Is This Program for You?

Do you have an interest in helping others and enjoy working with people from a variety of backgrounds and abilities? Do you enjoy working independently, and are you in good physical and emotional health? If so, the Physical Therapist Assistant program may provide the opportunity you need to launch a great career.

Students entering the Physical Therapist Assistant program should:

• Have good reading, math, and comprehension skills.
• Be in good physical and emotional health.
• Be flexible, adaptable, and enjoy working with people.
• Be self-confident, independent, and a self-directed learner.
• Meet Wisconsin Caregiver Law requirements.

Program Basics

• Associate degree
• Day, evening/weekend and online classes may be available.
• Financial aid is available to those that qualify.
• August program start date; however, some classes will be available in January.
• Qualified students may take some courses immediately upon program acceptance.
• Students must achieve a grade of a C or better in each course of the program curriculum to be eligible to progress.
• Current Healthcare Provider CPR certification must be maintained throughout the program. (Courses must include CPR, and a hands-on exam must be taken.)

Cost of Attendance (COA) 26-27

Cost of Attendance (COA) is a total of all the usual expenses of being a student. The COA sets the maximum amount of financial aid a student can receive.

Based on Wisconsin Residents.

Approximate school costs are for a full-time (12 credit) student over a semester span of 17 weeks.

Fees are legislated by the Wisconsin Technical College System Board.

These costs are estimates and are subject to change without notice.

Admission Requirements

• Submit Application

Academic Preparedness Requirements

Before you can be fully accepted into your program, you need to complete the requirements below. These are the same requirements you may see in your SWTC Student Portal.


• Submit Official High School, College, Military Transcripts, and Test Scores
  Have documents sent directly to:
  • Email: admissions@swtc.edu
  • Mail: Southwest Wisconsin Technical College, Attn: Admissions, 1800 Bronson Blvd, Fennimore, WI 53809
• Take a Test or Provide Previous Education or Scores
  You only need to complete one of the following:
  • Submit your ACT scores. You must have a cumulative ACT score of 18 or higher from within the last 4 years.
  • OR take the TABE 13 (Test of Adult Basic Education) for Reading, Language, and Math scoring at TABE level D. You must meet these minimum scores:
    • Reading: 576 or higher
    • Language: 529 or higher
    • Math: 537 or higher

    Schedule Your TABE 13 Test

• Complete Physical Therapy Observation Hours
  Complete 32 hours of observation:
  • In two different physical therapy settings
  • With two different physical therapists

  Record your completed hours on the PTA - Verification of Clinical Observation Hours.docx form and submit the completed form to Southwest Tech.

• Meet with Your Advisor for an Admissions Meeting
  Schedule an admission meeting with your program advisor to complete your student success plan, including a career assessment and academic map and support plan.
  
  To schedule your meeting, go to the Appointments page. Find your advisor in the list, then select Make an Appointment under their contact information.
  
  Appointments are available on campus or virtually.

If you want to check which of these requirements you still need to complete, log in to your SWTC Student Portal, go to My Profile → Document Center, and make sure All Programs is selected.

Program Outcomes

The graduate of the Physical Therapist Assistant Program will be able to:

• Demonstrate clear and collaborative communication with patients, families, and health care team.
• Exhibit behaviors and conduct that reflect respect and sensitivity according to physical therapy practice standards.
• Function under the supervision of a physical therapist in a safe, legal, ethical manner to ensure the safety of patients, self, and others throughout the clinical interaction.
• Produce documentation to support the delivery of physical therapy services.
• Demonstrate critical thinking skills to implement and modify treatment within a plan of care under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist.
• Perform data collection essential for carrying out the plan of care under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist.
• Perform technically competent, evidence-based physical therapy interventions under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist.
• Educate patients, families and other health care providers.
• Integrate components of operational and fiscal practices of physical therapy service in a variety of settings.
• Implement a self-directed plan for career development, credentialing and lifelong learning.

Graduation Rates (per CAPTE guidelines): 1^st cohort admitted was class of 2013

Licensure Examination Pass Rate

Graduate PTA Employment Data within 12 Months of Graduation

Salary Data - Related Employment

PTA Outcomes

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Southwest Tech’s Physical Therapist Assistant (P.T.A.) program is designed to prepare students to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination for Physical Therapist Assistants in Wisconsin. If you plan to pursue licensure in a state other than Wisconsin, please review state educational requirements for that state.

Licensure Information

The Physical Therapist Assistant program is designed to lead to a license for Physical Therapist Assistant (through NPTE) in Wisconsin. More licensure information can be found on the Program Accreditations and Licensure page.

Employment opportunities for Physical Therapist Assistant include:

• Hospitals
• Rehabilitation Centers
• Outpatient Clinics
• Sports Medicine Centers
• Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care Facilities
• Schools
• Specialty Units
• Home Health Agencies

Southwest Tech's Career Services Center offers services to assist students looking for job placement.

Credit for Prior Learning

Experience Pays! You've Been There... You've Done That... Let's See If You Can Get Credit For It!

Credit for prior learning gives you opportunities to earn credit for college-level knowledge that you have already acquired. This may be the result of work or volunteer experiences, certifications, apprenticeships, military training, extensive self-instruction, or professional development. Credit for Prior Learning affords you the opportunity to accelerate the completion of your educational goals.

For more information on Credit for Prior Learning see our Credit for Prior Learning page.

Physical Therapist Assistant Courses that may have Credit for Prior Learning options:

Course #	Course Title	Challenge Exam (Demonstration)	Challenge Exam (Standard)	CLEP	Credential	Portfolio
10-801-136	English Composition I
	CLEP Test - College Composition
10-801-198	Speech
10-809-188	Developmental Psychology
	CLEP Test - Human Growth and Development
10-809-196	Intro to Sociology
10-809-198	Introduction to Psychology
	CLEP Test - Introduction to Psychology