by our College Data Analytics TeamPhysical Therapy Assistant was the 111th most popular major in the 2020-2021 school year. Colleges in the United States reported awarding 7,420 degrees in this year alone. This is a difference of 1,518 over the prior year, a growth of 20.5%.
This year's Best Physical Therapy Assistant Schools ranking compares 301 of them to identify the best overall programs in the country. Explore this or one of our many other custom physical therapy assistant rankings further below.
A major in physical therapy assistant prepares you for careers in which giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times is crucial. Talking to others to convey information effectively and being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do are all required skills for careers related to this major.
New students will need to have completed high school or a GED program and each school will have their own minimum GPA and SAT/ACT test requirements. Once you obtain your degree, additional physical therapy assistant certifications required to pursue a career in this field.
Physical Therapy Assistant degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in physical therapy assistant to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the physical therapy assistant degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
An associate degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to physical therapy assistant, with approximately 99.8% of workers getting one. Find out other typical degree levels for physical therapy assistant workers below.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Associate’s Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 99.8% |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 0.2% |
100.0% of physical therapy assistant workers have at least a associate. See the chart below for the most common degree level workers in physical therapy assistant have received.
This of course varies depending on which physical therapy assistant career you choose.
Want a job when you graduate with your physical therapy assistant degree? Physical Therapy Assistant careers are expected to grow 31.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to physical therapy assistant.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 115,800 | 31.1% |
Take your associate degree in an allied health field to the next level with this specialized transfer friendly online bachelor of science from Southern New Hampshire University.
As you might expect, salaries for physical therapy assistant graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
Salaries for physical therapy assistant graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top highest paying careers physical therapy assistant grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | $57,750 |
With over 400 different physical therapy assistant degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased physical therapy assistant school rankings to help you with this.
One of 13 majors within the Allied Health & Medical Assisting Services area of study, Physical Therapy Assistant has other similar majors worth exploring.
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Medical/Clinical Assistant | 56,466 |
| Pharmacy Technician/Assistant | 7,393 |
| Occupational Therapist Assistant | 4,848 |
| Other Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services | 3,493 |
| Emergency Care Attendant (EMT Ambulance) | 3,031 |
