Physical Therapist Assistant
Associate's Degree
Next program start date
October 04, 2021
Finish in as few as
18 months1
Learning includes
- On-Campus and Online Classes
- Field Experience
- Flex Choice® (Optional)
PTA Program in Florida and Minnesota
In our Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) degree program, you are not on campus every day or every week. Instead, our concentrated PTA program utilizes informative online courses and innovative, simplified on-campus lab schedules to help you get on the path to this rewarding field faster—in as few as 18 months.1 Online courses consist of organized virtual lectures and activities, giving 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.
Our Physical Therapist Assistant courses provide hands-on experience in patient assessment, therapeutic management procedures, communication and critical thinking that allows you to become a key player alongside physical therapists and help improve the lives of your patients. The PTA degree program is also available with Flex Choice®, which allows you to combine traditional online coursework and self-directed assessments—a more affordable way to receive credit for what you already know.
Take me to:
- Completion time is dependent on the number of courses completed each term.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, [career information accessed May 1, 2020] www.bls.gov/ooh/. Employment conditions in your area may vary.
What Will I Be Prepared to Do When I’m Done?
Prepare for a Fulfilling Career
Upon graduation of our Physical Therapist Assistant program, you will be prepared to pursue a career as a PTA and start helping a variety of patients directly, from the elderly and children to athletes.
Impact the Lives of Others
Graduating from a Physical Therapy Assistant school helps you qualify to work in a variety of clinical settings—skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, home health and all types of physical therapy offices.
Pursue Potential Job Growth
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the projected job growth between 2018 and 2028 for physical therapist assistants is 27%.2 A PTA degree from Rasmussen University can help set you up for success in this growing field.
Take the Next Step—Talk to Us!
What PTA Skills Will I Gain?
Collaboration
Become adept at working under the direction of a physical therapist in order to adjust treatment plans to better serve your patients.
Practical Patient Care
Develop one-on-one skills through hands-on training to improve a patient’s mobility and strength, decrease pain, and perform exercises to promote healing.
Communication
Interact comfortably and confidently with PTs, healthcare team members, and patients of all ages and stages of care.
Continuous Professional Development
Seek out new evidence to support treatment in an evolving healthcare and technology-driven environment.
What Types of Classes Will I Take?
- PHT 1200
- On Campus and Online
- 5 Credits
- PHT 2600
- On Campus and Online
- 4 Credits
- PHT 2650
- On Campus and Online
- 4 Credits
Principles of Musculoskeletal
Teaches the presentation of lower quarter musculoskeletal disorders with a focus on evidence-based therapeutic exercises in this region, as well as the structure and function of the lower quarter musculoskeletal system.
Physical Therapy Practice Across the Lifespan
Studies normal human development across a lifespan to prepare for children and aging adults in various practice settings.
Physical Therapy Practice for Special Populations
Studies physical therapy in special populations, including patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary and pelvic health conditions.
19 Courses to Complete
93 Credit Hours
Estimate Your Tuition
Rasmussen University is committed to making education more affordable for all students. Our tuition estimating tool can help you visualize the cost of your degree and see what savings opportunities are available to help you achieve it.
What Should I Know Before I Enroll?
Entrance Requirements
Entrance requirements for the School of Health Sciences vary by program. To learn more and receive help planning your healthcare career path, contact an admissions advisor who will speak to you about immunizations, background checks and TEAS scores.
Transfer Student
We believe in giving credit where it’s due. You can get an estimate of your transfer credits without an official transcript in one business day (on average). Talk to an admissions advisor today, or explore our Transfer Policy page for our seamless credit policies designed to maximize credits, potentially save money and expedite graduation.
Help Paying for College
Higher education should be a manageable investment. Talk to an admissions advisor and learn how these programs can make it more affordable with Flex Choice® learning options, loans and grants, scholarship opportunities, and corporate and military discounts for those who qualify.
Where Can I Find a Physical Therapist Assistant Program Near Me?
At Rasmussen University, we want our courses to be available on your schedule, not the other way around. Select programs are available for enrollment through a specific campus and nationally online, but students complete the courses online and are able to utilize online and on-campus support and resources. See below to find out where you can find a Physical Therapist Assistant program near you.
Accreditation
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), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; 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 University – Brooklyn Park/Maple Grove is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The program’s current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see http://www.capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/RecentActions/PublicDisclosureNotices/. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 763-496-6022 or email Laura.Miele@rasmussen.edu.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Rasmussen University – Central Pasco is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. The program’s current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see http://www.capteonline.org/WhatWeDo/RecentActions/PublicDisclosureNotices/. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 813-435-3645 or email Tania.Tablinsky@rasmussen.edu.
Seeking Accreditation:
Effective October 29, 2019, Rasmussen University – Ocala has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call (352) 291-8512 or email Jeanne.Smith@rasmussen.edu.
Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.
Student Learning Outcomes
Accreditation Contingency Plan - Ocala
Rasmussen University 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)
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
accreditation@apta.org
703-706-3245