Prospective Students

Updated August 2008

What can we help you with?

Click on the question below

What is a PTA?

How I can meet with someone to ask questions or learn more?

How do I apply to the program?

What are the admissions requirements?

What is the difference between a Physical Therapist (PT) and a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)?

	Physical Therapist (PT)	Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
Education	All PT programs in the U.S. require students to earn a Master's or Doctorate degree	All PTA programs in the U.S. are at the associate degree level
Admissions Requirements	PT programs generally require a bachelor's degree	PTA programs require a high school diploma
Length of time in school	up to 8 years	2 years
Practice differences	PTs perform patient/client evaluations and set up treatment plans.	PTAs do not perform evaluations and there are certain skills that are considered "PT only." PTAs work under the direction and supervision of a PT.

Contact us today to discuss your career path in the physical therapy profession.

Will my PTA credits transfer to a PT school?

In general PTA credits do not transfer to PT programs. If you plan to become a PT, you are strongly encouraged to speak with our faculty about career/educational planning.

Are there other careers I can consider?

In addition to physical therapy, consider these other careers in the Allied Health field:

Exercise Science*

Medical Assistant *

Nursing *

Occupational Therapy

Respiratory Therapy *

Speech Therapy

*available at Norwalk Community College

*Accreditation Notice:

Norwalk Community College has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: (703) 706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). Candidacy is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation. Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program is progressing toward accreditation.