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Make a difference through movement

Physical Therapist Assistants help people improve mobility, reduce pain, build strength and endurance, and regain independence. If you enjoy working with people, solving problems and making a difference in someone's quality of life, a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant may be a great fit for you.

At NWACC, you'll build the knowledge, hands-on skills and clinical experience needed to provide direct patient care and begin a career as an important member of a physical therapy team.

The PTA program leads to an Associate of Applied Science degree. Graduates are eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination (NPTE), which is required for licensure to practice.

Two pathways to fit different student needs:

Traditional PTA

The Traditional PTA pathway is designed for students who can attend daytime classes and labs on the NWACC campus in Bentonville.

  • Daytime, on-campus instruction
  • Four full-time semesters and two part-time summer semesters
  • Regular in-person laboratory experiences
  • Clinical education experiences
  • Evenings and weekends are needed for studying and hands-on practice

Hybrid PTA

The Hybrid PTA pathway is designed for students who need greater flexibility and may live outside Northwest Arkansas.

  • Online coursework
  • Weekly online meetings with instructors
  • Three-day, in-person intensive labs on the Bentonville campus approximately every three to four weeks, depending on the semester
  • Four full-time semesters and two part-time summer semesters
  • Clinical education opportunities intended to allow students to remain in their home communities when an appropriate clinical site is available
  • Evenings and weekends are needed for studying and practice

Both pathways have the same core expectations for didactic instruction, laboratory skills, clinical education, testing and service learning.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at NWACC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Learn more below.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at NWACC is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085. Telephone: 703-706-3245, email: accreditation@apta.org and website: http://www.capteonline.org. 

If needing to contact the program directly, please call Nick Virden at 479-619-4328 or nvirden@nwacc.edu.

The program has determined that its curriculum meets the state educational requirements for licensure or certification in all states, the District of Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands secondary to its accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, based on the following: 

CAPTE accreditation of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant program satisfies state educational requirements in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thus, students graduating from CAPTE-accredited physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs are eligible to take the National Physical Therapy Examination and apply for licensure in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. For more information regarding state qualifications and licensure requirements, refer to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website at www.fsbpt.org.