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.
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 This Program
Just the Facts
Physical Therapist Assistant
61 Credit Associate Degree
Program Length
Two Years
Delivery Method
Face-to-Face
Program Location
Eau Claire
Start Months
August
Financial Aid Eligible
Bloodborne Pathogens
Students in this program should be aware of the risks associated with bloodborne pathogens. Learn more.
Learn more about the cost of attendance.
Term 1
$ 2,670
Term 2
$ 2,614
Term 3
$ 997
Term 4
$ 2,155
Term 5
$ 2,115
Books
$ 975
License, Certificate, or Credential
$ 620
What are estimated program costs? Estimated Total: $12,146
Career Opportunities
Physical Therapist Assistant
Graduate Employers
Broad River Rehab
CI Therapies
Dove Healthcare
Mayo Clinic Health System
Optimum Therapies
PT Solutions
Program Outcomes
CVTC graduates are ready for the workforce. Each year, we send our graduates the Graduate Follow-Up Survey asking several questions related to employment. Here are the program outcomes and job data.
// Program Scorecard$47K Yearly Salary
Our recent Physical Therapist Assistant graduates reported an average starting salary of $46,758.
80% Employed
80% of our recent Physical Therapist Assistant graduates got a job in the industry.
33 Regional Jobs
There are 33 job openings in the CVTC district for the Physical Therapist Assistant industry.
Transfer
Credits to Other Institutions
Should you choose to continue your education after you leave CVTC, we have agreements in place with several institutions to ensure an easy transfer.
Program Courses
These are a few of the courses you will take in this program. Courses and the recommended sequence change from year to year; once you are enrolled in a program at CVTC you will be given a recommended course sequence that outlines what courses you should take and the order in which to take them.
You may search for available courses. If you are ever unsure of what courses to take, talk to your academic advisor. If you are looking for course information for previous years, check out our past catalogs.
Here are a few of the courses you can take in the Physical Therapist Assistant program.
Sample Courses
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.
Request More Information
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Your future is waiting…Are you ready to get started?
Apply NowStudent Testimonial
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
Clinical Assistant, Technical Diploma
Medical Assistant, Technical Diploma
Practical Nursing (LPN), Technical Diploma
Certificates
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 OpportunitiesUnsure 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), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: http://www.capteonline.org. Effective January 1, 2025, the program's current status is probationary accreditation; for more information see https://www.capteonline.org/about-capte/recent-actions-and-updates/recent-actions. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 715.858.1885 or email spowell8@cvtc.edu.
View program financial fact sheet. | View CAPTE outcome data. | Learn about complaints.
Additional Admissions Resources
Admission Requirements
Each program requires specific requirements a student must meet to be considered for admissions to this program.
// View Admission RequirementsAdvising Tips
We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.
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