Physical therapist assistants, often called PTAs, work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.
Patients may include accident victims and individuals with short- and long-term disabling conditions, such as low back pain, fractures, head injuries, arthritis, heart disease and cerebral palsy.
Established in 1976, Delta's Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program proudly holds the distinction of being the second oldest in Michigan. Our extensive experience accumulated over decades is one contributing factor to our students' remarkable success passing the licensing exam and landing jobs.
Program details
Our degrees prepare you for a career as a physical therapist assistant. The associate's
degree allows you to get your license and enter the workforce. The dual degrees may
offer even more opportunities in office management or exercise instruction.
Degree info
Physical Therapist Assistant
75.5 credits
$25,211 (out-of-district)
$26,278 (out-of-state) Physical Therapist Assistant - Dual with General Management
99.5 credits
$31,347 (out-of-district)
$32,678 (out-of-state) Physical Therapist Assistant - Dual with Health Fitness Specialist
101.5 credits
$32,409 (out-of-district)
$33,784 (out-of-state)
There's more
The clinical portion of the program is five semesters long, starting in the fall. It’s a cohort program, so you come in as a group and take your classes together from your first semester until your last. Each semester in the PTA program builds on the previous semester, and every semester requires full-time dedication to ensure success. Students should plan to spend many hours outside of class studying and practicing their skills.
While most of our PTA courses are offered on campus during the day, occasional commitments on evenings or weekends may arise for special events. With a vast selection of clinical sites available, students have the opportunity to tailor their experiential learning to their preferences.
Professional licensure
Students must take and pass the national physical therapy examination to practice as a PTA. Once a student passes the exam, they are eligible to practice anywhere in the country. However, there may be additional paperwork and costs associated with licensure in some states. Please contact the program coordinator for more details.
At Delta College, we want every student to get the best education so they're ready to hit the ground running when they graduate. Accreditation is one way we do that.
The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Delta College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 989-686-9316 or email christopherhausbeck@delta.edu
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085
703-706-3245
accreditation@apta.org
www.capteonline.org
Michigan and national association involvement
Delta College PTA students and faculty are actively involved with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) as well as the Michigan chapter of the APTA. Faculty members and students alike have been elected to various volunteer positions within the association, in addition to garnering praises and awards for their contributions.
Student club and service projects
Every student enrolled in the PTA program is encouraged to become a member of the PTA Club. The PTA Club serves as an avenue to foster community engagement, provide valuable service and participate in professional development all while having fun together as a class. Examples of PTA Club initiatives include distributing complimentary assistive devices to local residents, participating in state and/or national conferences, organizing a campus-wide 5K run/walk event and actively volunteering within the community.
Obtaining a degree in a health-related field differs from other programs at Delta. Initially, you’re required to complete prerequisite (validation) courses, then you apply for validation before you can register for the technical and clinical courses.
What's validation?
The Registrar's Office validates your prerequisite courses to confirm you are eligible to begin the clinical portion of your program. This application may be submitted any time during the semester in which you will finish your prerequisite (validation) courses.
Success tips
- Declare the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
- Meet with your Student Success Advisor regularly. Stay on track with what you need to do to apply for validation.
- Plan and register for courses.
- Apply for validation with the Registrar’s Office once you’ve started your final semester of prerequisite courses.
- Stay connected via email, the website and/or social media for important updates from Delta!
The cost to attend Delta is less than half the cost of a university, which can add up to tens of thousands in savings. And we help find ways to pay for it. Last year, Delta students were awarded $31 million in financial aid, including nearly $1 million in Delta College scholarships. That’s a lot of money available to students!
Download Delta's Physical Therapist Assistant program financial fact sheet (PDF) to estimate the cost of this program.
We want to make sure you're ready when you graduate and that the knowledge you gain from your Delta degree is top-notch.
When you're done, here's what you'll be able to do:
Outcome 1
Demonstrate professional behaviors of the physical therapy field.
Outcome 2
Use relevant interpersonal skills to communicate with each diverse person in the healthcare
setting.
Outcome 3
Perform appropriate technical skills under the supervision of a physical therapist
to function as a competent entry-level physical therapist assistant.
Outcome 4
Utilize appropriate critical thinking abilities to carry out an established plan of
care under the supervision of a physical therapist.
Outcome 5
Demonstrate the ability to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination.
We think it's important to know how we're doing so we can continually improve our programs—collegewide. We work really hard to give our students the best possible education. So, we annually evaluate and show you what we find out.
Licensure pass rates
Total percent of candidates by graduation year who took the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
Licensure pass rates (first-time)2023: 11/12 graduates; 91.7%
2024: 7/10 graduates; 70%
Two-year average: 81.8%
Source: The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, 2024
Licensure pass rates (ultimate)2023: 12/12 graduates; 100%
2024: 9/10 graduates; 90%
Two-year average: 95.5%
Source: The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, 2024
Program completion (graduation) rates
2023: 63.2%
2024: 57.9%
Two-year average: 60.6%
Source: CAPTE Annual Accreditation Report, 2024
Employment ratesEmployment in physical therapy (full-time or part-time) within six months of passing the licensure exam.
2022: 10/10 licensed graduates, 100%
2023: 12/12 licensed graduates, 100%
Two-year average: 100%
Source: graduate surveys and personal contact
Transfer
One of the best things about Delta College is the opportunity to start here and go anywhere. And, in the process, save thousands of dollars. It's a smart choice to get your associate's and then transfer on.
Delta works with many colleges and universities to provide associate-to-bachelor’s degree transfer pathways. Check out what's available in this career field.
Job outlook
Interested in a career as a physical therapist assistant? Learn more about our region’s employment outlook and career opportunities you can
pursue in this field of study by reviewing the sampling below. Visit Career Coach to search all careers.
"Delta has a fantastic multimedia simulation lab where we teach our students acute care. So, they’re going to get exposed to everything just as they would in the real world."
Mike Spitz
Physical Therapist Assistant faculty
Get started at Delta
Contact us
Program coordinator
Chris Hausbeck, PT, DPT
Health & Wellness Division
F231
christopherhausbeck@delta.edu
989-686-9316
Academic coordinator of clinical education
Mike Spitz, PTA, MSA, CSCS
Health & Wellness Division
F222
amspitz@delta.edu
989-686-9478
