NWACC PTA celebrates 28 consecutive years of 100% pass rates

---

Main Content Start

With all its licensure-exam scores tallied for the 2025-26 academic year, the NWACC Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) program is proud to announce it has achieved a 100% ultimate board pass rate – for the 28th consecutive year. 

An ultimate pass rate reflects the percentage of graduates who successfully pass the national licensure examination within their first two attempts. NWACC’s PTA program has achieved a 100% ultimate pass rate for 28 consecutive years, an exceptional milestone that reflects nearly three decades of graduate success on the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination for physical therapist assistants (NPTE-PTA).

Nicholas Virden, PTA program director, said, “This milestone is made possible by the dedication of our students, faculty, clinical partners, families and the entire NWACC community."

This year’s results included an exceptional accomplishment: one NWACC graduate, Ashley Crouch of Benton, earned a perfect score on the NPTE-PTA. 

“We are also proud to celebrate Ashley, a student in our hybrid PTA cohort, for earning the highest possible score on the NPTE-PTA, an exceptionally rare accomplishment,” Virden said. “Together, these achievements reflect more than exam success. They represent lives changed, careers launched and a shared commitment to excellence in PTA education.” 

NWACC’s Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares students for careers assisting physical therapists in providing patient care and rehabilitation services. Through classroom instruction, laboratory experiences and clinical education, students develop the knowledge and hands-on skills needed to enter the profession. 

Learn more about NWACC PTA at nwacc.edu/pta.