PTA programs in Virginia

4 PTA (physical therapist assistant) programs with costs, results and funding that can make them free

4 schools offer these physical therapist assistant programs, and Virginia has approved every one for workforce funding. Each shows its price if you pay yourself and how past students did.

Physical therapist assistants work under a physical therapist, helping patients move again and manage pain after injuries and illness. Every state requires an associate degree from an accredited program and a license or certification, which takes passing an exam.¹ The exam is the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.²

In Virginia, 1 of the 4 programs takes students without a high school diploma and 3 ask for a diploma or equivalent.

By kind, the 4 programs here are PTA (associate degree, 2 programs) and physical therapy aide course (2 programs).

See the 4 programs

How much do PTA programs cost in Virginia?

Two-year degrees (2 programs): $26,905 to $41,595all 2 with a price
Other physical therapist assistant programs (2 programs): $599 to $1,099all 2 with a price

What you pay yourself for the whole program, as the schools report it.

In the typical program

Finished the program: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Working 6 months later: Not enough data; 1 program reports it; a typical figure needs 5
Earned a year, estimated: Not reported; None of the 4 programs report it
Length: Not enough data; 4 programs report it; a typical figure needs 5

Source: US Department of Labor, program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Only programs approved for workforce funding are listed; other schools in Virginia may also offer PTA programs. How these figures are made

Are there free PTA programs in Virginia?

Yes, if you qualify. WIOA (public workforce funding) can pay for any program on this page, in full or in part, depending on local limits.³⁴⁵For a degree, the job center first looks at grants such as a federal Pell Grant; WIOA pays toward what they don't cover.⁵
Ask an American Job Center whether you qualify, or call 1-877-872-5627.⁶ Before funding training, the center goes through an assessment and a career plan with you.⁵
Or pay yourself. Two-year degrees here cost $26,905 to $41,595.Other physical therapist assistant programs here cost $599 to $1,099.

Who qualifies, and other ways to pay: financial aid, grants and the GI Bill

All 4 PTA programs in Virginia approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

PTA (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)
Virginia Beach
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads), Virginia BeachPTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$41,595
More details about Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant at ECPI University (LWDB-Hampton Roads)
Finished
67%
Working at 6 months
53%
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
75 weeks, 1 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
67
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$41,595
Physical therapy aide courseIn personNo diploma needed
Physical Therapy Aide
Chesterfield Adult Education
Chesterfield
No diploma needed
Chesterfield Adult Education, ChesterfieldPhysical therapy aide courseIn person · No diploma needed
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$599
School website, Physical Therapy Aide at Chesterfield Adult Education
More details about Physical Therapy Aide at Chesterfield Adult Education
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
17 weeks, 50 hours a week
Cost of supplies
None listed
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$599
School website, Physical Therapy Aide at Chesterfield Adult Education
Physical therapy aide courseIn personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Physical Therapy Aide
Richmond Adult Technical Center
Richmond
High school diploma or equivalent
Richmond Adult Technical Center, RichmondPhysical therapy aide courseIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$1,099
School website, Physical Therapy Aide at Richmond Adult Technical Center
More details about Physical Therapy Aide at Richmond Adult Technical Center
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
4 weeks, 40 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$50
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$1,099
School website, Physical Therapy Aide at Richmond Adult Technical Center
PTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Physical Therapist Assistant
Riverside College of Health Sciences
Newport News
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Riverside College of Health Sciences, Newport NewsPTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimatedNot reported
Price if you pay yourself$26,905
More details about Physical Therapist Assistant at Riverside College of Health Sciences
Finished
Not reported
Working at 6 months
Not reported
Earned in a quarter
Not reported
Length
68 weeks, 3 hours a week
Cost of supplies
$2,384
Students counted
Not reported
Earned a year, estimated
Not reported
Price if you pay yourself
$26,905

How to pay for PTA programs in Virginia

WIOA funding can pay for PTA programs in Virginia

Every program on this page is approved for it. Whether you qualify, how much your local area pays and how to apply are on our page Does WIOA pay for job training?

Financial aid and grants for PTA programs

Most students can get federal student aid for college, career school or trade school. A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, usually doesn't have to be repaid. Ask the school whether its program qualifies.⁷⁸

GI Bill for PTA programs

Veterans, service members and qualified dependents can use GI Bill benefits for non-college training programs.⁹

The program list does not show which programs accept these. Ask the school.

PTA programs in Virginia Beach, Richmond and other Virginia cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above.

Other training in Virginia

How PTA programs compare with the rest of allied health: Allied health programs in Virginia

Where the Virginia physical therapist assistant program numbers come from

Which Virginia physical therapist assistant programs are on this list?

These are the physical therapist assistant programs Virginia approved for WIOA funding (public workforce funding under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act), as reported to the US Department of Labor for program year 2024 (July 2024 to June 2025). Each state keeps its approved programs on an eligible training provider list (ETPL).¹⁰ The list here covers programs approved as of June 30, 2025. Schools that never applied for approval are missing, so this is a part of what Virginia offers.

How the prices and results of Virginia physical therapist assistant programs are measured

Prices are tuition and required fees for someone paying without workforce funding, as the school reported them; check the current price with the school. Results describe students who left each program in recent years, so they are no guarantee, and the yearly earnings are the reported quarter times four, an estimate. A program without a "Trained with WIOA funding" line may still take WIOA students. Where a field was left empty or withheld, the page says "Not reported", and "Left out" where a figure was filed but failed one of our checks; nothing is estimated to fill a gap. Where the numbers come from explains each figure in full.

Sources for the facts about PTA programs in Virginia

Show the 10 sourcesHide the sources

Nursing and patient care

Medical office and lab

General healthcare

Skilled trades

Transportation and logistics

Computers and IT

Business and office

Beauty and personal care

Public safety

Food and hospitality

Education and social services