Physical Therapist Assistant

Associate of Science

Patti N., physical therapist assistant graduate. Now employed as a PTA at Golden Living Western Reserve.

Enter one of today’s most rapidly growing and rewarding careers through the physical therapist assistant associate degree program at Mercyhurst North East.

Our PTA program will prepare you to become an important member of a health care team, where you will work under a physical therapist to provide hands-on care that helps improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Through both classroom and clinical work, you will gain knowledge and skills in services ranging from the use of physical agents such as therapeutic heat and cold, electrical stimulation and therapeutic ultrasound; application and instruction of therapeutic exercise techniques; functional mobility training; and data collection skills to monitor strength, range of motion, sensation, and reflexes.

The Mercyhurst North East Physical Therapist Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association. When you complete the program, you’ll be eligible to complete the National Physical Therapy Examination for the physical therapist assistant, which is required by most states to become certified / licensed as a PTA.

What can I do with this degree?

PTAs help physical therapists in their daily activities, which include assisting patients during rehabilitation. Their patients include accident victims and clients with such conditions as burns, amputations, stroke, vertigo, low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) work in a variety of settings, including:

Hospitals
Outpatient physical therapy clinics
Rehabilitation centers
Home health care

Other MNE alum have gone on to earn a bachelor's degree in sportsmedicine at Mercyhurst's Erie Campus and other four-year institutions. Our Internal Transfer Coordinator can help you determine if a move to Mercyhurst's Erie Campus is right for you.

Job Outlook

Physical therapy remains a viable and rewarding profession with continued growth expected over the next eight years. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics "employment is projected to increase much faster than the average, as rapid growth in the number of middle-aged and elderly individuals increases the demand for therapeutic services." Earning potential for a PTA varies from region to region. As reported by the BLS, the median annual earnings for a PTA are $46,140.