About Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTA's) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTA’s help manage patients with back and neck injuries, sprains and strains, arthritis, burns, amputations, wounds, neurological conditions, surgical intervention, and injuries related to work or sports. PTA.'s help individuals of all ages who are ill, injured, or have a health condition that limits their ability to perform daily activities needed for life. Care provided by PTA's may include teaching patients exercises and activities to increase mobility, strength, and coordination. PTA's will also use physical modalities such as heat, ice, ultrasound, traction, massage, or electrical stimulation to help decrease pain, increase motion, and improve function.

Physical Therapist Assistants must be licensed in the state that they wish to practice. This requires graduation from an accredited institution and passing of the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTA's. Some positions may require criminal background checks, drug screening, and/or security clearances. A completed physical exam, evidence of immunization and current CPR certification may also be required.

Students making the decision to enter into this program should be aware of the physical nature of both the profession and their course of study. Students must be able to perform essential functions in order to successfully complete the program and work in the profession at large. Essential functions are the activities/skills that are necessary to ensure that the students are able to provide safe, competent, and timely care to patients receiving physical therapy services. The following standards reflect reasonable expectations of PTA students for the performance of common physical therapy activities. Students must be able to obtain information in the classroom laboratory and clinical setting through observation, auscultation, and palpation. Students must have sufficient motor capabilities, balance, strength, coordination, and stamina to execute the movements and skills to provide safe and effective physical therapy interventions. Students must possess the ability to comprehend, recall, and process large amounts of didactic information. Students must be able to think critically, reason, prioritize, organize, and attend to tasks and responsibilities in a timely manner when performing data collection skills and physical therapy interventions during patient care. Students must be able to utilize effective and efficient communications in the English language to interact with peers, healthcare providers, patients, and family members. Students must demonstrate the ability to practice in a professional and ethical manner. Students must exercise good judgment, develop empathetic and therapeutic relationships patients and others and tolerate close and direct physical contact and broad and diverse populations. Personal attributes must include compassion, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, cultural competence, and motivation.

The most common related job title is Physical Therapist Assistant. Physical Therapist Assistants work in a variety of settings including hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and extended care facilities, homes, schools, occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities.

Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)

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