General Program Description
The PTA program is 2 years plus one semester in length. Program start date is annually in August with a May graduation. The summer courses are taken between the first and second year.
Clinical Experiences
Students participate a part-time clinical experience consisting of 3 days per week for 6 weeks occur at the end of the third semester. Two full-time experiences take place during the fourth semester. The first experience is 5 1/2 weeks in length, the second experience is 7 weeks in length.
Faculty
There are 2.5 full-time and four part-time faculty members. Of the full-time faculty 50% hold post-professional masters degrees. The instructor to student ratio is no greater than 1:9.
Enrollment
The College serves approximately 41,500 student annually. The physical therapist assistant program accepts a maximum of 36 students for admission yearly. Thirty-two full-time students and four part-time students are admitted annually.
Admission
Applications are accepted beginning on the Monday after Labor Day in September for the following year. Notification is made by Student Services, Admissions. NWTC requires an entrance skill inventory for all program students. Requirements for program entry include a high school diploma or the equivalency, a minimum composite score of 20 on the ACT, and two years of high school science with a grade of C or better. Students must get a complete medical examination within three months of entering the program. Upon admission to the program, all students are required to complete the Caregiver Background Check. Also, students much complete the American Heart Association Health Care Provider CPR course prior to any clinical practice experience and must maintain current certification on a two-year renewal cycle.
Outcomes
64% of admitted students graduate from the program (3-year average). 99% of those program graduates responding to surveys are employed within 6 months of graduation (3-year average). The state of Wisconsin, as of April 2004, requires licensure of physical therapist assistants. 92% of graduates pass the licensure exam (3-year average).
Tuition, fees and financial aid
The approximate total cost of the program for course fees, books, and supplies is $10,810.00 Students are also responsible for any expenses related to clinical experiences. All students must complete the Wisconsin Financial Aid Form to qualify for financial aid. Applications are available after February 1 for the next school year. Grants and loans are available on the basis of need and availability.
Student life
Northeast Wisconsin Technical College is a multi-campus district. The PTA program is housed in the main campus in Green Bay. Green Bay is the largest city in northeast Wisconsin and is the major health referral city for northeast Wisconsin and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Health Care is the largest industry in the county.