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Physical Therapist Assistant Schools in Utah – UT

By Mat Lindenberg, allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 16 2010

To practice as a Physical Therapy Assistant in Utah, you'll need to get a license from the state of Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing. However, in order to get that license, there are some steps you'll need to take.

First, you'll need to find and enroll in one of the online or campus based Utah Physical Therapy Assistant schools that offer an associate’s degree, and that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, or CAPTE. There are currently only two such programs in Utah with CAPTE accreditation, but because the CAPTE is a national organization, if neither of those schools work and you need to go out of state for your education, it will still be valid in Utah, or any other state in the U.S.

You'll need to graduate. It takes, on average, two years to earn enough credits for an associate’s degree, though many people take longer, if they're unable to attend full time.

Upon graduation, you'll need to take the NPTE exam, administered by the FSBPT, or Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Passing this exam means you'll be national credentialed as a Physical Therapy Assistant, which, along with your CAPTE-accredited education, means you can work almost anywhere. The test costs $370 dollars, and can be repeated three times per year if you score below the 75% needed to earn a passing grade.

Once you've completed these steps, you eligible to apply for licensure in Utah. You'll need to provide proof of identity, and you'll need records of your schooling and your NPTE scores, which will have to be sent directly from the school you attended and an FSBPT office, respectively. There is also a fee of $60 dollars.

Once your application has been approved, and you've received your license, you can begin working in Utah as a Physical Therapy Assistant.

You'll need to renew your license periodically, in order to continue working and maintain your status. Licenses expire on the 31st of May of each odd-numbered year, regardless of when the license was granted. There is a $60 dollar fee for renewal.

Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Physical Therapy Assistants in Salt Lake City, West Valley, Provo and West Jordon, Utah may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Intermountain Medical Center, Saint Mark's Hospital, University of Utah Health Care and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center.