Physical Therapy Assistant 

School Year: 2025–26

Program Entry Semester: Fall

Costs provided are estimated and based on the following current tuition rates: $221 (In-State), $296 (Out-of-State), $400 (International).

Fees and costs are subject to change.

To view all costs associated with attending college visit our Tuition and Costs page.

Students in Kirkwood's Physical Therapist Assistant program are encouraged to join the Kirkwood chapter of HOSA, a global student-led organization exclusively for students enrolled in health science education and biomedical science programs or have interests in pursuing careers in health professions.

HOSA is one of eight recognized members of the National Coordinating Council for Career and Technical Student Organizations (NCC-CTSO). CTSOs are co-curricular groups that help students in career and technical education programs further their knowledge and skills by participating in activities, events, and competitions.

The ATI TEAS was developed to measure basic essential skills in the academic content area domains of reading, mathematics, science, and English and language usage. These entry-level skills were deemed important for PTA, Dental Hygiene, and Medical Laboratory Technology program applicants by a panel of program curriculum experts.

The ATI TEAS is a 150-item, four-option, multiple-choice assessment. To prepare in an organized and efficient manner, you should know what to expect from the real assessment.

Students can use this link to purchase the ATI TEAS Study Manual.

*There are 20 unscored questions throughout the exam for a total of 170 questions total.

Testing Center ATI TEAS Exam Schedule:

Test Registration Procedure

1) Register for an available exam time. Using the link below, choose between taking your exam at main campus in Cedar Rapids or the Kirkwood Regional Cener at the U of I in Coralville.

ATI TEAS Test Registration

2) You must create an account on the ATI TEAS website, click on "create account."

We recommend students use their Kirkwood student email when creating an account. Remember your username and password when you come to take your test.
 
3) On the day of your scheduled test, bring the following: 

• Photo ID
• ATI TEAS account username and password
• Debit or credit card to pay for the exam. 
  
  

*The cost of the exam is $70 (as of July 1, 2023.)

On your scheduled date and time, you will take your test at the test center located on the second floor of Cedar Hall, check-in at room 2055. Leave all personal belongings at home, you will not be able to take your phone, smart watches, etc. in the room where you test.
 
Please look at the following link for some useful information on how to prepare for the exam: ATI TEAS Tips for Success.

A minimum of 30 days is recommended between ATI TEAS exam attempts. It is recommended that students remediate in the areas identified by the Individual Profile Sub-Scales scores before retaking this exam.

Questions or concerns? Contact the Test Center at testcenter@kirkwood.edu or 319-398-5456.

ATI TEAS Policy

Three cumulative attempts are allowed to pass the ATI TEAS exam with the minimum score required by the appropriate program.

• If a student fails the exam for a program three times, they are not allowed to change their program to take the exam three more times for a different program. It is three cumulative attempts.
  
  
• Acceptable scores vary between programs. Therefore, an unacceptable score for one program may be considered acceptable for another.

After the second failed attempt, students will be strongly encouraged to set up a meeting with the appropriate program director to discuss strategies for success on the third attempt.
 
After the third failed attempt, students are no longer eligible to be admitted into any program that requires the exam. You cannot change programs to start the testing process over.
 
Students must wait three years if they want to try again if the third test failed to meet the minimum score.

Students must complete prerequisite courses and earn a C or better. Prerequisite courses include:

• Human Anatomy and Physiology I
• Introduction to PTA
• Speech Course
• Basic Medical Terminology

In addition to the required prerequisite courses, it is recommended that students take the following courses prior to admission into the program. If courses are not taken prior to admission they will be taken in semesters listed on the plan of study.

• Human Anatomy and Physiology II
• Intro to Psychology
• Composition I
• Professionals in Health
• Humanities Elective

To practice as a physical therapist assistant in the state of Iowa, licensure is required. The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), and licensure is granted by the Iowa Board of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners. Graduates of Kirkwood’s Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program are eligible to sit for the licensure exam. While Kirkwood’s PTA program can accept up to 24 students each fall semester, the number of each graduating class will vary. Successful completion of the exam allows students to obtain state licensure. For academic year 2023 (20 students), the exam pass rate was 89%. More information can be found under the “Program Statistics” area of our website. 

Please note that updated pass rate information will be provided when additional data is available.

Successful completion of this program leads to a professional licensure or certification. View the state listing guide to identify which Kirkwood program fulfills state guidelines for professional licensure and certification.

Career opportunities include:

• Physical Therapist Assistants

A PTA typically spends between six to seven hours each day in direct patient care and documenting that care. PTAs may also be involved in non-patient care activities such as making/receiving phone calls, assist with filing, equipment care, and keeping the department clean and orderly.

In the process of providing care, PTAs must use strategic communication to encourage, motivate, and provide feedback related to the patient performance. PTAs must problem solve to determine the most efficient and effective way to carry out the plan of care developed by the therapist.

The specialty areas include neuro-rehab, orthopedics, general medical, cardiopulmonary, and pediatrics. PTA students must learn and demonstrate competence in treatment of patients from all specialty areas, examples of patient diagnoses within each specialty area are:

• Neuro-rehab: stroke, head injury, spinal cord injury
• Orthopedics: sprains, strains, fractures, joint replacement, amputations
• General Medical: diabetes, vascular disease, burns, wounds
• Cardiopulmonary: heart attack, heart surgery, emphysema, asthma
• Pediatrics: cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida
• Geriatrics: pneumonia, hip fractures, post-surgical

Yes, the job requires strength and endurance. The PTA may be required to assist patients who are very weak and unable to support their own weight. PTAs must be able to provide physical assistance or resistance as needed by the patient.

You will see patients of all ages and abilities, cultures and socioeconomic status. The PTA must be comfortable communicating with and motivating a variety of people.

The PTA provides a variety of therapy procedures such as:

Pain control modalities: hot packs, cold packs, traction, ice massage, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, etc.

Therapeutic exercise: stretching, strengthening, balance, coordinator, endurance, etc.

Functional activities: assist patients to learn or re-learn how to roll, sit up, transfer from bed to wheelchair, walk

Other: procedures to control/manage swelling and facilitate wound healing

The PT is responsible for performing the initial evaluation of the patient, setting up the plan of care and subsequent decision-making for each patient. When the plan of care is developed, the PT can delegate part or all of the treatment to the PTA.

The PT is educated at the bachelors, masters, or doctoral level; the PTA usually has an associate degree.

You need to take the Physical Therapist Assistant Licensure Exam and achieve a passing score to practice in Iowa.

If you move to another state, you need to apply for a license to practice in that state. Typically, you have to attend an oral interview or take a written test to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about the laws that are necessary to practice in that state.

To apply to a PT program, you need to complete a bachelor's degree, which takes an additional three to four years following the completion of the PTA program. You then have to apply to the masters or doctorate-level PT program, which is typically two years in length.

To transfer to an athletic training program, you need to contact the institution that offers the program to obtain their transfer requirements. The number of credit hours that transfer varies from school to school.

The program admits 24 students each fall.

It is advised that you take the general education courses in our curriculum. These courses are indicated with an asterisk on the plan of study. We also recommend that you obtain volunteer or employment experience in a physical therapy department. 

After you have applied to the program, you should request that your transcripts be sent to Kirkwood Enrollment Services. Your transcripts will be evaluated and you will receive a letter informing you what courses transfer.

The PTA program courses are sequenced, and it will still require 5 semesters to complete the program, although your credit load will be decreased each semester.