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As a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), you will help patients young and old recover their mobility due to injuries and assist those with other disabling conditions to improve their physical well-being.

St. Kate’s PTA program was among the first of its kind in the nation, providing ´ºÓêÖ±²¥s with a thoughtful combination of theory and practical application, along with physical therapy concepts and techniques. Acknowledging the evolving needs of our ´ºÓêÖ±²¥s, St. Kate's is dedicated to expanding and embracing a primarily online educational approach while upholding its unwavering commitment to educating women to lead and influence.

Completion of the physical therapist assistant associate degree grants you eligibility — and prepares you — to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) to become a licensed PTA.

As part of the educational process, you’ll will benefit from a variety of clinical experiences that may include acute care, skilled nursing facility/rehabilitative, or outpatient settings. The program has an extensive clinical network in the immediate Twin Cities area in Minnesota, and nationally.

The PTA degree program and the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program are housed together, providing you with opportunities for collaborative learning — blended tutorial learning, cadaver lab reviews, joint service-learning courses, and joint co-curricular activities. This exposure provides PTA and DPT ´ºÓêÖ±²¥s with invaluable insight into each other’s roles in the clinical setting.

The newly redesigned PTA curriculum allows you to complete the program in as little as 19 months. Students may complete required supporting liberal arts courses prior to beginning or concurrently with the PTA major coursework, which is offered one course at a time in a cohort model. New cohorts begin each fall.

Applying to the Program

Students start the two-year sequence of PTA major courses in the fall of each year. The Fall 2024 cohort is full. Students may first enroll one or more semesters in advance to take liberal arts and sciences courses required for the degree. 

For your best chance at securing a space in the Fall 2025 cohort, enroll in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 to start liberal arts and sciences courses.

Program at a Glance

Classes meet: Online, with in-person labs and clinical experiences

Cost per credit (2024–2025): $750

Most College for Adults ´ºÓêÖ±²¥s receive some form of financial aid.

Already have your PTA associate degree? Learn more about our PTA bachelor's completion program.

The physical therapist assistant program at St. Kate's is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Learn more about accreditation and outcomes for this program