Program Highlights
Advance your career and make a difference as a physical therapist assistant.
Physical therapy is a vital fact of life for millions of Americans these days. Without the care and assistance of physical therapists, many people would be unable to live like they used to before an accident or injury. Even physical therapists need help sometimes, and this is where physical therapist assistants come in. This is a limited enrollment program.
- You’ll learn how to assist a physical therapist with components of patient care such as exercises, modalities, and other interventions for a variety of injuries and conditions. You will also learn how to gather data related to the treatments provided, such as patient progress, pain levels, and functional abilities.
- Through a combination of classwork, active lab participation and clinical experience working with real physical therapy patients, you’ll learn the skills and techniques you’ll employ every day in your new career.
- The Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant degree program at Baker College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
Learn Your Way
Physical Therapist Assistant classes are taught at the Muskegon, Owosso, Royal Oak campuses. Plus, general education and prerequisite courses are typically available through Baker Online, Online Live, and on all campuses throughout Michigan.
Learn MoreDirect Admission
Enrollment in the Physical Therapist Assistant program is limited, and admission is GPA-based. High-performing incoming first-year students may qualify for guaranteed enrollment and scholarships through our direct admission program.
Why Study Physical Therapy?
The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) is a technical healthcare worker who performs patient care under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. Typical settings include hospitals, rehabilitation clinics, private practices, geriatric care facilities, sport medicine centers, school systems and industrial sites.
Curriculum
The Physical Therapist Assistant curriculum includes courses related to orthopedic and neurological management across the lifespan and is sequenced to progress from foundational theory to specialized hands-on treatment.
View Full CurriculumSample Courses
Applied Clinical Anatomy
Neurological Foundations of Motor Control
Physical Agents

Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Role
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work as part of a team to provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. PTAs implement selected components of patient/client interventions (treatment), obtain data related to the interventions provided and make modifications in selected interventions, either to progress the patient/client as directed by the physical therapist or to ensure patient/client safety and comfort. PTAs assist physical therapists in the treatment of individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical therapists are responsible for the services provided by the PTA. Physical therapists (PTs) are healthcare professionals who examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. PTAs provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings and nursing homes. PTAs must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited PTA program and licensure or certification is required in most states in which a PTA works.
Additional Requirements
After completion of the program, you’ll be prepared to take the National Physical Therapy Assistants Examination (NPTAE) licensure exam and start your promising career as a physical therapist assistant. For information about the licensure examination, see www.fsbpt.org/ExamCandidates.
Outcomes & Performance
Our mission for the physical therapist assistant degree program is to graduate students who have obtained the knowledge and skills to become employed as licensed physical therapist assistants and become contributing members of the physical therapy profession and healthcare team in diverse settings.
Program Handbook
The handbook for this program is available in the latest edition of the Catalog/Student Handbook.
Financial Fact Sheet
Contact Information
If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call or email:
Muskegon Campus Program Director: Scott Henderson Phone: 231-777-5276 Email: shende18@baker.edu
Owosso Campus Program Director: Erin Smith Phone: 248-563-4755 Email: erina.smith@baker.edu
Royal Oak Campus Program Director: Dr. Jamie Janes Phone: 248-276-6628 Email: jjanes07@baker.edu
For information about the licensure exam see: https://www.fsbpt.org/ExamCandidates.aspx.
Accreditation
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baker College Muskegon Campus 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 ; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Scott Henderson, PT, DPT at 231-777-5276 or email shende18@baker.edu.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baker College of Owosso 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; website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 989-729-3485 or email erina.smith@baker.edu.
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Baker College Royal Oak Campus 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 website: http://www.capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call Jamie Janes, PT, DPT, OCS at (248) 276-6628 or email: jjanes07@baker.edu.
On Campus Available
View campus locationsUnavailable on Baker Online
Core courses for this degree program are not offered through Baker Online.
For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available through Baker Online each semester.
Baker OnlineUnavailable on Online Live
Core courses for this degree program are not offered through Online Live.
For those interested, a selection of general education and prerequisite courses are available through Online Live each semester.
Online Live