Loading
Physical therapist assistants do the hands-on rehab work under a physical therapist's direction — a strong-paying Arizona career you can enter with a two-year degree. Here's the roadmap, with the Arizona programs, licensing, and employers that matter.
Where to train in Arizona
You complete a CAPTE-accredited PTA associate program — the Maricopa Community Colleges (Phoenix College, GateWay) and Pima Community College run accredited two-year programs with clinical fieldwork under licensed physical therapists.
Licensing in Arizona
PTAs in Arizona are licensed by the Arizona State Board of Physical Therapy. You finish your accredited program, pass the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs (NPTE-PTA), and get licensed — required to treat patients under a physical therapist's direction.
Where the Arizona jobs are
Arizona's large and growing retiree population drives strong rehab demand — outpatient clinics, hospital systems like Banner Health, HonorHealth, and Dignity Health, rehab centers, and skilled nursing facilities across Phoenix and Tucson all hire PTAs.
Ready to start? Browse live Arizona opportunities — internships, training programs, and scholarships across the state.
An accredited associate program plus the NPTE-PTA and license is the gateway
The path is clear: finish a CAPTE-accredited associate program, pass the NPTE-PTA, and get your state license. It's a two-year credential into hands-on rehab work — and a possible stepping stone toward the DPT if you want to become a physical therapist.
Keep going: see whether the trades are worth it, compare the pre-PT roadmap, and check if it will pay off.