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Physical Therapist Assistant Overview

Earn your Physical Therapist Assistant degree at CVTC! You will help people of all ages improve their mobility and relieve pain and disability caused by disease or injury. If you are looking for a rewarding career where you can help others improve their function, becoming a physical therapist assistant is the right choice.

The program will teach you how to do the following under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist:

  • Implement treatment programs
  • Teach patients to perform exercises
  • Conduct treatments using special equipment

You will gain the following skills:

  • Therapeutic exercises
  • Application of heat/cold
  • Soft tissue mobilization
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Documentation
  • Neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary treatment skills

You will have a clinical experience as part of the program to apply foundational elements, knowledge, and technical skills required of the entry-level physical therapist assistant in various practice settings.

After completion of the program, you will be prepared to work in a hospital, nursing home, rehabilitation center, or other healthcare facility.

Career Opportunities

Physical Therapist Assistant

Graduate Employers

Lakeland Physical Therapy

Triage Staffing

Just the Facts

Physical Therapist Assistant
61 Credit Associate Degree

Length of Program //
Two Years

Delivery Method //

Program Location //
Eau Claire

Program Location //
August

Start Months //
August

Start Dates //
August

Bloodborne Pathogens
Students in this program should be aware of the risks associated with bloodborne pathogens. Learn more.

 

Bloodborne Pathogens

Students entering health programs at CVTC should understand the risk of exposure to bloodborne pathogens, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, and HIV/AIDs, through saliva and blood with direct patient care as part of their education.

This exposure can be minimized or eliminated using a combination of engineering and work practice controls, personal protective clothing and equipment, training, medical surveillance, Hepatitis B vaccination, signs and labels, and other provisions.

All programs at CVTC comply with local, state, and federal infection control policies, including the use of standard precautions as stipulated by current CDC guidelines. Written policies and instructions on infection control protocol to minimize the risk of disease transmission is provided throughout the courses in the curriculum. Compliance of safety practices is evaluated throughout the students' clinical experiences to ensure a safe educational environment.

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Financial Aid Eligible

 

Non-Traditional Occupation

Estimated Program Cost 

Term 1

$

2,600

Term 2

$

2,513

Term 3

$

957

Term 4

$

2,068

Term 5

$

2,036

Books

$

1,262

 Estimated Total: $11,436

View Admission Details

  Earn credit for prior learning! Do you have previous educational or work experience in the field? You could be eligible to receive credit for prior learning. Explore your options today!

Program Courses

These are a few of the courses you can take in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.

Kinesiology 1
Introduces basic principles of musculoskeletal anatomy, kinematics, and clinical assessment. Students locate and identify muscles, joints, and other landmarks of the lower quadrant in addition to assessing range of motion and strength.

Therapeutic Exercise
Provides instruction on the implementation of a variety of therapeutic exercise principles. Learners implement, educate, adapt, and assess responses to therapeutic exercises.

Principles of Neuromuscular Rehabilitation
Integrates concepts of neuromuscular pathologies, physical therapy interventions, and data collection in patient treatment.

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Physical Therapist Assistant Outcomes

CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking where they are working, whether it is in their degree field, and several other questions related to employment. Below are the program outcomes and job data.

// Program Outcomes
 

$50K*
Yearly Salary

Physical Therapist Assistant professionals make an average starting salary of $50,228.

 

14
Regional Jobs

There are 14 job openings in the CVTC district for the Physical Therapist Assistant industry.

 

Transfer
Credits to Other Institutions

Transfer your CVTC credits to another institution to continue your education. Explore transfer agreements.

 
* This wage is not specific to CVTC graduates. Wage estimates are based on entry-level positions and are gathered from Lightcast which is an economic modeling software that blends historical and projected industry and occupation trends within CVTC's 11-county district. Wage estimates are based on Occupational Employment Statistics and the American Community Survey.

 

Focus On Student Success

Labs are really hands-on, and having a variety of people you can practice on helps you get a feel for a real work environment.

–Keng, Physical Therapist Assistant student

Related Programs & Certificates

Whether you're looking to continue your learning to another program or to gain continuing education credit, CVTC offers a variety of learning opportunities for students.
 

Degrees & Diplomas

Dental Assistant, Technical Diploma

Medical Assistant, Technical Diploma

Continue Your Learning

CVTC can help you achieve your learning goals whether you are looking to advance your career or enrich your personal life.

// Explore Continuing Ed Opportunities

  Unsure of which program you'd like to go into? Learn more about our Career Assessment to help narrow down your options.

A Program You Can Trust

Program Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at Chippewa Valley Technical College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
View program financial fact sheet.  |  View CAPTE outcome data.