Maricopa Community Colleges

Health Careers : Physical Therapist Assistant
Stock photo of PTA working with a patient
 
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work with Physical Therapists (PTs) in a career that is as diverse as it is rewarding. As a team, PTs and PTAs may help an individual learn to walk again, help a child to regain strength and mobility, or alleviate an athlete’s pain through a variety of treatment techniques.

Work Environment:
Employment is found in hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and private practices.

Job Outlook:
Physical Therapist Assistant positions are expected to be among the fastest growing occupations. The Arizona job market for PTAs is expected to increase 6.4% each year. This demand will create approximately 60 new jobs, per year, for the next five to six years.

Licensure/Certification:
Upon completion of the program, students will be eligible to apply for the certification exam. The test is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

Salary:
Physical Therapist Assistants earn between $15 to $27 an hour for an average annual salary of $31,000 to $56,000.

Program Offerings:
GateWay Community College offers an Associate in Applied Science degree in Physical Therapist Assisting. For more information contact the Program Director at 602-286-8476 or Program Advisor at 602-286-8600 or visit http://www.gatewaycc.edu/Programs/PhysicalTherapistAssisting/

Block Transfer for Health Professions:
Not applicable