The clinic-floor entry point.
Six months to become the person who keeps the rehab clinic running — setting up equipment, prepping patients, and supporting licensed PTs through every session. A common pre-DPT pathway.
The Physical Therapy Aide fit.
If any of these describe you, this program likely matches your goals and timeline.
Pre-DPT applicants
Need clinical observation hours and patient-care experience? PT Aide gives you both, paid.
Sports & movement minded
Athletes, kinesiology majors, and personal trainers transition naturally into rehab clinic work.
Outpatient career path
PT clinics, sports medicine practices, and orthopedic offices hire from this pipeline directly.
Career changers
Move into healthcare with a track that doesn’t require a year-plus of nursing prereqs.
6 modules. 236 hours.
24 weeks online + 120hr clinical externship. Asynchronous online with weekly live office hours.
PT Foundations
Scope of practice, the rehab care continuum, and where the PT Aide sits between PT, PTA, and patient.
Anatomy & Kinesiology
Functional anatomy, joint mechanics, and how movement assessment drives the treatment plan.
Modalities & Equipment
TENS, ultrasound, traction, hot/cold packs, and resistance equipment — setup, safety, and cleaning.
Patient Setup & Transfer
Gait belts, transfer techniques, exercise prep, and supervised therapeutic exercise assistance.
Documentation & Coding
Daily note basics, scheduling workflows, insurance verification, and front-office coordination.
Clinical Externship
120 hours in a partner outpatient PT clinic, hospital rehab unit, or sports medicine practice.
Practical, employer-ready competencies.
Every skill below is taught explicitly, practiced in coursework, and validated during the externship.
Where graduates work.
Salary ranges reflect U.S. national averages. Local Texas market and metro Dallas pay tend higher in most categories. State PT Aide registration where required + CPR/BLS readiness.
Physical Therapy Aide
Rehab Tech
Sports Medicine Aide
Outpatient Clinic Tech
Tuition: $7,200 total · $399/mo payment plan
0% in-house payment plans, scholarships, employer reimbursement, and military/veteran benefits available. 87% of HCI students qualify for some form of aid. Federal Title IV pending ABHES accreditation.
Physical Therapy Aide questions.
Is this the same as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)?
No. PTA is a 2-year associate degree program with a different scope of practice. PT Aide is the support role beneath PTA — great as either a destination job or a stepping-stone toward PTA/DPT.
Will the externship hours count toward DPT applications?
Yes — the 120 supervised clinical hours count as observation/patient-care hours on most DPT applications. We provide official documentation.
Is the program physically demanding?
Yes. PT Aides spend most of the workday on their feet, moving equipment and assisting transfers. The externship simulates the actual physical demands.
Can I specialize?
After graduating you can pursue continuing-ed in pediatric, geriatric, sports, or neurological rehab. Career services helps map specialty paths.
Start the Physical Therapy Aide program.
Open enrollment year-round. Cohorts start every 4 weeks. Application takes about 5 minutes and is free.