Physical Therapy

UWL's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Review our program profile for more information.

UWL’s program offers exceptional value. Students benefit from small class sizes, extensive hands-on learning, and outstanding outcomes — including 100% pass rates on national licensure exams and excellent job placement — all at a cost that is significantly lower than many comparable programs nationwide.

Our graduates consistently excel on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). The 2025 first-time pass rate was 100%, reflecting both faculty expertise and our students’ preparation. 

A low student-to-faculty ratio ensures personalized instruction, mentorship and meaningful professional relationships that last long after graduation. 

From the first semester, UWL PT students engage in hands-on learning through coursework, labs, clinical experiences and community-based activities. UWL’s early immersion model allows students to practice skills in clinical-style environments before entering hospitals or clinics — building confidence and competence in low-risk, high-impact settings.

Students also design and implement community projects, planning in the fall and carrying them out in the spring. These experiences serve diverse populations from pediatrics to older adults and those with and without physical or intellectual disabilities.

Signature programs and partnerships in past years have included:

• LEAP (Lower Extremity Amputee Program)
  Students develop and lead individualized walking, balance and strengthening programs for individuals with lower extremity amputations, tracking progress and providing hands-on support.
• EXPAND (Exercise Program for Adults with Neurologic Disorders)
  This program connects PT education with community need, helping adults with neurological conditions improve health, mobility and overall wellness.
• Special Olympics SoFit
  Students work with Special Olympics athletes through bi-weekly strength and conditioning sessions.
• APTIV
  Students support movement-based programming—including cardiovascular, strength and coordination activities—for both adult and pediatric participants.
• Boys & Girls Club
  Students serve as mentors while leading movement-based programming for adolescents.
• La Crosse County Department of Disability & Aging
  Students provide cognitive and fall-risk screenings for community members.
• RealGirls
  Students contribute to this local mentoring and running program for 4th- and 5th-grade girls.
• Eagle Crest North
  Students lead exercise programming for residents in an assisted living setting.
• Community Wellness Program
  Students design fitness programming aimed at improving overall fitness in adult participants.
• Group Balance & Strengthening
  Students facilitate group exercise sessions for individuals with neurological conditions.

Located in the Health Science Center (HSC), PT students learn alongside peers in other health professions, promoting interprofessional collaboration and research. The HSC houses: 

• The La Crosse Institute of Movement Science (LIMS) is a collaborative research entity comprised of multidisciplinary labs, clinicians and scientists. It houses three primary research labs.
• The Enhancing Movement, Pelvic Outcomes, and Wellness Research (EMPOWER) Lab focuses on improving lifespan health by studying the intersection of pelvic health, physical activity and longevity. Research in this lab centers around three major lifespan transitions: adolescence, matrescence and menopause. State-of-the art equipment includes metabolic carts, a DEXA scanner, ultrasound imaging machines and EMG/biofeedback. Students at both the graduate and undergraduate level provide significant contributions to studies and manuscript publications in the EMPOWER Lab.
• Strzelczyk Clinical Biomechanics Laboratory focuses on biomechanics research in health and patients populations. State-of-the-art equipment includes three-dimensional motion analysis; force and pressure distribution measurement equipment; ultrasound imaging; and electromyography systems. Students at both the graduate and undergraduate level contribute to work in this prolific lab.
• The Performance Analysis for Clinical Exercise and Running Performance (PACER) lab is an additional multi-disciplinary space that houses a motion analysis system and instrumented treadmill for gait analysis and advanced biomechanics research.
• The Exercise Program for Adults with Neurologic Disorders (EXPAND) links UWL physical therapy education with a community need to provide adults with neurological disorders a place to learn how to maximize their health and wellness. The EXPAND program serves community members with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, balance disorders and those recovering from stroke or head injury.