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PTA programs: length, cost, pass rates and payback

PTA programs are CAPTE-accredited associate degrees that average 73.1 weeks (about 17 months) and cost $13,790 in total at public colleges for in-district students, $44,938 at private ones. 79.2% of graduates pass the NPTE on the first try; PTAs earn a median $68,380.

By the Therapist Salary team · Updated · 10 sources

PTA program payback calculator

Payback math

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School payback · 2026 tax on the raise

1.9 years after graduation

Break-even about 40 months after the first class · 10-year gain after costs $160,847

What the program costs you
Tuition, fees, books, exams$13,790
Pay given up while in school$24,792
Loan interest$0
Total cost$38,582
Raise after tax, per year$19,943

After-tax share of the raise: 80.4% (single filer, federal + FICA). Nominal dollars, no discounting.

Estimate, not a job offer. Arithmetic on your inputs. The raise is taxed with 2026 federal income tax and FICA for a single filer.

On this page
  1. What PTA programs are
  2. How long is PTA school?
  3. PTA school cost
  4. Pass rates and outcomes
  5. What PTAs earn after the program
  6. FAQ
  7. Sources

What PTA programs are

A physical therapist assistant program is an associate degree accredited by CAPTE, the only route to the national PTA exam and a state license or certification, which all states require.[capte_pta][ooh_pta] CAPTE's directory lists every accredited and candidate program by state.[capte_dir]

Programs mix classroom and lab work with full-time clinical rotations. In CAPTE's 2025 data the average program ran 73.1 weeks: 57.2 weeks of coursework and 15.9 weeks of full-time clinical education.[capte_pta]

How long is PTA school?

About 17 months on average, or two academic years including summers: 73.1 weeks in CAPTE's 2025 aggregate data.[capte_pta] Programs set their own prerequisite courses, which can add time before the technical courses start, so check them before you apply. Tarrant County College's Texas AAS is 66 credit hours.[s_tcc_pta]

PTA school cost

Public community colleges are much cheaper than private schools: CAPTE's 2025 means are $13,790 in total for in-district students, $24,286 out of district and $44,938 at private institutions.[capte_pta] Some colleges are far below the mean: Tarrant County College lists $4,884 in tuition and fees for its whole PTA degree for county residents (2026–27).[s_tcc_pta]

PTA program cost by school type, CAPTE 2025 (means)
School typeYearly tuitionTotal program cost
Public, in-district$5,626$13,790
Public, out-of-district$11,611$24,286
Private$27,911$44,938
Example: Tarrant County College (TX), in-county—$4,884

CAPTE totals cover the professional program; books, uniforms, housing and travel to clinical sites come on top. Then add the NPTE-PTA: $485 to FSBPT plus $92 to Prometric.[fsbpt_npte][fsbpt_prom]

Pass rates and outcomes

79.2% of PTA graduates passed the licensure exam on the first attempt in CAPTE's 2025 data and 85.0% eventually; the graduation rate was 82.9%.[capte_pta] Ask any program you consider for its own pass and graduation rates and compare them with these national means.

PTA vs DPT programs, CAPTE 2025 aggregate data
PTA (associate)DPT (doctorate)
Length (mean)73.1 weeks122.4 weeks
Total cost, public (mean)$13,790$74,348
First-time pass rate79.2%86.3%
Median salary (May 2025)$68,380$102,760

What PTAs earn after the program

PTAs earn $68,380 at the national median, $32.88 an hour, and new graduates usually start near $47,750 to $59,820.[onet_pta] That median takes home about $56,935 after 2026 federal tax and FICA for a single filer. BLS counted 112,430 PTA jobs and projects 23% growth from 2025 to 2035. California pays PTAs the most ($83,110).[oews_api][ooh_pta][onet_pta] State and metro pay is on the physical therapist salary page; the full doctor route is on how to become a physical therapist, and other short-degree therapy careers, such as respiratory therapy, are on respiratory therapy school and therapist salary.

Frequently asked questions

How long are PTA programs?

73.1 weeks on average (CAPTE 2025), about two academic years, including 15.9 weeks of full-time clinical education. Prerequisite courses can add time.

How much do PTA programs cost?

$13,790 on average at public colleges for in-district students, $24,286 out of district and $44,938 at private schools (CAPTE 2025 means).

How do I find accredited PTA programs?

Use CAPTE’s directory of accredited physical therapist assistant programs; only graduates of CAPTE-accredited programs may sit for the NPTE-PTA.

How do you become a physical therapist assistant?

Finish a CAPTE-accredited PTA associate degree, pass the NPTE-PTA ($485 + $92 Prometric) and get your state license or certification.

Sources

  1. 2025 Physical Therapist Assistant Education Programs Fact Sheet (aggregate program data) · CAPTE, 2026
  2. Accredited PT and PTA programs directory · CAPTE / APTA, accessed Nov 14, 2026
  3. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, last modified Aug 27, 2026
  4. AAS Physical Therapist Assistant (66 credit hours, $4,884 in-county) · Tarrant County College (Texas), 2026-27
  5. NPTE registration and payment ($485 PT and PTA) · Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), accessed Nov 14, 2026
  6. NPTE Candidate Handbook: exam registration and scheduling (Prometric fees $112 PT, $92 PTA) · FSBPT, accessed Nov 14, 2026
  7. 2025 Physical Therapist Education Programs Fact Sheet (aggregate program data: tuition, total cost, weeks in program, pass rates) · CAPTE, updated Jul 13, 2026
  8. Local Wages: 31-2021.00 Physical Therapist Assistants (state and metro percentiles) · O*NET OnLine, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (BLS 2025 wage data), accessed Nov 14, 2026
  9. OEWS May 2025 employment and median wage series (OEUN/OEUS), Public Data API v2 · U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, retrieved Nov 14, 2026
  10. IRS releases tax inflation adjustments for tax year 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-32) · Internal Revenue Service, IR-2025-103, Oct 9, 2025