Physical Therapy Assistant

How To Become A Physical Therapy Assistant

More and more people aspire to be a physical therapist. It's a great profession which allows an individual the chance to help people after they've suffered an injury or have been through surgery.

Becoming a physical therapist takes many years in school and a great deal of training. If you want to be involved in this branch of medicine but you aren't keen on the educational demands, consider a career as a physical therapy assistant. Use our search function to find accredited physical therapy assistant schools near you.

What Does A Physical Therapy Assistant Do?

A physical therapy assistant works under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. The assistant handles many of the clerical duties that are required to keep the therapist's office in perfect running order, and the assistant is often called on to help with patient care too.

Some of the office type duties that fall under the assistant's direction include booking appointments for patients, handling new patient referrals from physicians, and reordering any supplies that are running low. The physical therapy assistant is also often looked at to handle the billing that is involved in this type of therapy.

This can include private insurance companies, group insurance companies and also in some cases automobile insurance companies. In terms of helping with patient care, the assistant must be under the close supervision of the physical therapist. This means that the therapist can't leave the assistant in the clinic alone to perform patient care.

The therapist will often train the assistant to aid with things like massages, ice and heat pack applications and also some rudimentary exercise routines. When the patient is working with the assistant, the assistant will document all the patient's reactions and responses.

What Education Will I Need

The educational requirements necessary to work as a physical therapist assistant vary depending on the state in which the person wants to obtain employment. In most cases the individual needs to earn an associate degree from a recognized program that focuses solely on physical therapy care.

Many states also require that the student takes part in a prescribed number of hours of practical care which can be obtained by working in a physical therapist's office or a hospital setting. Before being hired, many assistants find they need to have a valid first aid certificate.

What Will Be My Opportunities As A PTA

Job prospects are great for those who pursue this path in the medical technician careers field. There are jobs opening up in private therapy clinics and hospitals all over the country. In addition, nursing homes often look to physical therapy assistants to aid in the care of the occupants. This can be one of the most lucrative avenues for qualified assistants to pursue.

Overall becoming a physical therapy assistant a great way to make a living. Everyday typically brings new opportunities and experiences and many people who venture into this field decide to further their studies and become physical therapists in time.

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