Healthcare is one of today's biggest growth industries, and is attracting more and more high school graduates as well as those seeking to transition from other careers. Many consider training as a physical therapy assistant, working under the direction of a physical therapist to provide treatment, help and support to the physically disabled, trauma victims, and other patients.
Why Is Healthcare Such a Popular Career?
The growth in the demand for the services of physical therapists, their assistants and aides is part of the boom in health care, and job opportunities are expected to increase by some 35% between now and 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Life expectancy is on the rise, and it is predicted that the growing elderly population will increasingly require a wide variety of therapeutic services. As medical procedures and technologies advance, more patients will require a range of rehabilitation treatments to improve the quality of their lives.
What Training Do Physical Therapist Assistants Need?
While physical therapists will require postgraduate degree training, physical therapist assistants usually need an Associate's degree from an accredited program, which can usually be gained over five semesters, or about two years. This is another attractive option for aspiring health care professionals who do not wish to commit themselves to another four years of training after high school. The American Physical Therapy Association lists over 250 programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation and Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) delivering entry-level training for PTAs.
What Are The Admissions Criteria for PTA Programs?
Admissions requirements may vary from school to school, but prospective applicants are normally expected to have completed a period of volunteer work experience or observation in one or more physical therapy settings, excluding home health situations. Some preliminary educational requirements may also need to be satisfied, including general courses such as English composition, algebra or mathematics, liberal arts courses, and introductory medical classes in human anatomy and physiology. Colleges may expect a minimum pass of grade C in these courses for an applicant to be eligible to apply for for PTA training. Students may also be required to have certification in CPR or basic cardiac life support. Admission may also be dependent on a satisfactory background criminal check and drug screening.
What Do PTA Students Learn?
The technical courses for physical therapy assisting include topics such as kinesiology, skills of patient care, pathology, neuroscience, rehabilitation, therapeutic exercise, and a number of clinical rotations or internships. There is normally a specified order in which these classes need to be taken, and students must perform satisfactorily in one course in order to proceed to the next. Some colleges may accommodate the needs of students who wish to complete part of their course online, or combine their study with a part-time job. But most are keen to impress upon applicants that they must ensure that they have adequate time to devote to the demands of the program, and that the clinical experiences are hands-on, full-time commitments that last several weeks. CAPTE does not accredit PTA programs with exclusively online content.
What Else Is Required To Practice As a PTA?
Those who successfully complete their physical therapist assistant program will normally graduate with an Associate degree. However, in almost every state in the US, PTAs must hold a licence or certification in order to practice. Candidates should make enquiries with their state board to find out specific requirements, but it is usually necessary to have graduated from an accredited training program and to have passed the National Physical Therapy Examination. Once a licence has been granted, a certain amount of continuing education may be required to keep it current.
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