Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants provide physical therapy services under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, which is within the scope of practice for PTAs. They provide patients with instructions for therapeutic exercise and utilize therapeutic modalities that incorporate massage, stretching, selected manual therapy interventions, and electrotherapies.

The program includes classwork, laboratory training, and clinical experiences correlating with theoretical education. The technical courses incorporate the minimum skills of Physical Therapist Assistant graduates at the entry level and the Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession developed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts considers clinical experience essential for healthcare education. Accordingly, students are rotated throughout our affiliated clinical facilities while completing the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

PTAs must complete a 2-year associate’s degree and are licensed, certified, or registered in most states.* *Source: American Physical Therapy Association.

Graduation from an accredited physical therapist assistant program allows the graduate to be eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs and the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (Cal-JAM). The student will be licensed to practice in California after successfully passing these exams. Please see the Accreditation, Approval, Recognition, Membership section for information about Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts’ PTA program accreditation.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is an Associate of Science degree program.

Program goals and objectives.

• The program will offer general education courses that provide the background for a technical curriculum, which is sequential, integrated, and reflective of contemporary Physical Therapist Assistant practice.
• The program will prepare graduates to provide physical therapy interventions in various settings within the PTA scope of practice, under the supervision of a physical therapist.
• The program will prepare graduates to demonstrate ethical and professional behaviors consistent with California State Law and the professional practice acts, as well as the professional standards of practice.
• The program will employ faculty who demonstrate current knowledge in their teaching areas and are committed to professional standards of excellence.
• The program will prepare graduates to utilize self-assessment and awareness in communication, skills, knowledge, and behaviors with patients/clients, caregivers, colleagues, and other healthcare team members.

• Accredited by CAPTE
• Hands-On Lab Training
• Clinical Hours Provided
• NPTE Exam Prep
• Job Placement Assistance

All applicants to Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts must meet the General Admission Requirements for all Programs, including the entrance exam where required, and the additional admission requirements for this program.

• All applicants must attend a one-on-one meeting with the Admissions Team advisor to receive specific information about admission requirements, program and clinical rotation scheduling, and financial aid resources. A packet of registration documents will be given to applicants to complete and return.
• All applicants must submit official transcripts.
• Submit — for applicants requesting credit granting for some/all General Education courses — original transcripts from the Registrar at an educational institution. Copies are not accepted. All coursework must be completed and given a grade of at least a “C.” Anatomy and Physiology with Laboratory must be completed within the last five (5) years. All credit granting is subject to approval from the Registrar. Please allow seven (7) days for review.
• For any applicant with work, volunteer, or observation experience, please submit the Verification of Observation Hours form. All documentation must be submitted by the application deadline. The Verification of Observation Hours form and instructions are included in the Application/Registration packet, which can be downloaded from the website. Applicants must submit all required documents by the application deadline. Only complete applications will be considered. Please plan to submit official transcripts and complete the required observation hours promptly.
• The PTA Admissions Committee will review all applications and approve the 40 top-scoring applicants for an on-campus interview and essay writing. Please see the scoring rubric. The interview criteria are based upon ’Generic Abilities’ identified through a study published by UW- Madison. Interviews will be scheduled for 20 – 30 minutes. Applicants will also have additional time to complete a short Application Essay and Pre-Admission Questionnaire. Applicants will be reminded to complete their online FAFSA application for federal student aid.
• The 20 top-ranking applicants will be offered seats in the program with up to ten (10) alternates. Selected applicants must accept the seat within 72 hours of receiving the formal acceptance letter.

The program information, length, and schedule are subject to change. Read the accompanying Addendum for changes and updates, and connect with an Admission Advisor for more details.

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is an Associate of Science degree program. The program includes eight (8) General Education Courses, and nineteen (19) Physical Therapist Assistant-focused courses. Students with previous college courses equivalent to the General Education requirements can request an evaluation of their transcripts to determine if credit can be transferred.

Classes are scheduled Monday through Friday, full-time during the day. Clinical education requires the completion of Clinical Site hours during the day.

The A.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant program at both the San Jose and Fresno campuses features classrooms/laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment commonly found in typical Physical Therapy facilities. This includes cardio, modalities, balance, weights, and treatment tables.

The classroom lecture instructor-to-student ratio is 1:20, and in the laboratory sessions, the ratio is 1:15. Clinical education is a crucial part of the PTA Program. Students have the opportunity for three (3) full-time clinical rotations at various types of Physical Therapy facilities located locally and out of state.

Upcoming start date for this program: March 29, 2027 (application deadline February 1, 2027).

Tuition and fees. Registration Fee (non-refundable) $100.00; Student Tuition Recovery Fund $0.00; Textbooks $525.00; Tuition $61,018.50. Total program cost $61,643.50. Total program cost excludes transportation, room and board, and personal expenses.

Total fees per period of enrollment. Period 1: $14,950.00; Period 2: $14,425.00; Period 3: $14,018.00; Period 4: $13,968.00.

Cost of Attendance, 2026–2027 (one academic year). Tuition & Fees $28,900.00; Books $475.00; Transportation $9,352.50; Food & Housing $16,263.00; Personal Expenses $979.00; Loan Fees $98.00; Laptop Fees $450.00; Total Cost of Attendance (One Academic Year) $56,517.50. Individual student costs will vary.

Financial aid. Gurnick Academy of Medical Arts participates in various federal and state student financial assistance programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, FSEOG, Direct and Direct PLUS Loans, Cal Grant, Sallie Mae® and Campus Door loans, and veteran benefits, for those who qualify. Each campus has a Financial Aid Advisor. Gurnick's FAFSA school code is 041698.

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Other fees, as applicable. ATI TEAS $120; background check $33–$75; drug testing $74–$148; CPR $55–$80; fingerprinting $81 and up; licensing board fees $200–$500 depending on the exam and license; campus parking permit $25; graduation ceremony fee $20–$50. Some of these fees may be paid by Gurnick Academy for some programs.

Career paths. Physical Therapist Assistant.

Certification and licensure. National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs; California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (Cal-JAM).

School Performance Fact Sheet, calendar year 2024. Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant – 114 Quarter Credit Hours at the San Jose campus reported an on-time completion rate of 89% (16 of 18 students available for graduation); a job placement rate of 75% (12 of 16 graduates available for employment employed in the field); a license examination passage rate of 50% (8 of 16 graduates who took the exam passed on the first attempt) (published March 17, 2026).