Physical Therapist Assistant Bachelor's Degree Program - Online

Classes Start October 28

Earn your PTA bachelor’s degree and open doors to leadership, advanced certifications or further education
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ABHES Accredited
Bachelor's Degree

At a Glance

~16-Month

Program Length

100% Online

Format

66

Transfer Credits Required*

54

Remaining Semester Credits

*Transfer credit requirement includes 15 general education, 39 PTA technical and 12 related credits.

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About Our Online BSPTA Program

This degree completion program is built for working, licensed physical therapist assistants (PTAs) who want to build on the associate degree they already have. In approximately 16 months, you’ll complete coursework to improve skills in patient communication, evidence-based care, rehabilitation, healthcare leadership and professional research skills. The program is delivered entirely online and asynchronously so you can keep working as a PTA while you study.

Core Skills You’ll Develop

View full curriculum →

RESEARCH

Evidence-based practice, research literacy and critical thinking

COMMUNICATION

Advanced patient communication, motivation and education

LEADERSHIP

Healthcare management, culture and human diversity

CLINICAL

Clinical kinesiology and practice-specific rehabilitation

View full curriculum →

Where the Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Program Can Take You

Advanced Certifications

A bachelor’s degree may help you meet the educational requirements for select professional certifications related to rehabilitation, exercise, wellness, leadership or other areas of professional interest. Additional eligibility requirements may apply.

Career Advancement

Guide positive change in practice and improve patient advocacy as you prepare for leadership roles within the physical therapy field.

DPT Pathway

If becoming a physical therapist is part of your long-term goals, earning a bachelor’s degree can help you meet a common educational requirement for admission to DPT programs. Admission requirements vary by institution, so confirm eligibility with your intended program. View our Articulation Agreement Guide for schools with active transfer agreements.

Program Objective

To provide advanced foundational, technical, and evidence-based knowledge necessary to progress skills, enhance professionalism, and apply critical thinking beyond the associate degree level. The program follows a philosophy that an upwardly transitioning education for physical therapist assistants will better meet the needs of graduates, employers, and society. Graduates of this program receive a Bachelor of Science Degree.

Program Outline

Semester l

ENG 320
Advanced College Writing
CPT 301
Microcomputer Applications
HLT 360
Pharmacology for Rehab Clinicians
BUS 220
Health Care Management

Semester lI

SOC 325
Culture and Human Diversity
MTH 315
Statistical Concepts
PTA 315
Exercise Physiology
PTA 350
Evidence-based Practice for the PTA

Semester III

PHI 301
Critical Thinking
PTA 375
Patient Communication, Motivation and Learning
PTA 415
Inpatient Care Practice OR PTA 420 | Outpatient Care Practice
CHM 300
Chemistry

Semester IV

PTA 435
Clinical Kinesiology
PTA 460
Practice Specific Rehabilitation
HLT 410
Pathophysiology
PTA 490
Professional Capstone
View Info Sheet
View Our Catalog

Continue Your Education

A bachelor’s degree may help you meet educational requirements for select professional certifications. If you’re considering a DPT bridge program, see the DPT Pathway section above, and view our Articulation Agreement Guide for schools with active transfer agreements.

Prefer to focus on building your leadership skills? Pima Medical also offers an online Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, with the flexibility of virtual instruction so you can work on your degree from anywhere, on a schedule that fits around your job.

Job Outlook

22% Growth — The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects this occupation to grow much faster than average over the next 10 years, with a median pay of $65,510 per year.*

*Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapist Assistants, Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides, at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm (visited August 27, 2026).

What career opportunities can a PTA bachelor's degree open up?

A Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant can help you pursue:

  • Higher education, including a potential Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) pathway
  • Leadership and management positions
  • A full-time instructor position in a PTA program (state-dependent)
  • Further certifications that require a bachelor’s degree

These opportunities exist across hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation facilities and PTA education programs.

Student Support

Career Services

When you’re a Pima Medical Institute student, you get access to our Career Services team—here for you when you need extra help with finding the right job opportunities, building a resume, strengthening your interview skills or just looking for general guidance.

View Career Services→

Life as an Online Student

When you’re an online student at Pima Medical Institute, you’re part of a supportive learning environment built to help you stay connected and on track. Learn what to expect from online classes, how you’ll engage with instructors and classmates and the resources available throughout your program.

View Life as an Online Student→

Admissions & Application

Application Process

  1. Submit the form below

    Share a few details so we can prepare for our first conversation.
  2. Chat with our team
    They’ll ask about your background and what you’re looking for in your next step. From there, they’ll help you explore whether the program and online learning experience fit your career goals.
  3. Attend your virtual tour
    Get an overview of the program, curriculum, and what to expect as an online student.
  4. Complete your application
    Our admissions team will walk you through the enrollment process and connect you with financial services.

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Eligibility Requirements

This is a degree completion program. In addition to Pima Medical’s standard admissions requirements, you’ll need to:

  • Have graduated from a physical therapist assistant (PTA) program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
  • Have completed 66 semester credits of specific coursework at the postsecondary level: 15 general education credits, 39 PTA technical credits, and 12 related credits
  • Have earned a grade of C or better in each transfer course, with each course numbered 100 or above and awarded by a nationally or regionally accredited institution
  • Hold PTA licensure or certification in a U.S. state before taking courses in Semesters III and IV

Note: CAPTE accredits the associate-level PTA program you must have already graduated from. It does not accredit bachelor’s degree completion programs.

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Tuition & financial aid

Federal aid (FAFSA), institutional scholarships, and payment plans are available to help make your education affordable.

Explore financial aid options→

Contact a Financial Aid Advisor→
Meet Your Program Director
What You’ll Learn in the BSPTA Program

Nobody Says It Better Than Our Students

Read our reviews from students and alumni to find out for yourself…

FAQs About Our Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Program

This is a degree program for working, licensed Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) who already graduated from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program and want to continue on to a bachelor’s degree. It is not an entry point into the PTA profession; applicants must hold (or be actively obtaining) PTA licensure/certification, since coursework in semesters three and four requires it. It’s aimed at PTAs seeking leadership roles, teaching opportunities, further certifications or a stepping stone toward a DPT program.

Most DPT programs require a bachelor’s degree for entry. For students interested in pursuing a DPT degree, this BSPTA program provides the necessary bachelor’s degree credential, though all prospective students should check with the intended college(s) to confirm specific eligibility and transfer credit requirements. BSPTA-DPT-Admissions-Processes

No. This is an academic degree completion program, not a new licensing or certification program. The National Physical Therapist Examination for PTAs and your state licensure are credentials you already hold from your Physical Therapist Assistant Associate Degree program. This bachelor’s degree builds on that foundation rather than requiring you to sit for a new exam.

Enrollment requires graduation from a physical therapist assistant program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). PTA licensure or certification in a U.S. state is required before beginning coursework in Semesters III and IV. Because licensure timing can affect how your semesters align, consult a medical career specialist before enrolling to confirm your timeline fits smoothly with the program schedule.
The B.S. in Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum builds advanced understanding of evidence-based practice and treatment, practice-specific rehabilitation, pharmacology, and PTA technical skills, along with patient advocacy, leadership and management (including current policy issues), higher-level communication with patients and other medical professionals, and advanced use of technology in physical therapy.
You’ll need 66 semester credits from the postsecondary level: 15 general education credits, 39 PTA technical credits and 12 related credits. Every transfer course needs a grade of C or better and must be numbered 100 or above.
Yes. The program is delivered entirely online and asynchronously, so you can log in when it works for you while staying on track with weekly course milestones.
No specialized hardware is required, but you’ll need a reliable PC or Mac with high-speed internet. Chromebooks and iPads aren’t fully supported for the coursework this program requires. Pima Medical offers options to purchase a laptop if needed.
Approximately 16 months, or 4 semesters. Individual completion time may vary.
Yes. In Semester III, you’ll choose the track that fits your interests or current work setting. Inpatient Care Practice covers topics like emergent, acute, subacute, neurologic, cardiopulmonary and skilled nursing care. Outpatient Care Practice covers orthopedic, sports, school-based, geriatric, home health and wellness settings. Both tracks culminate in a professional presentation on a clinical topic, similar to what you’d deliver to colleagues in a real workplace setting, where you apply evidence-based methods to real clinical problem-solving in your chosen setting.
No. Because this program is built for PTAs who are already working clinically, there’s no traditional clinical rotation. Instead, you’ll complete a Professional Capstone in your final semester: a real-world project relevant to your current PTA career, plus a professional e-portfolio you can show employers. Combined with coursework in leadership, evidence-based practice,and communication throughout the program, this prepares you for advancement, whether that’s a management role, further education, or pursuit of additional certifications.
A bachelor’s degree may open doors to management and leadership roles, full-time instructor positions in PTA programs (state-dependent), and specialized certifications that require a four-year degree. A bachelor’s degree can also develop advanced communication and critical thinking skills within the physical therapy profession, which could help graduates improve patient advocacy and positively influence health outcomes.
Pima Medical has articulation agreements with several schools, and some graduates have used their Pima Medical education this way. However, transfer or admission into another program is never guaranteed. Confirm specific eligibility and transfer credit requirements directly with any school you’re considering. See the Articulation Agreement Guide for more details.
Yes. Pima Medical Institute is institutionally accredited by the Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES), which is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education for accrediting private, postsecondary institutions offering predominantly allied health education programs.
In most cases, yes. Pima Medical Institute is an approved institution through the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA), which makes the program available to residents of most states. See the State Licensure Determination Disclosure below for state-specific details.

Eligible students may be able to fund their education through federal financial aid programs, including Federal Pell Grants, federal student loans and scholarships. Speak with our financial services team or visit our Financial Aid page to learn more.

Related Resources

Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant Blog Posts

Disclosures And Accreditations

The Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program is offered via an online delivery method. Pima Medical Institute is an approved institution through the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC SARA) which allows Pima Medical Institute Tucson to offer distance learning programs to residents of states other than Arizona. Participation in NC SARA does not exempt an institution from state professional licensing requirements.

A student’s physical location is determined at the time of enrollment by submission of government-issued identification as well as a student attestation of their physical location in the enrollment agreement. Students agree to update the institution if their physical location changes. Students are able to notify the institution of a change to their physical location in the Pima Medical Institute Student Portal. Prospective students and enrolled students should understand that a change in physical location may adversely impact a student’s ability to complete the program. If a student is planning to relocate he or she is required to discuss this with the Student Services Coordinator and/or Program Director.

In compliance with 34 CFR 668.43 Pima Medical Institute has made a reasonable effort to determine graduate eligibility for licensure in all states for programs designed and advertised as leading to licensure. The document below lists Pima Medical Institute programs and states where the curriculum meets licensure requirements, states where the curriculum does not meet licensure requirements, and states in which Pima Medical Institute has been unable to determine if the curriculum meets state licensure requirements. All consumers should be advised that due to the frequent changes to state statutes, rules, and regulations Pima Medical Institute cannot guarantee licensure based on the lists below.

State Licensure Determination Disclosure – Online Programs

View accreditation information for all programs by campus

View program costs, additional disclosures and outcomes for this program (if applicable)

Advance Your Career in Physical Therapy

Request more information below and our team will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Or give us a call at (800) 477-7462 to speak with someone right away.