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There has never been a better time to pursue a career as a physical therapist assistant. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the physical therapist assistant profession is expected to grow by 26% from 2018-2028 and physical therapist aides face higher than average starting salaries.
An important facet of your career as a physical therapist aide is your choice of degree program. According to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), there are over 300 accredited physical therapist assistant programs in the US.
To help with your decision, we have compiled this list of the best physical therapist assistant programs in the US. All schools included on this list are accredited by the CAPTE and will sufficiently prepare you for a career as a physical therapist assistant.
You might also be interested in viewing our list of best schools for other occupations.
| Alabama | Alaska | Arizona | Arkansas | California |
| Colorado | Connecticut | Delaware | Florida | Georgia |
| Hawaii | Idaho | Illinois | Indiana | Iowa |
| Kansas | Kentucky | Louisiana | Maine | Maryland |
| Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Mississippi | Missouri |
| Montana | Nebraska | Nevada | New Hampshire | New Jersey |
| New Mexico | New York | North Carolina | North Dakota | Ohio |
| Oklahoma | Oregon | Pennsylvania | Rhode Island | South Carolina |
| South Dakota | Tennessee | Texas | Utah | Vermont |
| Virginia | Washington | West Virginia | Wisconsin | Wyoming |
We selected the schools below based on the programs that they offer, accreditation, student population, graduation rate and reputation.
View our Ranking Methodology to learn more about how we rank schools.
38%
10229
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
44%
8835
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
24%
16351
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
29%
13906
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
33%
12363
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
24%
17406
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
30%
14644
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
19%
23440
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
21%
21379
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
22%
21720
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
32%
15051
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
23%
20941
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
28%
17481
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
43%
11505
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
41%
12101
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
27%
18576
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
37%
13737
Daytona State College offers a 74 credit hours PTA program that costs approximately $7,500 per semester for in-state residents and $29,000 for out-of-state residents.
The DSC program requires applicants to submit 3 letters of recommendation and has at least a C-average in the following 4 prerequisite courses: Anatomy/Physiology, College Composition, Intro to Physical Therapy, and College Algebra.
27%
19300
The PTA program at CUNY LaGuardia is a 68-credit hour program that can be completed in as little as 2 years. Students can participate in the program either full-time or part-time. Students will perform clinical rotations under the supervision of a board-approved physical therapist and students must complete 4 prerequisite courses with at least a 2.5 GPA.
Applicants must provide proof of US citizenship or permanent residency and pass a criminal background screening and drug test upon acceptance into the program.
41%
12817
SIUC offers a 64 credit associate’s degree in physical therapy assistant that includes 1 semester of clinical practicum. Students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA to continue in the program and must finish 8-weeks of 40-hour week clinical rotations in their last semester before graduating.
Applicants must provide proof of at least 30 hours of clinical observation and pass a background check upon acceptance. Applicants may also be required to take a placement exam before being admitted.
24%
22284
The PTA program at San Diego Mesa College requires 46 credit hours of study over 4 semesters. A grade of C or higher is required to stay in the program and applications for the following fall semester are admitted on a rolling basis.
Students must complete one course in biology, a course in anatomy/physiology, and a course in intermediate algebra to be considered for the program.
22%
24900
The College of DuPage offers a 58-credit hour associate’s degree that can be completed in as little as 2 years. In addition to the technical course, students must complete at least 20 hours in core requirements, including math, humanities, English, or History. 8 of those credit hours must be clinical practicum taken in the second year of instruction.
Students must maintain a C average to continue in and graduate from the program.
26%
21745
The PTA program at Cerritos College involves 44 hours of course study spread over 2 semesters. Students must complete at least one prerequisite course in each English, math, and anatomy/physiology to be eligible for the program and those accepted must maintain at least a 2.0 GPA to remain in the program.
Students who have previously completed courses in the medical sciences or have experience working in the field of physical therapy are given special consideration for the program.
55%
10486
CBU’s PTA program requires 78 credit hours of in-class instruction. The average in-state tuition cost is around $15,000 per semester and the average out of state tuition is around $25,000 per semester. Applications for the fall semester are accepted by April 1st and applicants must provide proof of at least 60 hours of clinical observation.
Applicants will also be required to submit at least 2 letters of recommendation and a 500-word essay describing their academic experiences and goals.
21%
28819
EPCC offers a full-time physical therapist assistant associate’s degree that requires 55 credit hours of study to graduate. Students must maintain at least a C average to continue in the program and must pass a background check upon acceptance. The average in-state tuition is around $15,000 per semester.
Applicants will be required to take the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) course placement exam and pass a criminal background check and drug screening upon acceptance into the program.
49%
12947
The PTA program at Indian River State College requires 65 credit hours and can be completed in as little as two years. Applications for the fall semester are accepted in the previous January and all applicants must submit to a criminal background check, physical screening, drug test, and provide proof of accident/liability coverage.
Students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA to remain in the program.
27%
23553
CNMCC’s PTA program is a 6-term program consisting of 63 credit hours that is designed to be completed in 2 and a half years of study. The program can only be undertaken full time as students are expected to attend courses full-time.
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA and must pass the ATI TEAS entrance exam.
39%
16686
The PTA program at Indian River State College requires 65 credit hours and can be completed in as little as two years. Applications for the fall semester are accepted in the previous January and all applicants must submit to a criminal background check, physical screening, drug test, and provide proof of accident/liability coverage.
Students must maintain at least a 2.75 GPA to remain in the program.
48%
13709
The PTA program at Arkansas State University. To be admitted to the program, students must first complete a bevy of 25 hours of general education courses and then complete 38 hours of professional courses to graduate.
The deadline for applications to the fall semester is in the previous March. Students will be required to complete 3 separate rotations and must submit to a background check upon conditional acceptance.
22%
31949
South Texas College offers a 63 credit hours total PTA program spread over 5 semesters. The first 4 semesters consist largely of in-class instruction while the last spring semester is devoted solely to clinical rotations. In addition to their clinical rotations, students will also be required to complete a professional capstone to be eligible for graduation from the program.
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and must complete the HESI A2 admissions exam.
27%
26078
This 4 semester PTA program consists of 64 credit hours of study that are split between core requirements and technical courses. Applications are for the fall semester only and the deadline is January 15.
Applicants must have at least a 3.0 high school GPA, score at least a 21 on the ACT, and provide proof of at least 30 hours of clinical observation and provide proof of immunization records.
41%
18104
The PTA program at Seminole State College of Florida is a 5-semester program consists of 50 credit hours which students must complete with at least a C average to graduate.
Applicants must have a 2.5 minimum GPA and complete at least 20 hours of clinical observation or volunteer work in the physical therapy field. Applicants must also score at least a 50% on the TEAS test.
47%
15820
The PTA program at EFSC consists of 74 total credit hours and is designed to be completed in as little as 2 years of full-time study. Students must also complete at least 3 six-week clinical practicums within their last year of study.
The TPA program requires a special application for admission separate from the regular college one and the application deadline for the fall semester is May 15th.
28%
29156
The PTA program at SLCC includes 74 credit hours of study designed to be completed over 2 years of full-time study. The program is focused on providing general knowledge as well as specialized therapy techniques.
The average cost for in-state students is around $3,000 a semester. Applicants are required to fill out a separate application for the PTA program, provide SAT or ACT scores, and provide proof of completing prerequisite math and English courses.
57%
14324
The PTA program at Santa Fe College requires 74-credit hours of study spread over 4 semesters. The first half of the program is largely focused on in-class instruction while the last half heavily focuses on clinical rotations. The program is only offered full time and the deadline for applying to the fall semester is in the preceding April.
Applicants must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and pass prerequisite courses in anatomy/physiology, college algebra, college composition, and biomedical ethics.
38%
23413
The FSC-Jacksonville PTA program combines both general core requirements and specialized courses in technical physical therapy exercises. The program totals 74-credit hours over 5 semesters of study.
Applications for the spring semester must be submitted by Sept. 15 while applications for the fall semester must be submitted by Feb. 15. The average tuition cost per semester is around $8,000.
32%
29183
The A.S. Degree in physical therapist assistant training requires 74 credit hours of study over a 2 year period. General requirements are covered in the first 2 semesters while the last 3 focus solely on technical methods and practice.
Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED, provide proof of standardized test scores (ACT or SAT) and submit to a criminal background check upon admission.
19%
51100
The PTA program at Tarrant County College consists of 66-credit hours spread over 2 years (4 semesters) of study. Applicants must have a cumulative 2.5 GPA to be eligible for the program and must provide proof of at least 40 hours of clinical observations or volunteer work in the PT field.
Students must also pass the TSI before being accepted and will have to pass a criminal background check and drug screening upon acceptance into the program.
32%
32137
The PTA program at SJCC consists of a total of 66 credit hours which includes 3 separate periods of clinical rotations. The program focuses heavily on kinesiology and musculoskeletal disorders/injuries. Applicants must have at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA and provide at least 2 letters of recommendation to be eligible for the program.
Applicants will also be required to provide immunization records, proof of liability insurance, and pass a criminal background check upon application.
20%
57200
HCCS’s PTA program consists of a total of 66 credit hours that can be completed in as little as 4 semesters. Students can attend the program either full-time or part-time and all students must complete a final capstone project to graduate.
All students must also complete at least 12 hours of elective credits from gen ed classes and 6 credits in the physical sciences.
31%
40784
Broward College offers a 60 hour PTA A.S degree program spread over 5 semesters of study. Applications for the fall semester are accepted on a rolling basis between the dates of October 1st and January 15th and courses only commence in the fall.
Students are encouraged to pick electives so they can later specialize in a specific area of physical therapy (e.g. sports therapy, geriatric therapy, etc.).
65%
19510
The PTA program at KU-Ft. Lauderdale consists of 74 credit hours, 36 of which are general core requirements and 48 of which are technical and clinical practice courses. The average tuition cost per semester is approximate $9,000 a semester which comes out to a grand total of around $28k for the entire program.
All applicants must have at least a 3.0 cumulative GPA and provide proof of immunization records liability insurance, and CPR certification.
18%
73499
The PTA program at Lone Star College is among one of the top PTA programs in Texas and consists of 64-credit hours taken over 106 consecutive weeks (~2 years). Students must maintain at least a 2,0 GPA to continue the program and applicants must provide proof of at least 40 hours of clinical observations under a licensed physical therapist.
Students must also complete prerequisite courses in biology, English, psychology, and philosophy (ethics).
26%
50929
The PTA program at Northern Virginia Community College consists of 72 credit hours spread out over 5 semesters of study. The program is only offered full-time, however, scheduling is flexible and courses are offered during nights and weekends. By the last semester, students will be working roughly 40-hour weeks in a professional setting.
Applicants must provide at least 2 letters of recommendation and provide standardized test scores to be eligible for acceptance.
21%
72006
The PTA program at Ivy Tech Community College consists of 69.5 credit hours over a 5-semester period. Ivy Tech has over 130 active affiliate agreements with physical therapist office’s around Indiana and they place you with a board-certified PT for your clinical rotations.
Students must maintain at least a 3.0 GPA to continue in the program and must pass the TEAS exam.
35%
54973
The PTA program offered at Miami Dade College consists of 74 credit hours over a 2 year period. Full-time students can complete the course in as little as 4 semesters while part-time students can complete it in 5.
All courses are supplemented with state of the art computer technology and their faculty has over 25 years of experience teaching and practicing in various positions in the physical therapy field.
57%
42341
The BYU-Idaho PTA program consists of 55 credit hours of study spread over 4 semesters. Courses focus on the technical aspects of physical therapy but are also focused on providing treatment that is in line with the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Applicants must have at least a high school diploma, provide 2 letters of recommendation, and write a mission statement explaining how their career in PTA will help them exemplify the values taught by the Mormon church.
All accredited physical therapy assistant programs require at least some amount on in-person clinical hours to graduate. As such, there are no 100% online physical therapy assistant programs. Some programs may allow you to take individual courses online but will require a number of in-person hours to graduate.
There are some programs where you can take the majority of courses online but even these require in-person clinical hours either at a physical education institution or in the office of a licensed physical therapist.
The “basic” option for education as a physical therapist assistant is to complete an accredited associate’s degree program. Most associate’s programs take about 2 years (4 semesters) to complete and these programs are offered at vocational schools, technical colleges, community colleges, and traditional 4-year institutions.
Students in a physical therapy assistant program take a range of courses on therapeutic exercises, anatomy/physiology, musculoskeletal conditions, biochemistry healthcare law/ethics, and healthcare management. They may also take courses on statistics and medical research methods.
Some specific course might include:
All accredited physical therapy programs also include a clinical component in which students gain direct experience working with patients under the supervision of a certified physical therapist. Most associate’s degree programs supplement the technical curriculum with more general core requirements such as psychology, English, foreign language, and mathematics.
Some physical therapy assistant programs may allow you to take certain courses online, but completing in-person clinical hours is a necessity. As such, there are no fully online physical therapist assistant programs.
There are also 4-year physical therapy aide bachelor’s programs, but these programs are rarer. A bachelor’s-level education is not necessary to secure an entry-level job in the profession, though it may be required for more specialized positions or jobs in research institutions.
Many students in bachelor’s level programs are currently practicing physical therapy assistants who go back to school for career advancement. Bachelor’s-level programs cover much of the same ground as associate’s-level programs, but to a greater depth and precision.
Some courses one might find in a bachelor’s level program are:
The average bachelor’s degree takes around 4 years (8 semesters) of study to complete. Like associate’s programs, bachelor’s programs often have core requirements like English, Math, Sociology, and Psychology.
The admission requirements for both associate’s and bachelor’s level programs are similar to that of a traditional 4-year university. Applicants must have at least a high school diploma or GED, must send in standardized test scores and may have to send in letters of recommendation from teachers or employers.
The average in-state cost for a physical therapy assistant associate’s program is approximately $125-150$ per credit hour, which comes out to about $20,000 for a two-year program. For out-of-state residents, the average cost of a physical therapy assistant program is around $225-$275 per credit hour which comes out to around $40,000 for a two-year program.
The average annual in-state tuition for a bachelor’s level program is around $40,000, while the average out-of-state tuition for a bachelor’s-level program as a physical therapy assistant can reach up to $80,000.
Programs that are accredited by the CAPTE are eligible for federal funding so students who qualify can get government-backed loans for their education. Alternatively, there are several PTA scholarships nationwide that offer anywhere from $500-$10,000 in scholarship money.
The average associate’s level program as a physical therapy assistant usually takes 2-years of full-time study to complete. During this time, students will participate in in-class instruction as well as gain experience doing clinical hours. Several associate’s programs have a minimum requires hours of clinical practice to graduate and often include professional internships as part of their curriculum.
The average bachelor’s program takes around 4-years of full-time study to complete. Students who enter a bachelor’s-level program with an already completed associate’s degree can finish their bachelor’s in about 2 years.
Many programs allow part-time course scheduling, so these times can vary depending on your course load per semester.
$23
$58,040
26%
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual salary for physical therapist assistants was $58,040 ($23.12/hour). The top 10% of physical therapist assistants made over $79,810 while the bottom 10% earned less than $33,780. The highest paying industry for physical therapist assistants was nursing care facilities ($66,440) with home healthcare services and physical therapist offices at second and third at $62,340 and $56,760, respectively.
Most physical therapist assistants work full time and often work nights and weekends. Depending on where you work, your schedule may be on a by-client basis so many physical therapist assistants offer extended hours to meet clients’ schedules.
The physical therapist assistant field is also expected to grow by 26% in the next 10 years which is must faster than the national average. These figures indicate that new physical therapy assistants face good job prospects and above-average starting salaries
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CareerOneStop
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