PTA programs in Arkansas

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 Arkansas 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 Arkansas, 2 of the 4 programs ask for a high school diploma or equivalent and 2 ask for earlier courses first.

All 4 are the same kind of program: PTA (associate degree).

See the 4 programs

How much do PTA programs cost in Arkansas?

$11,550 to $20,101

is what the 4 programs with a price cost if you pay yourself

In the typical program

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

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

Are there free PTA programs in Arkansas?

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.⁵In program year 2024 it paid toward the training of at least 9 people at 1 of the 4 programs here.
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. These programs cost $11,550 to $20,101.

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

All 4 PTA programs in Arkansas approved for WIOA funding

4 programs

PTA (associate degree)In personHigh school diploma or equivalent
Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS
SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SACC) - EAST & WEST El Dorado
El Dorado
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SACC) - EAST & WEST El Dorado, El DoradoPTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$25,800
Price if you pay yourself$13,404
Program website, Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS at SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SACC) - EAST & WEST El Dorado
More details about Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS at SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SACC) - EAST & WEST El Dorado
Finished
22%
Working at 6 months
50%
Earned in a quarter
$6,458
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$2,705
Students counted
269
Earned a year, estimated
$25,800
Price if you pay yourself
$13,404
Program website, Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS at SOUTH ARKANSAS COMMUNITY COLLEGE (SACC) - EAST & WEST El Dorado
PTA (associate degree)HybridHigh school diploma or equivalent
Physical Therapy Assistant
Arkansas State University (Asu) - Jonesboro (4 Yr)
Jonesboro
Accredited school
High school diploma or equivalent
Arkansas State University (Asu) - Jonesboro (4 Yr), JonesboroPTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · High school diploma or equivalent
Earned a year, estimated$28,800
Price if you pay yourself$14,240
9 students trained with WIOA funding
More details about Physical Therapy Assistant at Arkansas State University (Asu) - Jonesboro (4 Yr)
Finished
56%
Working at 6 months
65%
Earned in a quarter
$7,203
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$2,000
Students counted
246
Earned a year, estimated
$28,800
Price if you pay yourself
$14,240
students trained with WIOA funding
9
PTA (associate degree)In personEducation and courses
Physical Therapist Assistant
Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus
Ozark
Accredited school
Education and courses
Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus, OzarkPTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolIn person · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$40,400
Price if you pay yourself$20,101
School website, Physical Therapist Assistant at Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus
More details about Physical Therapist Assistant at Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus
Finished
54%
Working at 6 months
58%
Earned in a quarter
$10,098
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$3,000
Students counted
186
Earned a year, estimated
$40,400
Price if you pay yourself
$20,101
School website, Physical Therapist Assistant at Arkansas Tech University - Ozark Campus
PTA (associate degree)HybridEducation and courses
Physical Therapist Assistant
NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
Bentonville
Accredited school
Education and courses
NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC), BentonvillePTA (associate degree) · Accredited schoolHybrid · Education and courses
Earned a year, estimated$33,300
Price if you pay yourself$11,550
School website, Physical Therapist Assistant at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
More details about Physical Therapist Assistant at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)
Finished
63%
Working at 6 months
83%
Earned in a quarter
$8,331
Length
Not reported
Cost of supplies
$1,550
Students counted
113
Earned a year, estimated
$33,300
Price if you pay yourself
$11,550
School website, Physical Therapist Assistant at NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)

How to pay for PTA programs in Arkansas

WIOA funding can pay for PTA programs in Arkansas

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 El Dorado, Jonesboro, Fayetteville and other Arkansas cities

Choosing an area filters the program list above. 1 in smaller cities and towns.

Other training in Arkansas

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

Where the Arkansas physical therapist assistant program numbers come from

Which Arkansas physical therapist assistant programs are on this list?

These are the physical therapist assistant programs Arkansas 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 Arkansas offers.

How the prices and results of Arkansas 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 Arkansas

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