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Program:
Physical Therapist Assistant

Degree Awarded:
Associate of Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant

Length of Program:
Traditional: 6 semesters (24 months)
Transfer: 4 semesters (16 months)

Application Deadlines:
Traditional: November 15 and August 10, Transfer: November 15 and July 1


Hands-on Experience

The PTA program offers students hands-on experiences in our on-campus skills lab and at more than 250 clinical site locations.

Degree Overview

The ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ PTA program prepares students to professionally provide high quality, ethical and compassionate rehabilitative services to patients of all ages and abilities. Upon successful completion of all PTA degree requirements, graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants. As a licensed PTA, graduates have the skills to work as an integral part of a rehabilitation team under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Incoming students may choose from two options:

Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant – Traditional On-Campus Option: The traditional option is designed for first-time college students, those who have not previously earned an accredited associate’s or bachelor’s degree, or those with previous college credits that would like to take fewer courses per semester. Throughout the integrated two-year program (6 semesters), you will spend ample hands-on time in our on-campus labs and complete two six week clinical experiences during your final semester.

Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant - Transfer Hybrid Option: Ranked #1 by nurse.org for online PTA programs in 2024, the transfer hybrid option is for individuals who have an associate degree or higher or have earned at least 35 credit hours from an accredited college or university. Throughout the 16 month-program (4 semesters), transfer students complete three semesters of asynchronous distance education courses with four on-campus skills weekends per semester and complete two six week clinical experiences in your final semester. The on-campus skills weekends take place Thursday to Saturday. Please refer to the for the most recent updates.

The following courses must be completed prior to entry into the PTA Transfer option:

Course Semester Hours
Medical Terminology 1
English Composition I 3
Introduction to Psychology 3
Anatomy (plus lab) (must be current within last seven years) 4
Physiology (plus lab) (must be current within last seven years) 4
Electives (minimum) 20
  Total 35

Students who are interested in earning their advanced degree can choose our Associate and Bachelor of Science in PTA multiple degree enrollment option and earn both their associate and bachelor’s degrees in just over three years.

Additional Resources

2025 Student Financial Fact Sheet - Traditional
2025 Student Financial Fact Sheet - Transfer

Advanced Standing Credit

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ applicants and current students may inquire about the possibility of receiving credit for previous life and/or work experience(s) per . Please reach out to an academic advisor or your program director if you have questions.

Accreditation

Physical Therapist Assistant Program at ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ is accredited by the
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085
Phone: 703.706.3245
Email: [email protected]
Website:

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 402.552.2868 or email [email protected]

PTA Required Courses Traditional Option (24-month)

The following curriculum plan for an Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree has been provided. Below is the lock-step outline of the program’s curriculum to guide students.

First Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
4
3
1
3
2
0
Total Semester Hours 13

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
4
3
2
3
3
Total Semester Hours 15

Third Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
3
3
Total Semester Hours 6

Second Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
3
2
3
3
3
Total Semester Hours 14

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
3
3
2
3
3
Total Semester Hours 14

Third Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
6
6
Total Semester Hours 12

Total Semester Hours - 74

PTA - Transfer Track Required Courses (16-month option)

The following curriculum plan for an Associate of Science in PTA degree has been provided. Below is the lock-step outline of the program’s curriculum to guide students.

First Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
3
2
2
3
3
0
Total Semester Hours 13

Second Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
3
2
3
3
3
3
Total Semester Hours 17

Third Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
2
3
3
3
3
Total Semester Hours 14

Second Year

First Semester

Course Name Semester Hours
6
6
3
Total Semester Hours 15

Tuition and Fees

ÂãÁÄÖ±²¥ offers competitive tuition rates, along with several ways to help manage the cost of your education. Tuition rates per credit hour are posted here.

There are two components to your student account: tuition and fees. Refer to Student Accounts for information regarding tuition, fees, and out of pocket expenses sorted by program.

Learn More

2026-27 Tuition

Item Cost
Undergraduate Tuition $691 / credit-hour
Fees
Enrollment Fee for first time students $150 / each
Program Fee $225 / semester
Technology Fee $350 / semester
Estimated Additional Program Costs
Credentialing (PTA National board exam, testing center, state application, etc.) $800 / student

For a complete breakdown of costs and situational expenses, view .

Career Overview

Median Salary

$64,080
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

Job Outlook

Employment for Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow much faster than average, 19% from 2023-2033.
Source:

Career Options

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.