ASSOCIATE IN SCIENCE

Accreditation Status:

The Praxis Institute is seeking accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; the Program has granted Candidate for Accreditation status. This is a pre-accreditation status, which indicates that the Physical Therapist Assistant program is progressing toward accreditation. Attainment of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

What is Physical Therapy?

The American Physical Therapy Association defines physical therapy as "...a health profession whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, assess, correct, or alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction"

Physical Therapy is a profession whose primary purpose is the restoration, maintenance, and promotion of optimal health, function, and quality of life for people of all ages. The science of physical therapy involves the application of therapeutic modalities, techniques, and interventions that help rehabilitate a person to their maximum physical potential. The art of physical therapy is helping people help themselves.

In laws and regulations defining practice, physical therapy is often defined as the care and services provided by a physical therapist or a physical therapist assistant under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, and include:

Examining individuals with impairment, functional limitation, and disability, or other health related conditions in order to determine a physical therapy diagnosis, prognosis and intervention;

Alleviating impairment and functional limitation by designing, implementing, and modifying therapeutic interventions;

Preventing injury, impairment, functional limitation and disability; and Engaging in consultation, education, and research.

More information about the profession of physical therapy may be obtained by visiting the American Physical Therapy Association's web site at www.apta.org

Who are Physical Therapist Assistants?

Physical Therapist Assistants, or PTA's, are skilled health care providers who work with and under the supervision of a physical therapist to provide physical therapy services. In order for an individual to practice as a PTA, they must graduate from an accredited PTA program and successfully pass a licensing/certification exam.

PTA's play an integral role in providing physical therapy services for people with various disabilities. When a patient seeks or is referred for physical therapy services, the physical therapist performs an initial evaluation and outlines a plan of care. The PTA can then carry out all or part of the treatment plan as instructed by the physical therapist.

The American Physical Therapy Association recognizes the PTA as the only individual who assists the physical therapist in the delivery of selected physical therapy interventions.

What does a Physical Therapist Assistant do?

The physical therapist assistant (PTA) performs physical therapy interventions and related tasks as directed by the supervising physical therapist. Such duties may include training patients in therapeutic exercise and activities of daily living, using physical agents such as cold, heat, electricity, or water for pain relief and healing, instructing persons in the use of assistive devices for walking, participating in wound care, promoting wellness and injury prevention, providing patient and family education, training patients in wheelchair activities, assisting the physical therapist in performing patient assessments and complex interventions, and much more.

The PTA also monitors the patient's response to treatment, performs various tests and measures, documents relevant aspects of patient care, and maintains ongoing communication with the supervising physical therapist, as well as other health care professionals.

What is the difference between a PT and a PTA?

The physical therapist (PT) and the physical therapist assistant (PTA) differ in educational preparation and levels of responsibilities as it relates to the provision of physical therapy services.

Today, the overwhelming majority of PT schools educate physical therapists at the Doctorate level, although many practicing therapists were educated when programs required only a Master's or Bachelor's degree. The PTA is educated at the Associate's degree level, which generally equates to two years of college.

The PTA has a working knowledge of the theory behind treatment interventions, knows pathological conditions being treated, and understands how to apply modalities and techniques used to treat those conditions.

The PT has extensive education in evaluative skills, research, and administration, as well as advanced coursework in human anatomy, neuroanatomy, orthopedics, pathology, and therapeutic techniques. Both the PT and the PTA must graduate from accredited programs and pass a licensing examination in order to practice in their respective roles.

Consumers/patients may seek the services of the physical therapist directly, or, the patient may be referred to a physical therapist by a physician. The PT performs the initial examination and evaluation of the patient. The evaluation will result in a physical therapy diagnosis, and as appropriate, the PT will establish goals or outcomes to be accomplished by a physical therapy plan of care and treatment plan.

The PTA cannot perform the initial examination or evaluation; however, the PTA may assist the PT in collecting data. Following the evaluation of the patient, the PTA may perform selected interventions and data collection as directed by the PT. The PTA must always work under the supervision of a physical therapist. The collaborative relationship between the PT/PTA is highly effective and valued, and the team greatly contributes to the success of the overall rehabilitation process.

Where do PTAs work?

PTAs work in hospitals, private practices, community health centers, corporate or industrial health centers, sports medicine facilities, research institutions, rehabilitation centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, schools, and pediatric facilities. PTAs may also teach in colleges and universities. Full-time PTAs generally work a 40-hour week, Monday through Friday, with some practice settings requiring weekend or evening hours in order to meet the needs of patients served.

What is the job outlook and job prospect for PTAs?*

Job Outlook - The employment outlook for PTAs is generally very good throughout the United States at the present time. Employment trends for the PTA have historically been positive, despite the profession moving though a changing healthcare market.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010-2011 Edition, employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow by 35 percent from 2008 through 2018, much faster than the average for all occupations. Changes to restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand. The increasing number of people who need therapy reflects, in part, the increasing elderly population. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. These patients often need additional assistance in their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital. In addition, the large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation.

Medical and technological developments should permit an increased percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating added demand for therapy and rehabilitative services. An increase of Veterans or Military Officers returning after servicing in areas of conflict, do also add to the increasing demand of physical therapy services.

Job prospects - Opportunities for individuals interested in becoming physical therapist assistants are expected to be very good; with help from physical therapist assistants, physical therapists are able to manage more patients. In addition to employment growth, job openings will result from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation permanently. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas, as many physical therapists tend to cluster in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics, US Department of Labor, projects employment rates for the PTA to increase much faster than average through 2018. Current graduates enjoy a variety of practice opportunities in an open employment market.

(*Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm)

What do PTAs earn?*

Earnings of PTAs depend on the employment setting and geographic location as well as the individual's training and experience.

Median annual wages of physical therapist assistants were $46,140 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $37,170 and $54,900. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,580, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $63,830.

Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of physical therapist assistants in May 2008 were:
Home health care services $51,950
Nursing care facilities $51,090
General medical and surgical hospitals $45,510
Offices of other health practitioners $44,580
Offices of physicians $43,390

(*Source: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos167.htm)

PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT

Associate in Science

Program Outline

Course	NumberCourse	TitleCredits
General Requirements
MAT 100	College Algebra	3
SPC 100	Basics of Speech Communication	3
ENC 101	College Composition I	3
ENC 102	College Composition II	3
HSC 100	Anatomy & Physiology I (+Lab)	3
HSC 102	Anatomy & Physiology II (+Lab)	3
HSC 103	Intro to Psychology	3
Specialty/Core Courses
PTA 100	Introduction to PTA	4
PTA 101	Kinesiology (+Lab)	4
PTA 102	Physical Agents (+ Lab)	4
PTA 200	Therapeutic Exercise I	3
PTA 201	Therapeutic Exercise II (+ Lab)	4
PTA 202	Patient Care Procedures (+ Lab)	4
PTA 203	Documentation, Test & Measurements (+ Lab)	4
PTA 205	Pathological Conditions	6
PTA 208	Neuro-Rehabilitation (+ Lab)	4
PTA 220	Clinical Experience I	2
PTA 221	Clinical Experience II	5
PTA 222	Clinical Experience III	5
PTA 223	Seminar	3
TOTAL		73

This program is offered only in the Miami campus.

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