Some people like to help others, though help can take many shapes.
A percentage of these folks choose to become physical therapist aides.
Through this job, these professionals work with those suffering from various injuries or chronic conditions.
If this healthcare job is of interest to you, read on!
Through this article, you’ll learn everything you could want to know about this occupation.
The article will provide information related to online physical therapist aide schools as well, and tell you whether you can study online or not.
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The Best Online Physical Therapist Aide Schools
#1 Penn Foster Career School
About the School
Penn Foster Career School offers a fully online Physical Therapy Aide Career Diploma designed for students preparing for entry-level roles in physical therapy clinics, rehabilitation centers, hospitals, nursing homes, and sports medicine facilities.
The program is self-paced with no set class times, making it suitable for working adults.
Most students complete the program in about 5 months, though faster learners may finish in as little as 1 month by studying more hours per week.
Enrollment is open to students age 16 or older who have a high school diploma or GED.
The program includes 5 courses and awards 16.3 continuing education units.
Courses Offered
Students complete 5 core courses focused on the duties of a physical therapy aide.
Topics include introduction to physical therapy, medical terminology and body systems, common physical disorders, physical therapy treatments and modalities, exercise and mobility assistance, customer service, and workplace safety.
The program includes 10 graded exams and optional work experience opportunities that allow students to observe or assist in real clinical environments.
Program Cost
The total tuition is approximately 839 dollars when paid in full.
Monthly payment plans are available starting around 59 dollars per month, with a total cost of about 1,039 dollars depending on the plan selected.
All digital textbooks, online resources, and exams are included in the tuition.
Contact Information
- Address: 925 Oak St, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18515
- Phone: 1-800-275-4410
- Website: Visit School Website
#2 U.S. Career Institute
About the School
U.S. Career Institute provides a 100 percent online Physical Therapy Aide training program designed for flexible, self-paced learning.
The school is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission and focuses on career readiness for entry-level healthcare roles.
Students can begin at any time and access coursework on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The typical completion time is about 4 months to 5 months with part-time study.
Enrollment requires students to be at least 16 years old and have a high school diploma or GED.
Courses Offered
The Physical Therapy Aide program covers anatomy basics, rehabilitation support techniques, patient preparation, documentation procedures, HIPAA compliance, and professional communication in healthcare settings.
Learning materials include digital textbooks, instructional videos, interactive exercises, and guided assignments.
Instructor support and one-on-one career coaching are included throughout the program.
Program Cost
Tuition costs about 789 dollars when paid in full.
A monthly payment option is available with a total program cost of approximately 989 dollars, including monthly payments of about 69 dollars and a one-time application fee of about 29 dollars.
All digital learning materials are included.
Contact Information
- Address: 2001 Lowe St, Fort Collins, CO 80525, United States
- Phone: +1 970-207-4555
- Website: Visit School Website
#3 CareerStep
About the School
CareerStep offers an online Physical Therapy Aide training program designed to help students gain job-ready skills for healthcare environments.
The program is self-paced and provides access to coursework for up to 8 months, allowing students to complete training on their own schedule.
CareerStep also focuses on certification preparation to help graduates strengthen their resumes for employment in physical therapy clinics and rehabilitation facilities.
Courses Offered
Coursework includes healthcare communication, anatomy and physiology fundamentals, patient care principles, safe patient positioning, mobility assistance, workplace safety, and professional documentation.
The curriculum aligns with common entry-level job responsibilities and includes preparation materials for the Physical Therapy Technician Aide certification exam.
Program Cost
The total tuition for the Physical Therapy Aide program is approximately 3,299 dollars.
This cost includes full access to all online course materials, certification exam preparation, and career support services.
Payment plans may be available depending on enrollment options.
Contact Information
- Address: 3300 Triumph Blvd Suite 100, Lehi, UT 84043, United States
- Phone: +1 800-411-7073
- Website: Visit School Website
#4 MedCerts
About the School
MedCerts provides an online Physical Therapy Aide and Administration Specialist program that combines clinical support training with administrative skills.
The program prepares students to assist physical therapists with patient care while also handling front office and documentation tasks.
Training is delivered fully online with instructor-led lessons, interactive assessments, and dedicated career coaching.
The program is designed for fast workforce entry.
Courses Offered
Students complete approximately 288 clock hours of training over about 18 weeks when studying 15 to 20 hours per week.
Coursework includes medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, physical therapy fundamentals, patient care techniques, rehabilitation aide competencies, medical office procedures, and healthcare professionalism.
Graduates are prepared for 2 certifications: the Physical Therapy Technician Certification and the Certified Medical Administrative Assistant certification.
Program Cost
The total program cost is about 4,000 dollars and includes all instructional materials, exam preparation, and certification exam fees.
Monthly payment plans are available with payments starting around 346 dollars per month, depending on the plan selected.
Workforce development funding may be available for eligible students.
Contact Information
- Address: 14143 Farmington Rd., Livonia, MI 48154
- Phone: 800-734-1175
- Website: Visit School Website
#5 CalRegional Training Institute
About the School
CalRegional Training Institute is a private vocational school licensed by the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.
The school focuses on short-term healthcare training programs designed to help students enter the workforce quickly.
CalRegional operates multiple training locations in California and often partners with adult schools and workforce development programs to keep training accessible and affordable.
Most programs are structured to be completed in weeks rather than years, which appeals to students looking for faster career entry.
Many programs emphasize hands-on learning combined with classroom instruction.
Courses Offered
CalRegional offers healthcare training programs that emphasize patient care fundamentals and clinical support skills.
While the school does not always label programs specifically as Physical Therapy Aide, coursework in related allied health programs includes anatomy and physiology basics, medical terminology, patient positioning, mobility assistance, infection control, professional communication, and workplace safety.
Training may include lab hours or supervised clinical practice, depending on the program.
Program lengths commonly range from 3 weeks to 12 weeks, with total instructional time varying by course.
Program Cost
Tuition for CalRegional healthcare certificate programs generally starts around 1,995 dollars for shorter programs.
Some programs cost between 2,000 dollars and 3,000 dollars, depending on length, materials, and clinical requirements.
Payment plans are commonly available, and some students may qualify for workforce development funding.
Additional costs may include uniforms, books, or certification exam fees, depending on the specific program selected.
Contact Information
- Address: 3520 Brookside Rd Suite 111, Stockton, CA 95219, United States
- Phone: +1 800-927-5159
- Website: Visit School Website
Schools Summary Table
| Rank | School | |
|---|---|---|
| | #1 | Penn Foster Career School |
| | #2 | U.S. Career Institute |
| | #3 | CareerStep |
| | #4 | MedCerts |
| | #5 | CalRegional Training Institute |
Physical Therapist Aide Job Description
Before we talk about any school, we should discover what a physical therapist aide must do.
Physical therapists or physical therapy assistants oversee the work of aides.
By taking a look at the job duties of a physical therapist aide, you can better understand what kind of skills and knowledge you’ll need.
This will also help you realize whether you have to undergo training or not.
Here are the duties of the job of a physical therapist aide:
- Helping patients shower
- Helping patients eat
- Using various devices and equipment
- Helping patients dress on and off
- Documenting patients’ responses and progress
- Educating both patients and their families
- Liaise with physicians’ offices and hospital personnel
- Cleaning and sanitizing treatment areas and equipment
- Washing linens
- Performing clerical tasks
- Moving patients to and from treatment areas
- Observing patients before, during, and after therapy
- Helping with pain management
This shouldn’t need to be mentioned, but here it goes regardless.
Some employers will require PT aides to complete a different set of tasks.
In some work settings, these aides work more with the patients, and in others, they perform more administrative tasks than anything else.
Physical Therapist Aide Job Requirements
This section will also help you determine if you’ll need to get an education for this position or not.
Additionally, through this section, you’ll also discover if you are a good candidate for this position or not.
Below you can see a list of the most important requirements to become a physical therapist aide:
- Self-motivation
- Stamina
- Able to work as part of a team
- Having a high school diploma or GED
- Passion for helping people
- Detail-oriented
- Good communication skills
- Patience
- Having on-the-job training
- Being at least 18 years old
- Having a clean criminal record
- Being calm
- Able to handle stressful situations
- Having certification for CPR or other first-aid methods
The list of prerequisites could differ slightly from one employer to the next.
While you may not be eligible for this position at one facility, it doesn’t mean you won’t be considered for it at another one.
Furthermore, you could apply for a few other positions that have similar job duties and requirements.
Some of these positions can be seen next:
- Medical assistants
- Occupational therapy assistants and aides
- Pharmacy technicians
- Psychiatric technicians and aides
It’s highly possible for some employers to require their employees to be licensed.
This is especially true if the PT aide will interact more with the patients than with anyone else.
Training and Education for Physical Therapist Aides
Generally speaking, none of the positions mentioned above need any special training.
This rule of thumb includes physical therapist aides as well.
Everything the person needs to know for their new occupation is learned in a maximum of a month after getting hired.
However, you’ll see that many physical therapist aides choose to become licensed, whether it is needed for the job or not.
These aides want to obtain a license to develop a career in the medical field.
However, if you want to earn a license, you’ll need to first graduate from a college or university program.
Physical Therapist Aide Education
Many future physical therapist aides opt to get an Associate’s degree upon graduation.
A percentage of these future aides hope to earn a Bachelor’s degree when graduating.
Keep in mind that the duration of a course depends on the type of degree you want.
The former degree takes about 2 years to complete, while the latter one takes about 4 years.
Usually, students can use the credits earned with the Associate’s degree to get into the other one.
Classes for either degree can easily be found online as well, and even accepted for licensure.
Those who enroll in the degree programs must also attend practice hours.
Upon enrolling, students will need to:
- Ensure they meet the enrollment requirements
- Ensure the program is accredited
These conditions apply to all the courses, regardless of where or how they’re held.
Among the enrollment prerequisites, students might encounter the need to get vaccinated against certain diseases.
Additionally, future students will be required to show they obtained at least a grade of “C” in some classes.
To ensure the grade, these classes are usually organized before the actual program starts.
Here are some of the subjects you will be attending for your degree:
- Medical terms
- PTA Fundamentals
- Principles of musculoskeletal physical therapy
- Principles of neuromuscular physical therapy
- Physical therapy practice for special populations
- Patient Positioning and Transfer
- Ethical and Legal Issues
- Clinical Procedures
- Biomechanics
- Safety protocol
Physical Therapist Aide Online Education
Online education for physical therapist aides needs a separate section, as there are several things that need to be mentioned.
Folks have different reasons to want to enroll in such a program.
Here are the main ones:
- Studying at one’s own pace
- Not finding an in-person program near their residence
- Being unable to attend classes in-person
- A more affordable tuition
As mentioned, you’ll have to make sure that the program you find has accreditation.
Some of the institutions that offer such classes don’t have enrollment prerequisites.
Here are some of them:
- Borough of Manhattan Community College
- SUNY Corning Community College
- US Career Institute
Of course, these are not the only institutions offering such programs.
Even if you have the luxury to study at your own pace in these online programs, you still need to finish the courses by a set deadline.
The tuition is lower at these institutions compared to most universities and colleges.
However, you might still need to find some funding solutions.
Luckily, payment plans are available for students.
Additionally, books and other study materials can be made available to students in an electronic format.
The only disadvantage to this type of learning is that you’ll need to find practice hours on your own.
It’s possible to get hired without these hours under your belt, too, though it will be more difficult.
Conclusion
At this point, you already know you don’t need any education to become a physical therapist aide.
Yet, you can enroll in some programs, earn a degree, and then earn a license.
By doing so, you have more chances of getting promoted, helping you to build a career in the healthcare industry.
You also know by now that the program can take place either in person, online, or even in a combination of in-person and online classes.
Obviously, online classes are easier to attend, usually more affordable, and you have the option to complete the course at your own pace.
Additionally, you can even work at the same time as completing your education.
This is very helpful if you want to get as high as possible in the medical world.
