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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

$56,850

PERCENT ABOVE NATIONAL
INCOME AVERAGE

34.80%

TOTAL SECTOR EMPLOYMENT

85,580

Degree Median Salary vs Adjacent Degree Types

Source: BLS, US Census, and IPEDS

2024 Best Physical Therapist Assistant Schools

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Touro College is training physical therapists that are as compassionate as they are capable. This program promises that in three years, you will become a highly skilled, sought-after physical therapist. You will learn how to provide hands-on patient care and specialize in movement and movement dysfunction. Their curriculum is CAPTE accredited, clinically-oriented, intensive, and integrated. 

Acceptance Rate

69.42

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

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

California Baptist University’s Physical Therapist Assistant course is offered to graduate service-minded physical therapist assistants who have the essential technical skills, knowledge and professional conduct to become contributing members of the physical therapy profession and the community. In this program, students are molded to have a sense of purpose and compassion to others. At CBU, there are new, state of the art facilities and a chance to excel in learning based on low student-faculty ratio. The faculty you’ll meet here have varied expertise and specialties which allows them to provide to students the most relevant and up-to-date learning opportunities pertaining to the field of physical therapy. 

Acceptance Rate

78.28

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

College of St Catherine is inviting the physical therapy assistants to deepen their commitment to their profession and advance in the healthcare field through an online PTA: Bachelor’s degree that they offer. This online program is flexible, designed for working PTAs who want to finish their bachelor’s degree. The goal of this program is to help its students apply their skills in leading others and function as a strong change agent in today’s challenging health care environment and excel in this increasingly global society. For those who are not currently a PTA, they have a separate offer, the associate-level PTA degree

Acceptance Rate

67.33

Student to Faculty Ratio

10:1

The Physical Therapist Assisting degree program at Professional Skills Institute is a highly regarded program for those interested in a future in PT.  The program is offered as a ninety-six week course as a hybrid learning methodology.  The daytime hybrid degree program offers the best of both worlds as students get hands-on learning opportunities with the flexibility of an online degree program.  Techniques PTA’s will learn include electric stimulation, lumbar traction, diathermy, hydrotherapy, and cervical traction.

Acceptance Rate

80.85

Student to Faculty Ratio

14:1

Riverside School of Health Careers Allied Health Programs is offering a program that leads to an AAS degree for Physical Therapist Assistants. This program features theoretical instruction that is integrated with laboratory simulations and clinical experience. They guarantee to provide hands-on clinical experience in their modern medical center as well as a variety of affiliated clinical sites. Additionally, they also provide financial aid for students who qualify. 

Acceptance Rate

60

Student to Faculty Ratio

11:1

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

Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree program is available at New England Institute of Technology. This program is structured to prepare students to become part of a physical rehabilitation team. It provides classroom and clinical training which help students learn how to carry out physical therapies outlined in a PT plan of care. Students here will also learn how to collect data to determine the effectiveness of patient interventions, be skilled in using technology to overcome disabilities, and help people reach their goals. 

Acceptance Rate

63.2

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

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

The Waldron College of Health and Human services at Radford University is offering a Physical Therapist Assistant associate’s degree program. They claim that this program is not a stepping stone program, rather, it is a competitive hands-on program that teaches how to become a top Physical Therapy Assistant. Their goal is to help students become an essential player in rehabilitative care, being able to help patients get back to good health. There is no doubt, why their graduates are highly skilled, regarded and are 100% employed within a year of graduation- many are already employed even before they graduate. 

Acceptance Rate

75.32

Student to Faculty Ratio

16:1

School of Health Sciences at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is offering a CAPTE accredited Physical Therapist Assistant Program. This program prepares graduates to provide physical therapy services under the supervision of a physical therapist. They will be able to render services which are specified in the plan of care developed by the physical therapist. Students will gain wider knowledge about the remediation of impairments and disabilities and the promotion of mobility. 

Acceptance Rate

66.38

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

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

Krannert School of Physical Therapy at University of Indianapolis offers a Physical Therapist Assistant Program that gives an efficient and flexible point of entry into the physical therapy field. They have approachable faculty that are clinically oriented and active in clinical research, practice, and professional activities. Students in this program become knowledgeable and competent physical therapist assistants and know the value of lifelong learning and professional development. Full-time and part-time programs are both available. 

Acceptance Rate

92.79

Student to Faculty Ratio

13:1

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:

  1. Compile and evaluate patient data based on observations and responses in order to communicate with physical therapists
  2. Coach, motivate, educate, and demonstrate therapeutic exercises or physical activities
  3. Manage passive or active exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or multi-modal treatments (light, sound, heat, electrical)
  4. Collaborate and communicate with physical therapists and administrative staff to share treatment plans and advice
  5. 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

  1. Texas               $71,780
  2. New Jersey     $64,230
  3. California       $63,860
  4. Florida            $62,730
  5. 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.

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