Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work as part of a team providing physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTAs implement interventions outlined in the physical therapist's plan of care, collect data related to interventions, and modify selected interventions to progress patients towards their individual goals. These goals are designed to reduce pain, restore function, improve mobility and prevent disability. An Associate in Science Degree in Physical Therapist Assistant requires 5-semesters of study, including three full-time clinical practicums. The PTA Program prepares graduates to take the national examination for certification/licensure as a PTA.

You Might Like This Program If...

You are interested in working with people of all ages who have health-related conditions that cause pain or limit their ability to move or perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs work under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist to provide meaningful interventions, such as exercise, training for walking and other activities, manual therapy and interventions, and the use of physical agents and electrotherapy.

This major helps prepare individuals to provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist in an ethical, safe, and effective manner. Students develop knowledge and skills in data collection and the appropriate use of equipment and exercise associated with various physical therapy treatment modalities. To accomplish these tasks, the major utilizes a combination of basic science and non-science course work coupled with courses specifically designed for the physical therapist assistant student. Students must progress through the program as prescribed by the suggested academic plan for their campus of admission. The program culminates with a full semester of clinical experience.

The size of each entering class is limited so that optimal clinical experiences and practical application situations can be maintained. Clinical affiliations are maintained over a wide geographical area, and students may be required to make special housing and transportation arrangements for the clinical phase. Prior to the beginning of the clinical experiences, PTA students are required to complete clinical requirements that may include, but are not limited to: health examination, immunizations, FBI fingerprint check, child abuse clearance, state background check and drug screening. Students will be responsible for completion and purchase of the necessary checks/clearances through a University approved vendor and providing results to the clinical sites.

In addition to a PTA certification/licensure, many state licensing boards and clinical facilities require a criminal background check, child abuse clearance, and a drug screening. Students with criminal records should contact the physical therapy licensing board in the state they plan to practice prior to applying for admission to the PTA Program to inquire about potential restrictions for licensure.

• Adhere to legal practice standards, including all federal, state, and institutional regulations related to patient/client care and fiscal management.
• Report to appropriate authorities suspected cases of abuse of vulnerable populations.
• Report to appropriate authorities suspected cases of fraud and abuse related to the utilization of and payment for physical therapy and other health care services.
• Perform duties in a manner consistent with the Guide for Conduct of the Physical Therapist Assistant (APTA) and Standards of Ethical Conduct (APTA) to meet the expectations of patients, members of the physical therapy profession, and other providers as necessary.
• Perform duties in a manner consistent with the APTA's Values-Based Behaviors for the Physical Therapist Assistant
• Implement, in response to an ethical situation, a plan of action that demonstrates sound moral reasoning congruent with core professional ethics and values.
• Communicate effectively with all stakeholders, including patients/clients, family members, caregivers, practitioners, interprofessional team members, consumers, payers, and policymakers.
• Identify, respect, and act with consideration for patients'/clients' differences, values, preferences, and expressed needs in all work-related activities.
• Apply current knowledge, theory, and clinical judgment while considering the patient/client perspective and the environment, based on the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
• Identify basic concepts in professional literature including, but not limited to, validity, reliability and level of statistical significance.
• Identify and integrate appropriate evidence based resources to support clinical decision-making for progression of the patient within the plan of care established by the physical therapist.
• Effectively educate others using teaching methods that are commensurate with the needs of the patient, caregiver or healthcare personnel.
• Participate in professional and community organizations that provide opportunities for volunteerism, advocacy and leadership.
• Identify career development and lifelong learning opportunities, including the role of the physical therapist assistant in the clinical education of physical therapist assistant students.
• Interview patients/clients, caregivers, and family to obtain current information related to prior and current level of function and general health status (e.g., fatigue, fever, malaise, unexplained weight change).
• Use the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to describe a patient's/client's impairments, activity and participation limitations.
• Communicate an understanding of the plan of care developed by the physical therapist to achieve short and long term goals and intended outcomes.
• Review health records (e.g., lab values, diagnostic tests, specialty reports, narrative, consults, and physical therapy documentation) prior to carrying out the PT plan of care.
• Monitor and adjust interventions in the plan of care in response to patient/client status and clinical indications.
• Report any changes in patient/client status or progress to the supervising physical therapist.
• Determine when an intervention should not be performed due to clinical indications or when the direction to perform the intervention is beyond that which is appropriate for the physical therapist assistant.
• Contribute to the discontinuation of episode of care planning and follow-up processes as directed by the supervising physical therapist.
• Airway Clearance Techniques: breathing exercises, coughing techniques and secretion mobilization.
• Application of Devices and Equipment:
  • assistive/adaptive devices
  • prosthetic and orthotic devices
• Biophysical agents:
  • biofeedback
  • electrotherapeutic agents
  • compression therapies
  • cryotherapy
  • hydrotherapy
  • superficial and deep thermal agents
  • traction
  • light therapies
• Functional Training in Self-Care and in Domestic, Education, Work, Community, Social, and Civic Life
• Manual Therapy Techniques:
  • passive range of motion
  • therapeutic massage
• Motor Function Training (balance, gait, etc.)
• Patient/Client Education
• Therapeutic Exercise
• Wound Management:
  • isolation techniques
  • sterile technique
  • application and removal of dressing or agents
  • identification of precautions for dressing removal
• Aerobic Capacity and Endurance:
  • measurement of standard vital signs
  • recognize and monitor responses to positional changes and activities (e.g., orthostatic hypotension, response to exercise)
• Anthropometrical Characteristics: measurements of height, weight, length and girth
• Mental Functions: detect changes in a patient's state of arousal, mentation and cognition
• Assistive Technology:
  • identify the individual's and caregiver's ability to care for the device
  • recognize changes in skin condition while using devices and equipment
  • recognize safety factors while using devices and equipment
• Gait, Locomotion, and Balance: determine the safety, status, and progression of patients while engaged in gait, locomotion, balance, wheelchair management and mobility
• Integumentary Integrity:
  • detect absent or altered sensation
  • normal and abnormal integumentary changes
  • activities, positioning, and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations, or that can produce associated skin trauma
  • recognize viable versus nonviable tissue
• Joint Integrity and Mobility: detect normal and abnormal joint movement
• Muscle Performance:
  • measure muscle strength by manual muscle testing
  • observe the presence or absence of muscle mass
  • recognize normal and abnormal muscle length
  • recognize changes in muscle tone
• Neuromotor Development:
  • gross motor milestones
  • fine motor milestones
  • righting and equilibrium reactions
• Pain:
  • administer standardized questionnaires, graphs, behavioral scales, or visual analog scales for pain
  • recognize activities, positioning, and postures that aggravate or relieve pain or altered sensations
• Posture: determine normal and abnormal alignment of trunk and extremities at rest and during activities
• Range of Motion:
  • measure functional range of motion
  • measure range of motion using an appropriate measurement device
• Self-Care and Civic, Community, Domestic, Education, Social and Work Life:
  • inspect the physical environment and measure physical spaces
  • recognize safety and barriers in the home, community and work environments
  • recognize level of functional status
  • administer standardized questionnaires to patients and others
• Ventilation, Respiration and Circulation:
  • detect signs and symptoms of respiratory distress, and activities that aggravate or relieve edema, pain, dyspnea, or other symptoms
  • describe thoracoabdominal movements and breathing patterns with activity, and cough and sputum characteristics
• Complete accurate documentation that follows guidelines and specific documentation formats required by state practice acts, the practice setting, and other regulatory agencies.
• Respond effectively to patient/client and environmental emergencies that commonly occur in the clinical setting.
• Contribute to efforts to increase patient and healthcare provider safety.
• Participate in the provision of patient-centered interprofessional collaborative care.
• Participate in performance improvement activities (quality assurance).
• Describe aspects of organizational planning and operation of the physical therapy service.
• Describe accurate and timely information for billing and payment purposes.

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The Physical Therapist Assistant program prepares its graduates for positions in many traditional and non-traditional career settings and for opportunities to further their educations in a variety of fields.

Physical Therapist Assistants provide services to patients of all ages and health conditions many settings, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care or sub-acute facilities, home, education or research centers, schools, occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities. All states in the US require PTAs to have graduated from a CAPTE-accredited program and have obtained state licensure. Students seeking licensure as a PTA must apply to the licensing authority of the jurisdiction (state) in which the graduate is seeking licensure and then register for the National Physical Therapy Examination for PTAs administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PT/PTA CAREERS

BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK IN HEALTHCARE

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

Many students choose to continue their education at Penn State after completing their AS degree in PTA by completing and complete bachelor's degrees in a variety of disciplines, including: Rehabilitation and Human Services; Letters, Arts and Sciences; Human Development and Family Studies; Health Policy Administration; Psychology; or other related field of study. Advisers assist interested students in completing bachelor's degrees and meeting prerequisite qualifications to apply for doctoral degrees in physical therapy (DPT) or other field of graduate study.

Professional Resources

• Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
• American Physical Therapy Association
• Pennsylvania Physical Therapy Association