Things To Know About A Physical Therapy Assistant Career
A physical therapy assistant career can both be challenging and rewarding. And it can help build a solid foundation if you eventually decide to do more than just serve as assistant. To help get you started, find physical therapy assistant schools that can best prepare you for the job.
The importance of accreditation
A school or training institute is the first place where you will learn the knowledge and skills required of a physical therapist assistant. To guarantee your education will be recognized, go with an accredited school.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association is the body that sets the standards for physical therapy and physical therapy assistant programs.
Why an accredited school? Because only CAPTE programs will qualify you for the licensure examination required by every state. And without the proper certification or registration, you cannot practice your profession.
So regardless of whether you take online classes or enroll in campus, make sure it is an accredited program you will complete. A physical therapy assistant career starts right with proper credentials.
What's in store for you?
The long years of training is why many opt to go the PT assistant route. With just a two-year associate degree, you will be equipped with the skills and competence to work alongside a licensed PT doing rehabilitation work.
Unlike a nursing assistant, the entry level median salary for a PT assistant is quite competitive at $48,290. With at least a year of experience, you can be earning $22.00 per hour for your services.
Others prefer to build nursing careers thinking there are few growth opportunities in the area of physical therapy. In truth, you can actually prepare to earn more and even become an entrepreneur with a PT background. Rehab clinics and professionals are so in demand because of a growing need for their expertise.
You can work in the field of rehabilitative medicine, sports, wellness or even sales using your knowledge and experience. And all these you can do as you build even just a physical therapy assistant career. Some go onto the field of occupational therapy, which is related to physical therapy but not exactly the same.
Requirements and qualifications
A high school diploma or GED equivalent are required if you intend to enroll in a physical therapy assistant program, whether online or on-campus. Some diploma programs may also need you to have taken general college courses.
Among the courses included in the curriculum are anatomy, physiology, introduction to physical therapy, disabilities and therapeutic care, medical terminology, ethics and psychology.
A great deal of patience, commitment and dedication are needed to be a good therapist or assistant. And excellent communication skills are vital. You need to make the patients feel cared for as they go through a very difficult and painful period of recovery. These are innate characteristics and skills that will be further developed with training.
Before embarking on a training program, you will give yourself a better understanding of yourself and the profession by observing, shadowing or volunteering your services in facilities that offer physical therapy. This way, you will have a grasp of the actual work being done and how much you need to learn, theoretically and in practice to become ready for the job.
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