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California PTA Schools

California is home to over 10 physical therapy assistant schools spread out throughout the state.

With a focus on health and well-being through its "Move California" movement, many California cities and towns tend to be active communities.

With activity comes unfortunate, but inevitable injury and the need for physical therapy.

    PTA Resources - California

  • California Physical Therapy Association
  • Physical Therapy Board of California
  • Move California
  • CA PTA Career Association

California PTA Schools to Consider

In the north section of the state, you will find Sacramento City College's PTA program, accredited by the CAPTE. The program tends to enroll around 30 students per year, and includes a curriculum of base PTA theory, knowledge of the human body, kinesiology, and data collection and analysis.

College of the Sequoas has a physical therapy assistant program that has an 80% pass rate on the national NPTE/PTA exam, and focuses on employment upon graduation.

Carrington College in Pleasant Hill, CA has a PTA program that has an outcome of an Associates of Applied Science, and also prepares students for the national exam as well as licensure in the state of CA.

As with most PTAs, be expected to work in a variety of different settings. Hospitals, private outpatient therapy practices, skilled nursing facilities, specialty settings, and in home health visitations are common.

PTA Licensing in California

    CA PT & PTA Licensing Requirements:

  • Minimum of 30 units in technical training
  • 15 units of general education courses
  • 36 months of work experience under the direct supervision of a physical therapist licensed by the Board. (18 months of the work experience must be in an acute care facility)

The state of California does require all physical therapy assistants to be licensed by the state (see licensing requirements to the right).

Thus, PTAs are required to have completed an accredited physical therapy assistant program in addition to passing the national physical therapy exam.

Most programs curriculum prepares you for the exam - make sure to do your homework and talk with as many programs as possible to make sure you will be prepared.

Below are listings of all the schools we could find that offer physical therapy assisting (or related) programs. Simply browse the listings and click on one of the buttons to get more information about the specific program to see if it's right for you. We recommend requesting info from 3-5 schools to weigh all of your options.

PTA Organizations

American Physical Therapy Association
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Healthcare Professional Shortage
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physical Therapy Assistant
Healthdata.gov
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.

Schools with PTA Programs in California

University Degree Program Location Accreditation
Advanced College Certificate - Physical Therapy Aide South Gate CA
Capstone College Physical Therapist Assistant Van Nuys CA
Carrington College California-Pleasant Hill Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Pleasant Hill CA
CAPTE
Casa Loma College-Van Nuys Associates of Applied Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Van Nuys CA
CAPTE
Cerritos College Physical Therapist Assistant Norwalk CA
CAPTE
College of the Sequoias Associates - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Visalia CA
CAPTE
Concorde Career College-Garden Grove Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Garden Grove CA
CAPTE
Concorde Career College-North Hollywood Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program North Hollywood CA
CAPTE
Concorde Career College-San Diego Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program San Diego CA
CAPTE
ICDC College Physical Therapist Assistant Huntington Park CA
Loma Linda University Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Loma Linda CA
CAPTE
Ohlone College Associates - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Fremont CA
CAPTE
Sacramento City College Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Sacramento CA
CAPTE
San Diego Mesa College Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program San Diego CA
CAPTE
Southern California Health Institute Physical Therapist Assistant North Hollywood CA
Stanbridge College Associate of Science - Physical Therapist Assistant Program Irvine CA
CAPTE
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