College of the Desert

PTA Program Data

Below is complete information including curriculum, learning format, tuition and fees, student outcomes, accreditation, student reviews, and application deadlines for the Physical Therapist Assistant program at College of the Desert. Page updated: July 1st, 2025

College of the Desert PTA Program Overview

The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program at College of the Desert (COD), located in Palm Desert, California, offers a comprehensive path for those seeking to enter this rewarding healthcare field. Accredited by CAPTE, COD’s PTA program is designed to be completed in two years: students first finish prerequisites and general education courses—such as Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II (completed within 10 years), psychology, English composition, philosophy or ethics, math, and kinesiology—before entering the technical phase.
Once accepted into the technical phase via a competitive multi-criteria admission process (admitting up to 25 students per year), learners move through an intensive sequence of hands-on coursework covering therapeutic procedures for inpatient/outpatient settings, neuroscience, functional anatomy/kinesiology labs, clinical pathology, current issues in physical therapy practice, and two full-time clinical internships arranged with local facilities throughout Coachella Valley.

Estimated total cost for residents is about $3,180—including tuition ($46/unit), fees/insurance/textbooks/health records—and about $3,779 when factoring licensure expenses. The program boasts strong outcomes: recent cohorts have had a 100% employment rate post-graduation and a perfect board exam pass rate.

Unique to COD is its deep connection with local healthcare providers across Riverside County—a growing region where PTAs are in high demand due to its aging population. For more information or application details (including Spanish-language support), prospective students can contact Dr. Matthew Wilson at mawilson@collegeofthedesert.edu or visit COD’s campus on Monterey Ave., Palm Desert.

Video from College of the Desert

PTA Program Contact and Outcomes

Below is complete contact information for the PTA program director at College of the Desert as well as links to complete data on student outcomes and more information on the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

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