A closer look at the Herzing PTA program
| Accreditation | CAPTE accredited,1 Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission |
|---|---|
| Locations | Offered at our campus locations in Orlando and Tampa, Florida |
| Length | Average of 20 months (5 semesters) to complete the program, if general education courses are needed; core PTA courses are completed in 14–16 months |
| Transfer credit | You may transfer up to 54 approved credits from prior college coursework to shorten the time to complete. |
| Format | Hybrid delivery; complete gen eds online, PTA core courses offered on campus in Orlando or Tampa |
| Hands-on | Practical training includes on-campus labs and 560 hours of clinical practicum experience as close to your local area as possible |
| QuickPaths | Transfer credit, stackable credentials, and adaptive learning technology build a faster pathway to a higher education with Herzing University |
Now Enrolling
Satisfaction rate
Our overall student satisfaction rate, according to the 2024 Herzing Graduate Survey.
Start a journey toward a career of purpose and impact
Prepare to pursue a rewarding career path in healthcare with Herzing University’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) associate degree program. You’ll gain a strong foundation in patient care, learning how to assist with therapeutic exercises, mobility training, and rehabilitation techniques.
The program combines classroom learning with hands-on labs and clinical experiences, giving you opportunities to apply your skills in real care settings. With support from experienced faculty, you’ll build confidence while developing practical, career-focused PTA competencies.
Turn your desire to help others into meaningful action. You can be the reason someone regains confidence, rebuilds strength, and rediscovers their freedom to live life to the fullest. You can start an exciting new career path and make a significant impact as a PTA.
Career-focused curriculum
Discover the crucial knowledge and skills required to succeed in your work and build a foundation for continued career growth.
Flexible schedule
Hybrid delivery allows you to complete some coursework online on your schedule. We work hard to help you maintain school-life balance.
Experienced faculty
Get face-to-face instruction from experienced and credentialed faculty with real-world success in the field.
Lifelong support
We support your ongoing career advancement by providing comprehensive, personalized student services with lifelong career coaching.
Rolling admissions
No application deadlines to worry about. Apply when you’re ready and prepare to get started soon.
Locations
Campus locations
How the program works
Academic coursework
Establish a strong foundation in didactic (lecture-style) courses, including general education courses which are completed online. Course topics include anatomy and physiology, functional kinesiology, pathophysiology, therapeutic exercise, and more.
Labs
Labs take place on campus in Orlando or Tampa and focus on practicing essential skills. These in-person sessions help you apply classroom knowledge before gaining experience in a real clinical environment.
Clinical education
After coursework and labs, you’re ready to put what you’ve learned to practice during the clinical practicum component of the program. We place you with a clinical site near you where you will earn your first direct experience and prepare for success as a professional PTA.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.
You can take general education credits part-time. However, PTA core courses must be completed on a full-time basis—generally 12-14 credits per semester. Once you begin core PTA coursework, you’ll progress as a group with your fellow students at a fixed rate.
If you’ve earned relevant college credit in the past, you can potentially transfer credit and reduce the time and cost of the program. You can transfer up to 54 approved credits into the PTA associate degree program. This means that students can complete the program in as little as 14 months.
If you have more specific questions about transferring credit from prior education, contact our admissions team and we can help guide you through the process.
No, there is no general minimum GPA requirement to apply.
Yes. The curriculum is designed to emphasize topics foundational for success on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
Concepts are integrated throughout the course of the program to provide you with the comprehensive education needed to pass the exam. The program utilizes review sessions, practice exams, and practice questions to help students prepare for the National Exam. The curriculum includes a course with an emphasis on NPTE preparation.
Our PTA program is a hybrid offering, meaning you can complete part of the program online. You complete general education coursework online, with the core classes completed on campus.
The clinical and laboratory portion of the Herzing associate degree program curriculum is crucial to building the real-world skills necessary to succeed as a physical therapist assistant.
Herzing’s goal is to best prepare you for career success, and we pride ourselves on delivering a personal, individualized education to help you flourish as a practicing PTA.
We design the program to be appropriately challenging in line with what is required for career success as a PTA.
The program is designed for students of all educational backgrounds. You do not need any prior experience in healthcare to succeed—only the determination and desire to become the best healthcare provider you can be!
Herzing's physical therapist assistant degree program begins twice a year—January and July, and we accept 24 students each time without a waiting list.
Meet Our Leadership
“Becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant is a rewarding path for those who want to make a real difference in people’s lives.
PTAs combine hands-on care with scientific knowledge to help patients regain movement and independence every day. It’s a career that offers stability, personal fulfillment, and the satisfaction of seeing the impact of your work firsthand.”
Dr. Amy Vernon PT, DPT, MSPT
Department Chair, Physical Therapist Assistant ProgramSince 2009, I have served as the Program Director for the PTA Program at the Orlando campus. My education includes a Bachelor’s of Science in Child and Family Studies and Master and Doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy. I hold certifications in Neurodevelopmental Treatment, Kinesiotaping, Craniosacral Therapy, and Sensory Integration Therapy. A specialization of mine is treating pediatric patients. Currently serving as an Assembly Representative for the Florida Physical Therapy Association, I am passionate about teaching and ensuring that future generations of therapists advocate for their patients and for the physical therapy profession.
The Student Experience at Herzing
It makes a world of difference to have in-person classes, especially when learning mobilizations or techniques.
Barbie Hendrick
Healthcare Student | Brookfield/Milwaukee CampusRecent Blog Posts
Care in Every Language: The Importance of Bilingual Healthcare Support
Jessica Dickenson
Building a Healthier Future: The Role of Student Service on World Health Day
Herzing Staff
Disclosures
- The Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program at Herzing University Orlando is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA, 22305-3085, telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Amy Vernon, Program Chair, at (407) 478-0500 or email avernon@herzing.edu.
The Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant program at the Tampa location is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA, 22305, telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: www.capteonline.org.
Physical Therapist Assistants must complete academic and clinical education programs and pass the national licensure examination in order to be eligible to obtain licensure in most states.
2024-2025 PTA Student Financial Fact Sheet - Orlando
Herzing University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org), an institutional accreditation agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
View Herzing University Accreditation and Approvals
Summary of Herzing University - Orlando, Florida Campus PTA Student Outcomes
| Two-Year Average | |
|---|---|
| 2024-2025 Graduation Rate (students who complete the program in 150% of the time) | 83% |
| 2023-2024 Licensure Exam Pass Rate (percentage of graduates passing national board exam – first-time / all-time) | 78% / 91% |
| 2023-2024 Employment Rate (percentage of graduates who sought employment and were employed as PTAs within one year of graduation) | 96% |
* BLS pay estimates calculate the median annual wage for various occupations. Per the BLS the median wage for an occupation is: "The wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount, and half earned less. Median wage data are from the BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics survey." Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook 2024. BLS median wage estimates do not represent entry-level wages and/or salaries. Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geographic market in which you want to work, and degree level and field, will affect career outcomes, including starting salary and earnings as an experienced employee. Herzing neither represents that its graduates will earn the median salaries calculated by BLS for a particular job nor guarantees that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, particular wage or salary, or other career growth.
** Projections Central, Long-Term Projections (2022-2032). Multiple factors, including prior experience, age, geography market in which you want to work, and degree field will affect career outcomes. Herzing does not guarantee that graduation from its program will result in a job, promotion, or other career growth.
Waived Enrollment Fee
Discover the educational pathway designed to maximize your career potential. Reach for greater heights with Herzing University.