Program:
Physical Therapist Assistant

Degree Awarded:
Associate of Science degree in Physical Therapist Assistant

Length of Program:
Traditional: 6 semesters (24 months)
Transfer: 4 semesters (16 months)

Application Deadlines:
Traditional: November 15 and August 10, Transfer: November 15 and July 1
Apply Now


Payscale College ROI 2024 Best-value School Badge

Hands-on Experience

The PTA program offers students hands-on experiences in our on-campus skills lab and at more than 250 clinical site locations.

Degree Overview

The Clarkson College PTA program prepares students to professionally provide high quality, ethical and compassionate rehabilitative services to patients of all ages and abilities. Upon successful completion of all PTA degree requirements, graduates will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants. As a licensed PTA, graduates have the skills to work as an integral part of a rehabilitation team under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.

Choose the path that fits where you're starting.
Traditional (on campus)
  • 24 months (6 semesters)
  • For first-time college students or anyone who prefers a gradual pace
  • Hands-on learning in on-campus PTA labs
  • Two six-week clinical experiences in your final semester
Transfer (online with in-person instruction)
  • 16 months (4 semesters)
  • For students with an associate degree or higher, or at least 35 college credit hours
  • Online coursework plus four on-campus skills weekends (Thursday–Saturday) per semester
  • Two six-week clinical experiences in your final semester
See the academic calendar for skills weekend dates.

The following courses must be completed prior to entry into the PTA Transfer option:

Course Semester Hours
Medical Terminology 1
English Composition I 3
Introduction to Psychology 3
Anatomy (plus lab) (must be current within last seven years) 4
Physiology (plus lab) (must be current within last seven years) 4
Electives (minimum) 20
  Total 35

Students who are interested in earning their advanced degree can choose our Associate and Bachelor of Science in PTA multiple degree enrollment option and earn both their associate and bachelor’s degrees in just over three years.


Additional Resources

2025 Student Financial Fact Sheet - Traditional
2025 Student Financial Fact Sheet - Transfer


Advanced Standing Credit

Clarkson College applicants and current students may inquire about the possibility of receiving credit for previous life and/or work experience(s) per Academic Policy AA-47. Please reach out to an academic advisor or your program director if you have questions.

Accreditation

Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Clarkson 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: [email protected]
Website: www.capteonline.org

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 402.552.2868 or email [email protected]

PTA Required Courses Traditional Option (24-month)

The following curriculum plan for an Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree has been provided. Below is the lock-step outline of the program’s curriculum to guide students.

PTA - Transfer Track Required Courses (16-month option)

The following curriculum plan for an Associate of Science in PTA degree has been provided. Below is the lock-step outline of the program’s curriculum to guide students.

Tuition and Fees

Clarkson College offers competitive tuition rates, along with several ways to help manage the cost of your education. Tuition rates per credit hour are posted here.

There are two components to your student account: tuition and fees. Refer to Student Accounts for information regarding tuition, fees, and out of pocket expenses sorted by program.

Learn More

2026-27 Tuition

Item Cost
Undergraduate Tuition $691 / credit-hour
Fees
Enrollment Fee for first time students $150 / each
Program Fee $225 / semester
Technology Fee $350 / semester
Estimated Additional Program Costs
Credentialing (PTA National board exam, testing center, state application, etc.) $800 / student

For a complete breakdown of costs and situational expenses, view the Academic Catalog.

Career Overview

Median Salary

$64,080
(Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2024)

Job Outlook

Employment for Physical Therapist Assistants is projected to grow much faster than average, 19% from 2023-2033.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023

This page includes information from O*NET OnLine by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license.