:1
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$54,990 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
15:1
Interested in a career-focused college with a wide range of technical programs and a convenient campus near you? Then Institute of Technology is the perfect educational experience for you. We'll help you launch a new future of real opportunities.
Since 2004, we have been fulfilling our vision to be the premier provider of postsecondary education in the western U.S., measured by student satisfaction and focused educations that lead to valued careers. Our exciting list of career training programs includes education for the fields of allied health, network technology, computer technology, computerized accounting, web/graphic design, culinary arts, and more. Our class schedules are flexible, and our instructors provide classroom instruction balanced with ample hands-on training.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$31,935 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
17:1
For those living in the Midwest and looking to start a new career, the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center (CGCTC) is probably one of the places you want to start looking. Located in Cape, Girardeau, Missouri, a middle sized town of about 38,000 people, the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center has garnered a reputation for producing high quality graduates who know how to go out into the workforce and get jobs. Cape Girardeau is a great place to do it too, since the region has seen growth in between censuses and technical trade employment has been increasing throughout the city. The city is the site of many historical landmarks, many that have to do with Native Americans and their relationship with early American settlers of the land.
In 2012, tuition at the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center was $13,194, and enrollment was at 195 students. The center has a very solid retention rate of 77%, and with open admissions students can apply and get in as long as there are open spots available. There are plenty of very talented instructors at the center, and the school offers a wide variety of programs to choose from. Here are some of those programs:
- Auto Tech
- Computer Programming
- Business
- Radio/TV
- Marketing
- Nursing
With the growing city of Cape Girardeau as the backdrop and bigger metropolitan areas such as St. Louis and Memphis only a short drive away, the Cape Girardeau Career and Technology Center is a great choice for those who are looking to build their skills for a career. Financial aid is available from grants, scholarships, and loans from the federal government.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$8,400 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$21,092 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
25:1
The Physical Therapy degree at the University of Evansville has been training graduates to successfully work in a complex and ever-changing healthcare environment. This CAPTE-accredited program can be completed in as few as three years. In the most recent academic year, the PTA program had 96% graduate rate and 96% ultimate pass rate for licensure examination. In the same academic year, they also hit 91.5% first-time pass rate for licensure examination and 100% of their graduates are employed or in residencies within 6 months of passing the exam.
Acceptance Rate
70.67
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$14,335 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
25:1
Western Technical College is a two year private career college that provides a great education environment for its students. Over 980 students have completed their education in the last few years according to annual released graduation information with a graduation rate of about 88%. Western Technical College has several programs to pick from. Here are the programs with more popularity among students:
- Medical Assistant
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
- Health and Medical Administrative Services
- Massage Therapy
- Electrical and Communications Engineering Technology
- Physical Therapist Assistant
To support students and graduates, Western Technical College may offer support services including:
- Weekend and night classes available
- Remedial instructional courses
- Counseling assistance
- Employing students to lower education costs
- Helping students find work after graduation
This school has been accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges since 1990. Please visit westerntech.edu for more information on programs offered and consumer disclosures.
Acceptance Rate
-
Tuition
$33,312 / year
Student to Faculty Ratio
20:1
Fox College Inc is offering a Physical Therapy Assistant program. This program ensures to provide faculty that possess real-world experience which allows them to impart the knowledge needed to succeed. The class sizes here are usually small so that it would be easier for students to get to know their teacher and receive personal, one-on-one attention. Students will learn in a simulated physical therapy clinic that houses the same types of equipment that can be found on the job.
Acceptance Rate
61.84
Student to Faculty Ratio
11:1
Top Physical Therapy Assistant Degrees & Certificates
If you are considering a career as physical therapy assistant, it is important to know your options to enter the field. Every state currently requires a physical therapy assistant to have an associate’s degree and in some cases a professional certificate coupled with substantive life experience. Physical therapy assistant programs must be earned from a regionally or nationally accredited college or university. A quick overview of each is listed below to help you better perform research into the profession.
Physical Therapy Assistant Certificates
Earning a certificate as a Physical Therapy Assistant will provide students with the basics necessary to enter the field of physical therapy. Certificate programs are focused, compressed programs designed to give students the essentials in the physical therapy sector. Rigor and challenging courses are hyper-focused on providing essential skills. These PTA skills are intended to be directly utilized in the workplace.
Physical Therapy Assistant Associate's Degree
An Associate’s in Applied Science (AAS) degree for a physical therapy assistant will prepare students to enter the field with skills and knowledge of a core physical therapy curriculum plus an array of liberal arts classes.
The general education courses like philosophy, English, and psychology are incorporated into the associate degree programs to help students think differently about the world and analyze situations in greater depth. Core curriculum in physical therapy provide science-rich classes requisite to thrive in the field of physical therapy coupled with supervised hands-on, clinical experience.
Difference Between Physical Therapy Assistants and Physical Therapy Aides?
The difference between a physical therapy aid and physical therapy assistant comes down to the amount of training, pay, and job responsibilities. To become a physical therapy aide, a person will need a high school diploma or GED and obtain the balance of what they need to know through on the job training over the course of weeks or months.
On the other hand, a physical therapy assistant must earn a college degree or certificate of completion from an accredited college. The degree program includes substantive real-world work in the field under the direct supervision of a licensed physical therapist known as clinical experience.
Physical Therapist Assistant Requirements
Most states require a physical therapist assistant to have a minimum of an associate's degree through a nationally accredited program in order to work in a professional setting. Nationally accredited programs typically last 2 years and provide students with a variety of courses and skills necessary to perform their functions and tasks ably.
Students of such a program will be exposed to various sciences that related to the human body, and be educated in the types of ailments that may affect individuals in recovery. Programs contain both academic and clinical coursework in order to develop one's practical experience and allow them to apply classroom knowledge to real world settings.
Clinical settings allow students to understand how treatments are applied and under what conditions. Exposure to individuals and situations will allow students to develop proper bedside manner, learn to develop patient confidence, and to apply treatments and offer assistance as outlined by one's instructor or physical therapist. The amount of clinical work will depend on the program of study.
What Will I Learn in a Physical Therapist Assistant Program?
While the classes from one accredited program to another will vary, you will find that many physical therapy assistant programs have similar coursework. After researching dozens of college programs, we have created a list of classes common to most programs. The classes listed below can be used as a proxy for most accredited PTA degree programs.
- Anatomy
- Patient Care Skills
- First Aid
- Therapeutic Interaction in Health Care
- Human Growth & Development
- Pathophysiology
- Neuroscience
- Human Posture & Movement
- Therapeutic Exercise
- Acute Care in Physical Therapy
- Rehabilitation
- CPR
- Orthopedic Therapy
- Clinical Practicum
Employment for a Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical therapist assistants can find work in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, fitness centers, and other locations that offer physical therapy. Most patients will either be elderly or in recovery from accident or surgery.
The role of a physical therapist assistant is to provide service to patients as guided by a physical therapist, often conducting routine work under the guidance or supervision of a physical therapist.
The various work environments will all require a physical therapist for an assistant to work under, and the amount of responsibilities, supervised and unsupervised, are generally dictated by the state.
Where to Physical Therapy Assistants Work?
A physical therapy assistant will be employed in a wide array of medical and healthcare organizations. Entities are not limited in size nor scope as PTA's can work at private clinics, public hospitals, and non-profit healthcare organizations. Examples of where a PTA can work include: sports clinics, rehabilitation centers, athletic facilities, hospitals, pediatric centers, medical centers, home health centers, outpatient clinics, public schools, medical offices, community health organizations, skilled nursing facilities, long-term care centers, and convalescent homes.
Common Job Titles of a Physical Therapy Assistant
While the job title of a physical therapy assistant or PTA is the most commonly used title across the industry, a few variations on the name exist. In order to best equip you for the job market, we have assembled a number of related job titles of a physical therapy assistant for your review. The most common job titles of a physical therapy assistant include the following:
- Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA)
- Physical Therapy Technician (Physical Therapy Tech or PTT)
- Staff Physical Therapy Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
- Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)
- Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant
- Physical Therapist Assistant and Nurse Aide
- Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant
- Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA)
- Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
Top Job Duties of a Physical Therapy Assistant
Job responsibilities for a physical therapy assistant will vary from location to location and from employer to employer. However, upon the completion of a multi-faceted survey from the Department of Labor of PTA’s, the most common duties from across the country are evident. The top duties of a physical therapy assistant include:
- Compile and evaluate patient data based on observations and responses in order to communicate with physical therapists
- Coach, motivate, educate, and demonstrate therapeutic exercises or physical activities
- Manage passive or active exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or multi-modal treatments (light, sound, heat, electrical)
- Collaborate and communicate with physical therapists and administrative staff to share treatment plans and advice
- Accurately assess a patient’s vital signs, range of motion, body systems to optimize treatment plans
States with the Highest Employment of Physical Therapists
- Texas 6,780
- Ohio 6,210
- Florida 5,340
- California 5,040
- Illinois 4,860
Top Paying States for Physical Therapists
- Texas $71,780
- New Jersey $64,230
- California $63,860
- Florida $62,730
- Connecticut $61,530
Physical Therapist Salary & Job Growth
The average annual income of a physical therapist assistant is $46,920 which is $22.56 an hour. Top PTA's will make around $80,000 while the bottom 10% will average just under thirty thousand dollars a year. Experienced assistants may earn more over time as organizations grow and additional responsibilities are added to the mix.
Job growth for physical therapist assistants is expected nearly double over the next decade as demand continues to increase due to an aging population. In fact, the BLS forecasts the physical therapy assistant sector to boom growing over 30% in the coming decade adding 51,400 jobs during that reporting period. The economics of the employment of PTA's favors well-education, highly trained individuals. As the demand outpaces qualified candidates, the ability to negotiate pay and preferred hours increases markedly.
Additional Resources for Physical Therapy Assistants
- American Physical Therapy Association(APTA)
- American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapists (AAOMPT)
- Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS)
- American Society of Hand Therapists (ASHT)
- Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA)
- American Academy of Physical Therapy (AAPT)
Related programs and degrees include occupational therapy, health aide, and massage therapy. For more information, check out our Physical Therapy Career Guide on our blog.