Military BenefitsPhysical Therapist Assistant
Associate's Degree
Unlike other Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) programs, our curriculum is designed with a unique blend of online courses and immersive on-campus labs, giving you the flexibility and firsthand experience you need. Students are not required to be on campus every day or every week, but have concentrated, uninterrupted lab time several days in a row when they are on campus. You'll also get clinical practice at a healthcare facility to ensure hands-on, real-world training. Eager to play a hands-on role in helping people of all ages regain their strength and mobility? Our PTA program can help get you there faster—in as few as 18 months.1 Physical therapists will depend on you as a PTA to help improve the lives of your patients, and will rely on you to function as part of a cohesive healthcare team.
Regional and Programmatic Accreditation
Rasmussen College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Learn more about programmatic accreditation and the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in the below Accreditation Information.
Spend Less Time Commuting and More Time Practicing
Enroll in our PTA program and reap the benefits of blended on-campus and online instruction. Instructional online courses give you the flexibility to work toward your degree without disrupting your busy schedule. The innovative on-campus lab format features concentrated full-day labs several days in a row, meaning less time commuting and more time practicing in-demand PTA skills. Our immersive labs include focused, uninterrupted skill development and supervised practice with our highly skilled faculty. The PTA program also incorporates clinical site training to give you firsthand experience of the physical therapy industry at a healthcare facility. For full details about our leading-edge PTA program structure, take a look at our Physical Therapist Assistant Lab Schedule.
Education That Opens Doors
As a PTA, you will be qualified to work with a variety of people throughout their lifespan in a wide range of settings, from clinics and hospitals to skilled nursing facilities and sports rehab centers. Graduating from a Physical Therapist Assistant program can help you along the path to this compassionate career. See the Physical Therapist Assistant Program Guide for additional important programmatic information.
Flex Choice®: Get Credit for What You Know
This Associate's degree is available with Flex Choice self-directed assessment offerings, which allows you to blend traditional online courses with self-directed assessments that provide optional coaching assistance. Assessments provide more flexibility, and—at $99 per attempt—this is a more affordable way to receive credit for what you already know. For additional information, visit our Flex Choice page.
Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate's Degree
Finish in as few as
18 months1
Learning options
- On Campus
- Online
- Field Experience
- Flex Choice®
Intended for
Students looking to work directly with a diverse range of people and pursue a successful, fulfilling career helping others as a physical therapist assistant with well-rounded knowledge about the field.
Prepares you for
Physical therapist assistant
Not Sure This Degree Is Right for You?
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7 Signs You Should Consider Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant
Is becoming a physical therapist assistant right for you? See whether you have what it takes to pursue a Physical Therapist Assistant program and whether you recognize yourself in this list of characteristics.
Read moreTurn Your Education into a Career
We’ve made starting your physical therapist assistant career even easier by offering a blend of online courses and on-campus labs to help you gain in-demand skills that employers seek. Online courses allow flexibility in when and where you study. On-campus labs are held for full days, several days in a row, providing more uninterrupted time for supervised skill acquisition and less frequent trips to campus. The PTA program also incorporates clinical site training to give you firsthand experience of the physical therapy industry at a healthcare facility.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), earning a degree, regardless of the field of study, can improve income potential.2 Here is an example of where a PTA degree can take you.
Accreditation Information
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
Graduation from a physical therapist assistant education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditation@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.
Accredited Programs:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Rasmussen College – Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 763-496-6022 or email Matthew.Vraa@rasmussen.edu.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Rasmussen College – Land O’Lakes/East Pasco is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, Virginia 22314; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 813-435-3645 or email Tania.Tablinsky@rasmussen.edu.
Seeking Accreditation:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Associate’s degree program at the Ocala campus in Florida is not programmatically accredited. Rasmussen College - Ocala is seeking accreditation of a new Physical Therapist Assistant education program from CAPTE. On May 31, the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the technical phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in technical courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.
Candidacy Contingency Plan:
Rasmussen College has a contingency plan in place should the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program not receive Candidacy for Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Students enrolled in the PTA program are not eligible to start technical courses until Candidacy for Accreditation has been granted by CAPTE. If candidacy is not achieved, students will be notified of the program status and advised of other programs offered at Rasmussen College.
Accreditation Contingency Plan
Rasmussen College has a contingency plan in place should the PTA program not receive Accreditation from CAPTE. Students who are enrolled in the PTA program will be notified if an adverse decision on accreditation is received by CAPTE, and at that point no new students will be enrolled into the program until accreditation can be achieved.
Students enrolled in the PTA program at the time of an adverse decision on accreditation by CAPTE will be offered the option of completing their current coursework. Students will have the option of remaining in the PTA program until a final decision regarding the PTA program accreditation status is received from CAPTE. Students not opting to stay in the program will receive assistance to identify an accredited PTA program for consideration of transfer.
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
accreditation@apta.org
703-706-3245
- Completion time is dependent on the number of courses completed each term.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Employment Statistics, [salary data accessed May 21, 2019] https://www.bls.gov/oes/. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed May 30, 2018] www.bls.gov/ooh/. BLS salary data represents national, averaged earnings for the occupations listed and includes workers at all levels of education and experience. This data does not represent starting salaries. Employment conditions in your area may vary.