PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Physical therapist assistants, also known as PTAs, provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.

They work directly with patients of all ages to help them regain movement and manage pain after injuries and illnesses. Many patients have injuries, disabilities or other health conditions that need treatment.

Physical therapist assistants:

• Work with patients through exercises or activities to help them with mobility/movement.
• Adhere to proper standards of documentation about a client's health and progress. They collect data about the patient's condition through tests and movement analysis. They also account for any diseases or conditions that may impact treatment.
• Use their knowledge of body systems to provide help and effective management of a client's condition to support rehabilitation and promote health.
• Are encouraging and understanding with patients while providing professional, compassionate and safe, effective care.

To get started, prospective students must complete 20 hours of observation, 10 hours in each of two different physical therapy settings (such as outpatient, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation departments, or schools). Contact us to see if this career path is right for you.

You can become a physical therapist assistant in five semesters with Lakeland's physical therapist assistant program.

Once you graduate with the Associate of Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assisting, you are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Licensure Examination (NPTE) for PTAs, which is required for state licensure. 

Students learn using the latest equipment in Lakeland's state-of-the-art health technologies building which opened recently in 2018.
 

For 2020, the physical therapist assistant salary had a median pay of $49,970 per year. Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 29% through 2029*.

Salaries vary based on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location and practice setting.

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides,
at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm (visited June 1, 2021).
 

Tuition cost can be found here.

The Student Financial Fact Sheet provides students with current information about the cost of attendance. This document is provided in accordance with Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) policy.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Lakeland Community College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 440-525-7470 or email the program director.

Members of the general public may express a concern or register a complaint regarding the PTA program or its graduates through the physical therapist assistant program director. Unresolved complaints may be directed to the dean for health technologies. Accreditation concerns should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) at accreditation@apta.org.