by our College Data Analytics TeamStudying Physical Therapy Assistant covers Physical Therapy Assistant. A Program That Prepares Individuals, Under The Supervision Of A Physical Therapist, To Implement Physical Therapy Treatment Care Plans, Train Patients, Conduct Treatment Interventions, Use Equipment, And Observe And Record Patient Progress. Includes Instruction In Applied Anatomy And Physiology, Behavioral Sciences, Biomechanics, Clinical Documentation, Clinical Pathology, Communication, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, Neuroscience, And Professional Standards And Ethics. Continue reading for the important information every physical therapy assistant student should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering physical therapy assistant programs.
In the U.S., physical therapy assistant draws strong interest, with 5,633 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Physical Therapy Assistant Schools ranking analyzes these 365 schools to determine the best overall colleges for physical therapy assistant students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of physical therapy assistant programs later in this article.
Coursework for Physical Therapy Assistant develop a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations physical therapy assistant graduates commonly enter.
Skills emphasized by a physical therapy assistant program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
Based on O*NET data, a physical therapy assistant major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several physical therapy assistant degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 246 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 5,247 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 77 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 63 |
People currently working in careers related to physical therapy assistant tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 84.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 14.9% |
| First professional degree | 1.0% |
See the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in physical therapy assistant careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Majoring in physical therapy assistant can lead to a variety of career paths. These are some of the most common occupations related to physical therapy assistant.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical therapy assistant.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 401,082 | -1.6% |
College Scorecard reports median earnings of physical therapy assistant graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. Wages typically rise as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $27,434 |
| 4 years | $29,082 |
| 5 years | $32,352 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for physical therapy assistant graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers physical therapy assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $29,340 |
With 365 different physical therapy assistant programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased physical therapy assistant school rankings to help you.
If you are interested in physical therapy assistant, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 52,819 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,541 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other | 4,065 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,923 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 3,178 |
| Radiologist Assistant | 1,513 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant | 614 |
| Respiratory Therapy Technician/Assistant | 431 |
| Anesthesiologist Assistant | 423 |
| Speech-Language Pathology Assistant | 363 |
More about our data sources and methodologies.
