Associate of Applied Science
Do you have a heart for helping others? Would you like a job helping clients, one-on-one, to overcome physical challenges? Then you should consider a career as a physical therapist assistant. Working under the supervision of a physical therapist, you’ll have the opportunity to help others with rehabilitation exercises to live life to the fullest, step by step.
The first step? The right education—an accredited program to earn your physical therapist assistant (PTA) degree. What is a PTA degree? A quality PTA associate degree program offers a combination of the industry theory and practical techniques needed to assist physical therapists improve the lives of clients in their care. The Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree from Bryant & Stratton College does just that, providing graduates with the foundation to operate as a physical therapist assistant in a number of settings within the medical field.
Approximate Program Length
Total Credits
Next Start Date for On-Campus Students
PTAs provide treatment and assistance to physical therapists with patients of all ages who require care and treatment from a number of ailments. Graduates of the PTA degree can find themselves in outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, private practices, home health agencies, schools, and even athletic facilities. PTAs teach patients and clients exercises which focus on increasing strength, mobility and coordination with electrotherapy and therapeutic massage being just a couple of treatment modalities PTAs use.
Students in Bryant & Stratton College’s PTA program will go through an in-depth classroom learning experience which focuses on two integrated clinical experiences and two full-time, terminal clinical experiences which address a variety of settings. Through this associate-level lab and lecture education, students gain experience in key theories and skills required in the field to ensure graduates are prepared to offer impactful treatment through client and patient-centered care.
Upon completion of the PTA degree program at Bryant & Stratton College, graduates will have the education necessary to take licensure exams and are eligible to sit for the NPTE (National Physical Therapy Exam) for PTAs. Graduates are also encouraged to join career-oriented organizations, such as the American Physical Therapy Association, to stay on top of the latest techniques in the industry.
Whether you prefer the vibrant atmosphere of on-campus classes, the convenience of online learning, or the flexibility of remote options, our degree programs are tailored to fit your lifestyle. Use our interactive map to explore the various campus locations where this degree program is offered.
The Physical Therapy Assistant program begins new classes once a year. At Syracuse, classes start in January. At the Wauwatosa, Parma, and Southtown campuses, classes start in September.
Online, on-campus, and remote learning options to earn a degree on your schedule.
No application fee, because applying to college should be easy and free.
Graduates from the associate degree Physical Therapist Assistant Program will be able to:
Demonstrate professional behavior and values, moral and ethical standards and attitudes consistent with the career of the physical therapist assistant.
Articulate the distinct roles and responsibilities of the physical therapist assistant as they apply to interaction with patients, family members, physical therapists, and other professionals.
Be an advocate for patients, services and for the profession.
Apply physical therapy principles and theories to data collection and intervention in order to achieve desired outcomes.
Provide services to patients of varied backgrounds in various systems without bias.
Utilize research in order to make evidence-based practice decisions and demonstrate lifelong learning.
In addition to your classroom experience, we recognize the importance of real-world application. Through our partnership network, students are provided with opportunities to actively apply their learnings within their chosen field.
I am truly loving the time I have spent at Buffalo General Hospital and am learning so much through everyone I have worked with and spoken to. It is so exciting that I am able to use what I have learned at B&SC and put it into practice as a future professional. I could not be happier with everything I experienced during my clinical.
Alisia Humphreys Buffalo General Medical Center
As a graduate from the Physical Therapist Assistant program at Bryant and Stratton College, I feel I was well prepared to begin my profession as a PTA. My time at Kaleida Health has given me the experiences to develop my skills and confidence that allows me to help educate students in the role of a PTA in the clinical setting.
Nick Zenger Buffalo General Medical Center
Physical therapist assistants most often work in hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. A Physical Therapist Assistant associate degree prepares you to help patients perform exercises, observe and report patient progress, and instruct patients on the use of assistive devices.
As one of the top physical therapist assistant schools in the region, Bryant & Stratton College is proud to offer PTA degree programs through campuses in New York—Syracuse and Orchard Park—as well as in Parma, Ohio, and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bryant & Stratton College-Parma Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 216-265-3151 or contact the Program Director:
Jodi Frank, PTA, MEd
Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Bryant & Stratton College – Parma Campus
12955 Snow Road
Parma, OH 44130
Phone: 216-859-8355
Email: [email protected]
PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet for Parma Campus
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bryant & Stratton College – Southtowns Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 716-677-9500 or contact the Program Director:
Jennifer L. Schaffstall, PT, DPT, MS, CCI
Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Bryant & Stratton College – Southtowns Campus
180 Redtail Road
Orchard Park, NY 14127
Phone: 716-771-5710
Email: [email protected]
PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet for Southtowns Campus
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bryant & Stratton College-Syracuse Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 315-472-6603 or contact the Program Director:
Kirsten Nielsen, PT, PhD
Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Bryant & Stratton College – Syracuse Campus
953 James St.
Syracuse, NY 13203
Phone: 315-472-6603
Email: [email protected]
PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet for Syracuse Campus
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Bryant & Stratton College-Wauwatosa Campus is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave, Suite 100 Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: [email protected]; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 414-302-7000.
Joe Johnson, PT, DPT
Program Director, Physical Therapist Assistant Program
Bryant & Stratton College – Wauwatosa Campus
10950 W. Potter Rd.
Wauwatosa, WI, 53226
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 414.251.4348
PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet for Wauwatosa Campus
Please contact [email protected] to make a comment or report a concern about the PTA Program. If you would like, please include your name, address and telephone number along with your comments. Once received one of the PTA Program Directors will be in contact with you if further clarification is needed. Confidential comments or concerns may be made by contacting the Grievance Coordinator at the corresponding campus (PDF).
Concerns about the PTA Program can be made to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) by contacting the APTA Accreditation Department at 703-706-3245 or at [email protected]
Learn from our students and alumni on how Bryant & Stratton College has shaped their education experience.
Bryant & Stratton prepared me for this field from the practical exams to relevant clinicals. I am proud to be a Bryant & Stratton College graduate because… I did that. I made it through an intense and accelerated program to earn a AAS degree and become a PTA working in pediatrics, a career that I love.
Abby Krahl AAS Physical Therapist Assistant
I never felt like just a number at Bryant & Stratton College. I know that I could—and still can—rely on all my instructors and other staff at the college for help when I need it. This makes me proud to be a graduate of Bryant & Stratton College.
Amanda Basso AAS Physical Therapist Assistant
Yes, every state requires the successful completion at least an associate-level education in order to become a physical therapist assistant. At Bryant & Stratton College, our AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant program offers the education and training needed to take the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs.
An associate-level degree is the minimum education required to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs and start your healthcare career. Bryant & Stratton College’s AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant program offers the instruction and integrated clinical experiences you need to achieve your educational goals and pursue a career as a physical therapist assistant.
Under the direct supervision of a physical therapist, a physical therapy assistant (PTA) helps provide relevant therapeutic services to patients of all ages, helping them restore movement and mobility in functional areas of their lives.
The first step is to fulfill the educational component of the job by completing a relevant associate-level PTA degree program. It should offer all the lecture and hands-on training you need to be successful as a PTA – including clinicals. Then, you’ll need to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs. Bryant & Stratton College offers a 71-credit-hour program you can complete in five semesters of study that checks all the boxes.
Bryant & Stratton College’s AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant program is designed to be completed in five semesters, offering two integrated clinical education experiences and two terminal clinical education experiences in multiple settings to prepare you for a lifetime of healthcare career success.
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Online, on-campus, and remote learning options to earn a degree on your schedule.
No application fee, because applying to college should be easy and free.
Our campuses provide the education needed to achieve your professional goals. If you’re ready to start your educational and career journey, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
