Physical Therapy Assistants in Virginia help people make amazing physical strides.
Helping people regain or retain their flexibility and mobility provides unbelievable satisfaction.
Watching the joy on someone’s face as they move a walking frame down the hallway for the first time in years has no equal.
Only seeing it happen with your own two eyes can make you truly believe it’s possible to get someone on their feet if they have never walked before.
Page Navigation
- What is a Physical Therapy Assistant?
- Training Programs for Physical Therapy Assistants in Virginia
- Virginia Western Community College
- Northern Virginia Community College
- ECPI (East Coast Polytechnic Institute) University
- Newport News, VA
- Orlando Lake Mary, FL
- Richmond, VA
- Tidewater Community College
- Top 7 Schools in Virginia
- Average Salary of Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia
- Regional Salary in Virginia
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Does Virginia require a criminal background check for PT assistants?
- What duties do PT Assistants perform?
- Can they work independently?
- How much does the Fieldprint electronic background check cost in Virginia?
- Which requirements must PT assistant training programs include?
- How much can a PT assistant make in Virginia?
- Of the PT Assistant programs listed, which provides the shortest completion and lowest estimated tuition cost?
- How many locations offer the ECPI PT assistant program?
- How long is the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Tidewater Community College?
- What is TCC's pass rate on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy license exam?
What is a Physical Therapy Assistant?
According to the US Department of Labor, physical therapy assistants provide direct patient care.
They help reduce pain and restore mobility through exercise and retraining after injury or illness.
PT assistants work under the orders and supervision of a physical therapist.
Professional Standards for Virginia Physical Therapy Assistants
All assistants in the Commonwealth of Virginia must be able to pass a criminal background check under Virginia Code § 54.1-3484.
Fieldprint Virginia provides electronic fingerprinting in the state.
Fieldprint Virginia charges nearly $15 less than traditional background services.
Currently, in-state applicants pay $35.95 and out-of-state applicants pay $38.95.
Steps to Becoming a Physical Therapist’s Assistant in the Old Dominion State
If you are still in high school, community college PT assistant programs such as Virginia Western require you to pass a college-level biology and human anatomy/physiology course with a C or higher, or you will have to take those courses before the end of your fifth year in your college program, adding to your education costs and time spent obtaining professional credentials.
Additionally, you must pass the Test of Academic Skills (TEAS), which includes certain math skills.
Virginia Licensure Requirements for Assistants to Physical Therapists
According to the Virginia Department of Health Professions, physical therapist assistants must be legal adults (age 18-plus).
Training programs must be two-year, college-level, and meet the standards of the Virginia DHP Board of Physical Therapy.
Aspiring assistants must also pass a Board-approved exam documenting their proficiency.
Salary Expectations in the Commonwealth of Virginia
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of May 2022, physical therapist assistants in Virginia can expect to receive an annual mean wage of $61,270, or $29.46 per hour.
The bottom tenth makes as little as $22,580, while the top tenth can earn up to $82,140 per year.
In comparison, California pays the highest mean annual wages at $78,920.
Training Programs for Physical Therapy Assistants in Virginia
Virginia Western Community College 
3094 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA 24015
Call 540-857-6728 or email jtucker@virginiawestern.edu.
Estimated Tuition for In-State Residents: $12,075
This two-year program provides 69 credits and ends with an Associate of Applied Science as a Physical Therapy Assistant in the Commonwealth.
Graduates will then be eligible to take the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination.
Northern Virginia Community College
Medical Education Campus, 6699 Springfield Center Dr, Springfield, VA 22150
Call 703.323.3000 or email information@nvcc.edu
Estimated Tuition for In-State Residents: $13307.70
This two-year, 69-credit program also ends with an Associate of Applied Science as a Physical Therapy Assistant in Virginia.
You must pass high school English with a B or higher.
ECPI (East Coast Polytechnic Institute) University
ECPI offers an 18-month, 73-credit program ending with an Associate of Applied Science as a Physical Therapy Assistant in Virginia.
Three campuses offer the program:
Newport News, VA
1001 Omni Boulevard #100, Newport News, VA 23606
Phone: 757.849.0548
Toll Free: 844.611.0618
Orlando Lake Mary, FL
660 Century Point, Suite 1050 Orlando (Lake Mary), FL 32746
Phone: (407) 562-9100
Richmond, VA
2809 Emerywood Pkwy Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23294
Phone: 804-417-4742
Toll-Free: 844-611-0590
ECPI Estimated Tuition for In-State Residents: $9,720
At under $10,000, the ECPI (East Coast Polytechnic Institute) University Physical Therapy Assistant program provides an excellent bargain.
In addition, ECPI provides textbooks as part of your tuition and fees.
Tidewater Community College
1700 College Crescent
Virginia Beach, VA 23453
Call 757-822-7100
Estimated Tuition for In-State Residents: $13,276
This five-semester, 67-credit program takes the shortest time to complete.
Tidewater CC has taken great pride in its 100 percent pass rate on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy license exam for the past two years.
Top 7 Schools in Virginia
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Virginia Western Community College | 3094 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24015, United States |
| Northern Virginia Community College | 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003, United States |
| ECPI (East Coast Polytechnic Institute) University | 5555 Greenwich Rd. Virginia Beach, VA 23462, United States |
| Newport News, VA | 1001 Omni Boulevard #100, Newport News, VA 23606, United States |
| Orlando Lake Mary, FL | 660 Century Point, Suite 1050 Orlando (Lake Mary), FL 32746, United States |
| Richmond, VA | 2809 Emerywood Pkwy Suite 400, Richmond, VA 23294, United States |
| Tidewater Community College | 1700 College Crescent, Virginia Beach, VA 23453, United States |
Average Salary of Physical Therapist Assistants in Virginia
| City Name | Salary |
|---|---|
| Virginia Beach | $60,901 |
| Norfolk | $60,001 |
| Chesapeake | $59,901 |
| Richmond | $62,901 |
| Newport News | $60,301 |
| Hampton | $60,301 |
| Alexandria | $70,901 |
| Portsmouth | $60,001 |
| Roanoke | $58,901 |
| Lynchburg | $58,401 |
Regional Salary in Virginia
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA | 70 | $71,910 | $34.57 | $94,100 | $57,010 |
| Charlottesville, VA | 80 | $63,480 | $30.52 | $85,590 | $24,960 |
| Harrisonburg, VA | 40 | $66,120 | $31.79 | $97,950 | $29,110 |
| Lynchburg, VA | 100 | $65,970 | $31.72 | $82,640 | $37,840 |
| Richmond, VA | 390 | $68,010 | $32.7 | $98,690 | $32,020 |
| Roanoke, VA | 140 | $65,220 | $31.36 | $82,750 | $43,890 |
| Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC | 570 | $63,780 | $30.66 | $83,380 | $30,960 |
| Winchester, VA-WV | 70 | $62,440 | $30.02 | $81,810 | $36,730 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virginia require a criminal background check for PT assistants?
Yes, per Virginia Code § 54.1-3484.
What duties do PT Assistants perform?
They help reduce pain and restore mobility through exercise and retraining after injury or illness.
Can they work independently?
No, PT assistants work under the orders and supervision of a physical therapist.
How much does the Fieldprint electronic background check cost in Virginia?
Currently, in-state applicants pay $35.95 and out-of-state applicants pay $38.95.
Which requirements must PT assistant training programs include?
Training programs must be two-year, college-level, and meet the standards of the Virginia DHP Board of Physical Therapy.
Aspiring assistants must also pass a Board-approved exam documenting their proficiency.
How much can a PT assistant make in Virginia?
As of May 2022, physical therapist assistants in Virginia can expect to receive an annual mean wage of $61,270, or $29.46 per hour.
The bottom tenth makes as little as $22,580, while the top tenth can earn up to $82,140 per year.
Of the PT Assistant programs listed, which provides the shortest completion and lowest estimated tuition cost?
ECPI estimates tuition for In-State Residents at $9,720.
At under $10,000 for 18 months, their program provides an excellent bargain, since they also provide textbooks as part of your tuition and fees.
How many locations offer the ECPI PT assistant program?
Three.
How long is the Physical Therapy Assistant Program at Tidewater Community College?
Five semesters, 67 credits.
What is TCC's pass rate on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy license exam?
Tidewater Community College is proud of its 100 percent pass rate on the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy license exam for the past two years.
