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Associate Degree

Physical Therapist Assistant

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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.

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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.

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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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Estimated Program Cost 

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

Program Courses Admission Information I'm Ready to Apply

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.

View Transfer Options

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.

View Full Course List

Request More Information

Please provide your contact information and an Admissions Advisor will get back to you ASAP with more information about this program.

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Your future is waiting…Are you ready to get started?

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Keng, Physical Therapist Assistant student

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

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.  |  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.

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Advising Tips

We have compiled helpful tips and general information for students in this program.

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