Careers for PTA program graduates

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) graduate with an associate degree after two years of study. PTAs work under the direction of a Physical Therapist (PT). PTA duties can include assisting in instructing patients in exercises and activities of daily living (including physical modalities), using special equipment, collecting data on the patient's progress, and documenting and reporting on the patient's response (source: www.apta.org).

Physical Therapist Assistant Jobs

Career Pathways after earning your Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Degree

In addition to offering excellent employment opportunities as a PTA, an associate of science degree in PTA can be the first step in achieving further career goals. Students who complete degrees in PTA have the option to continue at Penn State Mont Alto, or return to Mont Alto, to earn a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields.

The Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies degree enables students to create an individual program of study to earn a bachelor’s degree at Penn State Mont Alto. Courses in this student-focused degree include prerequisite courses needed for admission to various professional degree programs, such as doctoral programs in physical therapy (DPT) and master’s degree programs in physician assistant (PA).

The Bachelor of Science in Occupational Science degree is a new option at Penn State Mont Alto. This degree option allows students who have a degree in PTA to earn a bachelor’s degree with the option to apply for a master’s degree in Occupational Therapy.

Other bachelor’s degrees at Penn State Mont Alto available to graduates of the PTA program include:

If a student seeks other degree options, Penn State University offers more than 200 majors on 21 campuses throughout the state, and academic advisors at Penn State Mont Alto are able to assist in identifying appropriate programs and campuses to suit individual needs.