Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work in a variety of treatment settings under the direction and supervision of physical therapists to provide skilled care to individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their movement and performance of activities of daily living. Physical therapy is an essential element of patient care to promote the patient’s ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability.

For further information about careers in physical therapy, please refer to the American Physical Therapy Association.

Associate in Science

The Associate in Science (A.S.) in Physical Therapist Assistant degree program prepares you for a career as an integral member of the rehabilitation team and allows you to work in a variety of healthcare settings. During this intensive program you will receive education in human movement and physical function in order to implement the physical therapist’s plan of care. This is a physically and mentally demanding program that will require a high level of dedication and commitment. The program emphases hands on time in our dedicated lab that contains professional, clinical grade equipment combined with clinical experiences throughout a variety of settings in our area.

This program is a selective admissions program. You must apply and be accepted to the program. Students are admitted once per year. Candidates should pay careful attention to the application dates and deadlines.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Northwest Florida State 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 (850)863-6511 or email pta@nwfsc.edu.

Program Details

*All courses at Fort Walton Beach Campus*

Class Options

Suggested Course Sequencing

Related Certificates

No certificates currently available for this program

Career Outlook^*

Overall employment of PTAs is expected to grow much faster than average as the demand for physical therapy is expected to increase in response to the needs of an older population and individuals with chronic conditions.

_{*(Information provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job outlook and salary range reflect national trends.)}

Average or Median Salary

$64,510 (Nationally) / $57,260 (Locally)

National data: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm

^{*All career data on this page, such as occupation description, career outlook and salary information reflects the national average and was sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.}