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How Much Does a Physical Therapy Assistant Make?
The salary of a PTA depends on the degree of education the PTA has, years of experience, the employment setting, the geographical area in which the PTA is employed, and other factors.
The BLS reports that the median salary for PTAs in the U.S. in 2021 was $61,280. This means half earned more than this and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,280. The highest 10 percent earned more than $80,170.
The highest paying jobs for PTAs are with a home healthcare service. The lowest paying jobs are in a private physician’s office.
In California in 2021, the annual mean wage for a PTA working full-time was $73,150.
Where Do PTAs Work?
PTAs have opportunities to work in a variety of environments. The largest employers in 2021 were:
- Offices of physical therapists and other therapists such as occupational therapists, speech therapists, and audiologists.
- Hospitals, private, local, and state.
- Home healthcare services.
- Nursing care facilities.
- Physicians’ offices.
- Schools.
- Rehabilitation hospitals or rehabilitation hospital units.
Important Personal Qualities Needed By Physical Therapy Assistants
PTAs work with patients who have suffered all types of injuries. They may work with a patient one or two times who is learning how to adapt to walking with a cast of some sort that will be removed in a few weeks. They may also work with someone who has suffered a catastrophic, life-changing injury and who will need weeks, perhaps months, or years of physical therapy to help them adjust to their new life.
The BLS lists the personal qualities it deems physical therapist assistants need to:
- Have compassion. PTAs generally work with people who are in pain and are working to do the best they can in their situation.
- Be detail-oriented. They must keep accurate notes about the progress of the treatment plan so it can be adjusted when necessary.
- Have dexterity. They use their hands a lot in moving patients, helping them with the movement of their bodies and limbs, and demonstrating therapeutic exercises.
- Have Interpersonal skills. PTAs spend much of their day interacting with the physical therapist, with patients, with families of patients, and with other healthcare practitioners.
Have physical stamina. PTAs are frequently on their feet as they move and interact with their patients.
What Will You Learn in PTA Classes?
Our PTA faculty members are all currently licensed professionals who are up-to-date on all their competencies and requirements. Their focus is on making sure they provide students with the most current education while utilizing the latest teaching tools and techniques.
Our physical therapist assistant courses teach students about the medical and physical treatment of the body’s systems and cover topics like:
- Medical terminology
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biomechanics
- PTA techniques
- Kinesiology
- Pathophysiology
- Neuroscience
- Interpersonal communication skills
- Ethics
- Evidence-based practices
- Clinical biomechanics for the upper and lower extremities
- Cardiopulmonary path and intervention
- Lifespan development
- PT for special populations
- Physical therapy modalities
You will also learn in a clinical setting where you will work with patients and gain hands-on experience while being supervised.
CAPTE Standards Outcome Data
Definitions per the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE):1Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who are matriculated in the first technical course in the program after the add/drop period and who complete the program.2Licensure Pass Rate: The percentage of students who take and successfully pass the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTAE). Rates are considered to be stabilized one year after graduation.3Employment Rate: The percentage of graduates who sought employment that were employed (full-time or part time) as a physical therapist assistant within 1 year after graduation.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Casa Loma College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org.
If needing to contact the program/institution directly please call (818) 785-2726 x225 or email ptainfo@casalomacollege.edu
File a Complaint with CAPTE, CAPTE considers complaints about accredited programs and about CAPTE itself. Find out how to File a Complaint with CAPTE.
Public Comment Policy Casa Loma College is committed to responding to all complaints promptly and constructively to ensure high standards and the continuous improvement of College services. Every complaint will be taken seriously and viewed positively as an opportunity to receive constructive feedback so that improvements may be made. The College may receive complaints from members of the public, clinical affiliation sites, colleagues, off-campus locations, externship and internship sites .If the complaint involves a student or clinical site, the complaint will be directed to the specific Program Director. The Campus Director responds to complaints from other sources.
Cohort | Acceptance Rate | Graduation Rate | National Exam First Time Pass Rate | National Exam Ultimate Pass Rate | Employment Rate |
2012 | 83% | 81% | 67% | 83% | 100% |
2013 | 80% | 87% | 69% | 100% | 100% |
2014 | 75% | 93% | 60% | 93% | 100% |
2015 | 74% | 89% | 94% | 100% | 100% |
2016 | 27% | 90% | 84% | 95% | 100% |
2017 | 41% | 90% | 94% | 100% | 100% |
2018 | 28% | 100% | 81% | 95% | 100% |
2019 | 66% | 81% | 81% | 88% | 100% |
2020 | 70% | 85% | 47% | 82% | 100% |
2021 | 60% | 80% | 65% | 65% | 100% |
2022 | 50% | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
2020-2021 National Physical Therapist Assistant 2-year Pass Rate is 88.57%
2020-2021 Employment Rate 2-year Average is 100%
2020-2021 Graduation Rate 2-year Average is 83%
1Graduation Rate: The percentage of students who are matriculated in the first technical course in the program after the add/drop period and who complete the program. Does not include students who leave the program for other than academic or administrative dismissal (illness, relocation, etc.
2Pass Rate: The percentage of graduates who take and successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Rates are considered to be stabilized one year after graduation.
3Employment Rate: The percentage of graduates who sought employment that were employed (full-time or part-time) as a physical therapist assistant within 1 year following graduation.
Financial Fact Sheet
Financial Aid
For those who are eligible, financial aid is an excellent tool to help reduce the out-of-pocket costs to attend college. Casa Loma College has a committed team of financial aid professionals on call to help students and parents navigate the process.
Casa Loma College participates in many programs to help reduce the cost of college, including:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Work Study
- Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS)
- CSAC Cal Grant
To learn more about the financial aid process, and what you may be eligible, please refer to our financial aid page.
Veteran’s Benefits
In addition, for those who qualify, Casa Loma College is approved by the California State Approving Agency for Veterans Education (CSAAVE) to offer academic programs under Title 38, United States Code, to enroll veterans and other eligible persons who qualify for educational benefits.
For a full list of benefits, and to learn more, please visit our Veteran’s Benefits page.
- The compliant must disclose the existence of a grievance against the College.
- The complainant must have attempted to resolve the grievance with the College prior to filing the complaint. The complainant must indicate in a written report that a serious effort was made to resolve the grievance before filing the complaint.
- The complaint must disclose the existence of a grievance against the College and must further indicate that the College dealt with the situation giving rise to the grievance in a manner that draws into substantial question the College’s integrity and compliance with state agencies and accrediting agency criteria.
- The complaint must be properly documented and provide supporting evidence or documentation, if applicable.
- The complaint must be submitted in a timely manner (within 30 days of situation).
15301 Ventura Blvd, Suite D-100 Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
Get Started With a Physical Therapist Assistant Program
If you’re interested in playing a key role in the long-term health and care of your community, Casa Loma College can prepare you to get started in one of the fastest-growing, most in-demand career paths with our Associate of Applied Science Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant. In under two years, you could be trained and ready to apply for a state license and seek employment in a wide variety of health care organizations and facilities.
At Casa Loma, you’re part of a school focused on community and the individual needs of our students. In addition to our comprehensive curricula and experienced faculty, we support you with financial aid assistance, career placement, job search resources, and more. Get started on a path to a physical therapist assistant career by contacting us today to learn more.