How to Get Your PTA License in Georgia (2026)

How to Become a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant in Georgia

Physical Therapist Assistants in Georgia work under PT supervision to implement therapeutic exercise programs, apply physical modalities, assist with manual therapy techniques, and maintain patient documentation. Georgia's rapidly expanding population — driven by Atlanta's continued growth and migration to suburban and exurban communities — creates strong and sustained demand for rehabilitation professionals across the state. The Atlanta metro is the dominant employment market, but Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, and rural Georgia communities also generate consistent PTA demand, particularly in home health and SNF settings.

Step 1: Complete a CAPTE-Accredited PTA Program

Georgia licensure requires graduation from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). CAPTE-accredited PTA programs award an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Physical Therapist Assisting over approximately two years. Coursework covers foundational sciences alongside PT-specific clinical instruction and includes a minimum of 16 weeks of supervised clinical education in settings such as outpatient orthopedics, inpatient rehabilitation, home health, and pediatrics.

Georgia has multiple CAPTE-accredited PTA programs, including those at Georgia State University Perimeter College, Augusta Technical College, Central Georgia Technical College, and others. Verify current accreditation status at capte.org before enrolling.

Step 2: Pass the NPTE-PTA Exam

Georgia requires all PTA license applicants to pass the NPTE-PTA, a 200-question computer adaptive test delivered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) at Prometric testing centers. The exam lasts four hours and requires a passing score of 600 or higher on the 200–800 scale. Combined FSBPT and Prometric fees total approximately $485. The six-attempt lifetime limit emphasizes the importance of thorough preparation — three to four months using structured study resources such as Scorebuilders or TherapyEd is typical. Prometric testing centers in Atlanta, Augusta, and other Georgia cities provide convenient scheduling options.

Step 3: Apply for Your Georgia PTA License

The Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy, within the Georgia Secretary of State's Office, issues PTA licenses. After passing the NPTE-PTA, complete the Board's license application and submit it with a fee of approximately $50–$100. Required materials include official NPTE-PTA score verification from FSBPT, official transcripts from your CAPTE-accredited program, and a criminal background check. Georgia does not require a separate state jurisprudence examination for PTAs; however, applicants must comply with the Georgia Physical Therapy Practice Act. Processing typically takes two to four weeks after all documentation is submitted.

PT Compact Membership

Georgia is a member of the Physical Therapy Licensure Compact. Holding an active Georgia PTA license in good standing makes you eligible to apply for multistate practice privileges in other compact member states through the PT Compact Commission portal. This is particularly useful for Georgia PTAs who work in the Atlanta metro's broad suburban corridors — portions of which extend toward Tennessee, Alabama, and the Carolinas — or for those pursuing travel PTA contracts across the Southeast.

Continuing Education Requirements

Georgia PTA licenses are renewed every two years. Licensees must complete 20 continuing education hours per renewal cycle. The Georgia State Board of Physical Therapy does not mandate specific CE topic areas for PTAs. Acceptable CE formats include live seminars, online modules, workshops, and APTA-approved programming. Maintain CE completion records for at least three years in case of Board audit.

Georgia PTA Salary Ranges

Georgia PTAs typically earn between $49,000 and $69,000 annually. Atlanta metro salaries are at the upper end of this range, driven by competition among major health systems, national outpatient chains, and travel agencies placing PTAs at high-volume facilities. Savannah and Augusta markets are growing steadily. Rural Georgia PTAs in SNF and home health roles may earn lower base salaries but often benefit from sign-on bonuses, relocation assistance, and reduced living costs. Travel PTA contracts in Georgia's rural South Georgia communities pay $36–$52 per hour with stipends.

Top Employers for PTAs in Georgia

Northside Hospital is one of Atlanta's largest health systems and a significant PTA employer across its Atlanta, Cherokee, Forsyth, and Gwinnett campuses. Wellstar Health System operates one of the largest hospital networks in Georgia, with PTA opportunities across inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient therapy programs from Marietta to Douglasville and beyond. Piedmont Healthcare, another large Atlanta-area system, employs PTAs across its growing network of hospitals and outpatient clinics. ATI Physical Therapy has an extensive outpatient clinic network across metro Atlanta and several Georgia secondary markets, as does NovaCare Rehabilitation. Athletico Physical Therapy is expanding in Georgia's urban and suburban markets. In the post-acute space, Kindred Healthcare, Encompass Health (which operates several Georgia inpatient rehab facilities), and Pruitt Health (a Georgia-headquartered SNF operator) are major employers. Home health agencies including Amedisys and LHC Group round out Georgia's PTA employment landscape.