Physical therapist assistant education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a physical therapist assistant. Physical therapist assistants usually study physical therapy, medical assisting services, or kinesiology. 67% of physical therapist assistants hold a associate degree, and 24% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 24,170 real physical therapist assistant resumes to see exactly what physical therapist assistant education sections show.

The most common colleges for physical therapist assistants are the South University and the South University.

There are also many online physical therapist assistant courses to help get the education required to be a physical therapist assistant.

There are certain physical therapist assistant certifications that you should consider. These physical therapist assistant certifications include Medical Assistant and Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA).

What education do you need to become a physical therapist assistant?

What degree do you need to be a physical therapist assistant?

The most common degree for physical therapist assistants is associate degree, with 67% of physical therapist assistants earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 24% and bachelor's degree degree at 3%.

Associate, 67%

Bachelor's, 24%

High School Diploma, 3%

Master's, 2%

Other Degrees, 4%

What should I major in to become a physical therapist assistant?

You should major in physical therapy to become a physical therapist assistant. 62% of physical therapist assistants major in physical therapy. Other common majors for a physical therapist assistant include medical assisting services and kinesiology.

Physical Therapy, 62%

Medical Assisting Services, 10%

Kinesiology, 7%

Business, 3%

Other Majors, 18%

Most common colleges for physical therapist assistants

Physical therapist assistants often get their degrees at South University, Pima Medical Institute, and Keiser University. Here are the most common colleges for physical therapist assistants in the US based on their resumes.

Physical therapist assistant common college	Percentages
South University	9.77%
Pima Medical Institute	9.68%
Keiser University	8.85%
Pennsylvania State University	8.02%
Baker College	7.00%

Show more common physical therapist assistant colleges

Best majors for physical therapist assistants

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Physical Therapy	61.8%
2	Medical Assisting Services	9.9%
3	Kinesiology	7.3%
4	Business	2.9%
5	Health Sciences And Services	2.1%

Show more common physical therapist assistant majors

Best colleges for physical therapist assistants

The best colleges for physical therapist assistants are Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh, and Purdue University.

A physical therapist assistant with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for physical therapist assistants. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become physical therapist assistants.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

In-state tuition

$54,568

Enrollment

8,451

2. University of Virginia

Charlottesville, VA • Private

In-state tuition

$17,653

Enrollment

16,405

3. Emory University

Atlanta, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,306

Enrollment

6,975

4. Case Western Reserve University

Cleveland, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$49,042

Enrollment

5,131

5. Kettering College

Kettering, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$12,960

Enrollment

610

6. University of Maryland - College Park

College Park, MD • Private

In-state tuition

$10,595

Enrollment

30,184

7. New York University

New York, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$51,828

Enrollment

26,339

8. University of Connecticut

Storrs, CT • Private

In-state tuition

$15,730

Enrollment

18,830

9. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

In-state tuition

$13,392

Enrollment

646

10. Maria College of Albany

Albany, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$15,140

Enrollment

876

20 best online courses for physical therapist assistants

Advertising disclosure

1. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

2. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

3. Virtual Assistant Training, a Complete Guide: Work From Home

4.4

(358)

Rock Star Virtual Assistant Training: Create an online business + become a freelancing virtual professional in any field...

4. Colombian Wood Therapy Course - Maderoterapia

4.3

(278)

Learn how to use Colombian Wood Therapy to help your clients reduce cellulite and melt fat...

5. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

6. Trauma Emergencies and Care

Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

7. Become a Virtual Assistant

4.5

(1,223)

Live Free. Work Virtually. Virtual Assistant Training...

8. Manual Lymphatic Drainage Massage Certificate Course (6CEU)

4.7

(4,438)

Manual lymphatic drainage massage will change your massage practice. Learn how to do this powerful massage technique...

9. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

10. Physics - Kinematics for High School and AP Physics 1

4.7

(315)

This is a comprehensive Algebra based Mechanics course in physics specifically covering topics of Kinematics...

11. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Therapists & Coaches

4.6

(1,500)

Comprehensive CBT Therapy Training Cognitive Behavior Therapy Practitioner Level Treat Anxiety, Depression & More...

12. Deep Tissue Massage: Neuromuscular Therapy Certificate

4.4

(282)

Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly effective form of Deep Tissue Massage for pain relief (2 CEUs)...

13. Occupational Therapy Introduction - ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE

4.4

(568)

How to become occupational therapist, basic Psychology, Physiology & Anatomy, working with disabilities, children adults...

14. Tibetan Singing Bowls Sound Therapy & Sound Healing Training

4.8

(533)

Learn How To Become A Sound Healing Therapist Using Tibetan Bowls. Learn How To Work One-On-One With Clients...

15. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy

4.7

(497)

Learn Solution Focused Therapy To Empower Clients & Improve Outcomes Ideal For Social Workers, Coaches & Therapists...

16. Google Assistant development with Actions on Google

(513)

Google Assistant development in Node.js with Actions on Google & Dialog Flow & Firebase for Google Home & Android device...

17. Internationally Accredited Certificate in Art Therapy

4.2

(1,022)

Therapeutic Art Therapy Course / Masterclass for Healing and Life Coaching...

18. The Complete AP and College Physics Course

4.2

(485)

Master the College/AP physics from classical to modern physics, then test your knowledge with 300+ practice exercises!...

19. Crisis Intervention Seminar

4.4

(634)

The emphasis is on the development of fundamental clinical skills in the area of crisis intervention...

20. Must-Have Tools for Virtual Assistants in 2023

4.8

(1,267)

Step by step tutorials for over 30 tools that will make your Virtual Assistant business and productivity skyrocket!...

Top 10 most affordable universities for physical therapist assistants

The most affordable schools for physical therapist assistants are Brigham Young University - Idaho, purdue university, and tarleton state university.

If the best universities for physical therapist assistants are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for physical therapist assistants.

1. Brigham Young University - Idaho

Rexburg, ID • Private

In-state tuition

$4,118

Cost of attendance

12,223

2. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

3. Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$7,292

Cost of attendance

20,387

4. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

In-state tuition

$9,283

Cost of attendance

22,243

5. Trident University International

Cypress, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$9,240

Cost of attendance

17,912

6. Louisiana State University at Alexandria

Alexandria, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$6,668

Cost of attendance

14,488

7. Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College

Tifton, GA • Private

In-state tuition

$3,503

Cost of attendance

12,843

8. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$9,233

Cost of attendance

18,110

9. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA • Private

In-state tuition

$7,922

Cost of attendance

20,612

10. University of New Mexico

Albuquerque, NM • Private

In-state tuition

$7,633

Cost of attendance

19,235

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for physical therapist assistants

The hardest universities for physical therapist assistants to get into are Northwestern University, University of Pittsburgh, and Purdue University.

Some great schools for physical therapist assistants are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for physical therapist assistants based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Northwestern University

Evanston, IL • Private

Admissions rate

SAT average

1,508

2. University of Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

59%

SAT average

1,367

3. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

Admissions rate

58%

SAT average

1,309

4. Loyola University Chicago

Chicago, IL • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

1,261

5. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,132

6. Kettering College

Kettering, OH • Private

Admissions rate

27%

SAT average

1,125

7. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,035

8. Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

New Brunswick, NJ • Private

Admissions rate

60%

SAT average

1,303

9. Saint Joseph's College, New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,109

10. Nova Southeastern University

Fort Lauderdale, FL • Private

Admissions rate

79%

SAT average

1,196

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for physical therapist assistants

The easiest schools for physical therapist assistants to get into are AdventHealth University, clarkson college, and saint joseph's college, new york.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a physical therapist assistant without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for physical therapist assistants.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. Clarkson College

Omaha, NE • Private

Admissions rate

41%

SAT average

1,035

3. Saint Joseph's College, New York

Brooklyn, NY • Private

Admissions rate

70%

SAT average

1,109

4. Louisiana College

Pineville, LA • Private

Admissions rate

78%

SAT average

1,084

5. Tarleton State University

Stephenville, TX • Private

Admissions rate

55%

SAT average

1,056

6. Northwestern State University of Louisiana

Natchitoches, LA • Private

Admissions rate

82%

SAT average

1,102

7. St. Catherine University

Saint Paul, MN • Private

Admissions rate

73%

SAT average

1,124

8. University of Colorado Denver

Denver, CO • Private

Admissions rate

64%

SAT average

1,132

9. Midwestern State University

Wichita Falls, TX • Private

Admissions rate

71%

SAT average

1,033

10. University of the Incarnate Word

San Antonio, TX • Private

Admissions rate

88%

SAT average

1,044

Average physical therapist assistant salary by education level

According to our data, physical therapist assistants with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $55,401 annually. Physical therapist assistants with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $52,952.

Physical therapist assistant education level	Physical therapist assistant salary
Bachelor's Degree	$52,952
Some College/ Associate Degree	$55,401

Physical therapist assistant education FAQs

What is the best college for Physical Therapist Assistants?

Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare support questions.

Search for physical therapist assistant jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse healthcare support jobs