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How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant

 

Physical therapist assistants assist and administer treatment to patients  under the direct supervision of a physical therapist.

Employment is projected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012.

Job prospects are good due to growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function and increasing demand from a large older population.

 

Here's what you need to know:

1) What is a Physical Therapist Assistant?

2) Requirements for the career

3) Salary Potential

4) Schools

 

 

1) What is a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Physical therapist aides work under the direct supervision of a physical therapist.

They provide treatments that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease.

They may give patients massages and exercises that help heal muscles, nerves, bones and joints.

They teach and encourage patients to walk, climb and improve general mobility.

They fit patients for and teach them to use corrective equipment such as braces, artificial arms and legs or supportive equipment such as the wheelchair.

Physical therapist assistants record the patient?s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.

 

2) Career Requirements

Below are some career requirements for Physical Therapist Assistant:

 

3) Salary Potential

Earnings vary by geographic location, employment setting, and years of experience.

The average annual salary of a Physical Therapist Assistant is approximately $30,000 to $45,000.

Salaries range from about $24,000 per year to over $48,000 per year.

 

4) Schools

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) grants specialized accreditation status to qualified entry-level education programs for physical therapists and physical therapist assistants.

CAPTE is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the US Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

If accreditation is important to you, please verify the status of the school prior to enrolling.

 

Below are the Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

 

Alabama

Bishop State Community College

George C Wallace Community College

Jefferson State Community College

South University

Wallace State Community College - Hanceville

Arkansas

Arkansas State University

NorthWest Arkansas Community College

South Arkansas Community College

Arizona

GateWay Community College

California

Cerritos College

Loma Linda University

Ohlone College

Sacramento City College

San Diego Mesa College

Sonoma College

Colorado

Arapahoe Community College

Morgan Community College

Pueblo Community College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Connecticut

Naugatuck Valley Community College in Consortium with Capital, Housatonic, Manchester, Northwestern Connecticut, and Tunxis Community Technical Colleges

Delaware

Delaware Technical and Community College - Jack F Owens Campus

Delaware Technical and Community College - Wilmington Campus

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Florida

Broward Community College

Central Florida Community College

Daytona Beach Community College

Florida Community College at Jacksonville

Gulf Coast Community College

Indian River Community College

Keiser College

Lake City Community College

Manatee Community College

Miami Dade College

Pensacola Junior College

Polk Community College

Seminole Community College

South University

St Petersburg College

Georgia

Athens Technical College

Darton College

Gwinnett Technical College

South University

Hawaii

Kapi'olani Community College - University of Hawaii

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Iowa

Indian Hills Community College

Kirkwood Community College

North Iowa Area Community College

Western Iowa Tech Community College

Idaho

Idaho State University - College of Technology

Illinois

Black Hawk College

College of DuPage

Illinois Central College

Kaskaskia College

Lake Land College

Morton College

Oakton Community College

Southern Illinois University

Southwestern Illinois College

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Indiana

Brown Mackie College - South Bend

Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana

Ivy Tech State College, Northwest

University of Evansville

University of Indianapolis

University of Saint Francis

Vincennes University )

Kansas

Colby Community College

Kansas City Kansas Community College

Washburn University of Topeka

Kentucky

Hazard Community & Technical College and Southeast Kentucky Community & Technical College 

Jefferson Community and Technical College

Madisonville Community College

Somerset Community College

West Kentucky Community and Technical College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Lousiana

Bossier Parish Community College

Delgado Community College

Our Lady of the Lake College

Massachusetts

Bay State College

Becker College

Berkshire Community College

Massachusetts Bay Community College

Mount Wachusett Community College

North Shore Community College

Springfield Technical Community College

Maryland

Allegany College of Maryland

Baltimore City Community College

Carroll Community College

Chesapeake Area Consortium for Higher Education: Anne Arundel Community College, College of Southern Maryland, and Chesapeake College

Montgomery College - Takoma Park Campus

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Maine

Kennebec Valley Community College

Michigan

Baker College of Flint

Baker College of Muskegon 

Delta College

Finlandia University

Henry Ford Community College

Kellogg Community College 

Macomb Community College

Mott Community College

Minnesota

Anoka Ramsey Community College

College of St Catherine

Lake Superior College

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Missouri

Linn State Technical College

Missouri Western State University

Ozarks Technical Community College

Penn Valley Community College

St Louis Community College at Meramec

Mississippi

Hinds Community College

Itawamba Community College

Meridian Community College

Pearl River Community College/Hattiesburg Branch

North Carolina

Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute

Central Piedmont Community College

Fayetteville Technical Community College

Guilford Technical Community College

Martin Community College

Nash Community College

Southwestern Community College

North Dakota

Williston State College

Nebraska

Clarkson College

Northeast Community College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

New Hampshire

Hesser College)

New Hampshire Community Technical College - Claremont

New Jersey

Bergen Community College

Essex County College

Mercer County Community College

Union County College

New Mexico

San Juan College

Nevada

Community College of Southern Nevada

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

New York

Broome Community College

Genesee Community College

Herkimer County Community College

Kingsborough Community College/The City University of New York

LaGuardia Community College

Mercy College

Nassau Community College

New York University - School of Continuing Education

Niagara County Community College

Onondaga Community College

Orange County Community College

State University of New York College of Technology at Canton

Suffolk County Community College

Touro College

Villa Maria College of Buffalo

Ohio

Clark State Community College

Cuyahoga Community College

Hocking College

James A Rhodes State College

Kent State University-Ashtabula

Kent State University-East Liverpool

Lorain County Community College

Marion Technical College

North Central State College

Owens Community College

Professional Skills Institute

Shawnee State University

Sinclair Community College

Stark State College of Technology

University of Cincinnati

Washington State Community College

Zane State College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Oklahoma

Carl Albert State College

Murray State College

Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College

Oklahoma City Community College

Southwestern Oklahoma State University/Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center

Tulsa Community College

Oregon

Mount Hood Community College

Pennsylvania

Butler County Community College

California University of Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania College

Community College of Allegheny County/Boyce Campus

Harcum College

Lehigh Carbon Community College

Mercyhurst College

Mount Aloysius College

The Pennsylvania State University DuBois

The Pennsylvania State University Hazleton Campus

The Pennsylvania State University Mont Alto

The Pennsylvania State University Shenango

University of Pittsburgh at Titusville

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Rhode Island

Community College of Rhode Island

South Carolina

Greenville Technical College

Midlands Technical College

Trident Technical College

South Dakota

Lake Area Technical Institute

Tennessee

Chattanooga State Technical Community College

Jackson State Community College

Roane State Community College

South College

Southwest Tennessee Community College

Volunteer State Community College

Walters State Community College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Texas

Amarillo College

Austin Community College

Blinn College

Community College of the Air Force

Del Mar College

El Paso Community College

Houston Community College System

Kilgore College

Laredo Community College

McLennan Community College

North Harris Montgomery Community College District - Montgomery College

Odessa College

San Jacinto College South

South Texas College

St Philip's College

Tarrant County College

Wharton County Junior College

Utah

Provo College

Salt Lake Community College

Virginia

Jefferson College of Health Sciences

Northern Virginia Community College

Tidewater Community College

Wytheville Community College

 

More Physical Therapist Assistant schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):

Washington

Green River Community College

Spokane Falls Community College

Whatcom Community College

Wisconsin

Blackhawk Technical College

Gateway Technical College

Milwaukee Area Technical College

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Western Wisconsin Technical College

West Virginia

Fairmont State Community and Technical College

Marshall Community & Technical College

Mountain State University