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:
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Human Growth and Development
- Kinesiology Fundamentals
- Data Collection and Intervention Techniques
- Rehabilitation Exercises
- Therapy Modalities and Practice
- Healthcare and Hospital Management
- Medical Ethics
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:
- Advanced Medical Statistics
- Microbiology
- Exercise Physiology
- Injury Care and Rehabilitation
- Advanced Kinesiology
- Biomechanics & Physics
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.
Cost & Tuition
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.
Length
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.