Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

The average wage for a Physical Therapist Assistant is $24.63 per hour. The highest paying skills associated with this job are Home Health/Home Care and Long Term Care. Most people with this job move on to other positions after 20 years in this career.

Physical Therapist Assistant (United States)

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Job Description for Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapist assistants are responsible for facilitating physical therapy tasks on behalf of their organization. They are in charge of interacting with patients, asking their medical histories, and providing the best service possible. They have a professional attitude that can help increase patient satisfaction.

They assist with the physical therapy process by ensuring that all the tools and supplies are stocked. Some of their main responsibilities include filling out paperwork and completing administrative tasks. They also provide follow up to ensure that there is progress within a training program. These professionals work proficiently in a team setting with other assistants and therapists to reach all patient goals in a timely manner. However, they are also equipped to work on their own with minimal supervision. They can use a personal computer to record interactions and appointments. They have strong communication skills to explain physical therapy procedures. They have excellent technical abilities to provide massages and follow strict ethical guidelines. They need to be able to stand on their feet for several hours at a time. They help alleviate pain symptoms and provide other rehabilitation services. Physical therapist assistants usually report their progress to the therapist in charge.

An associate’s degree in physical therapy or similar field is usually required for this job. Previous years of work experience in a therapist assistant position can be helpful. Physical therapy certifications are a plus.

Physical Therapist Assistant Tasks

• Observe and document the progress of treatment.
• Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures.
• Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment.
• Fit and train patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices, such as crutches.
• Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lift and transfer them according to positioning requirements, secure into or onto therapy equipment.

Physical Therapist (PT) Education Overview

Physical therapist (PT) professional education refers to the didactic and clinical education that prepares graduates for entry into practice of physical therapy. Education for the advancement of practicing physical therapists is termed post-professional.

  Physical Therapy - www.gettyimages.ie

Mission of Physical Therapist Professional Education

The mission of PT professional education is to graduate knowledgeable, service-oriented, self-assured, adaptable, reflective practitioners who, by virtue of critical and integrative thinking, lifelong learning, and ethical values, render independent judgments concerning patient/client needs that are supported by evidence; promote the health of the patient or client; and enhance the professional, contextual, and collaborative foundations for practice. These practitioners contribute to society and the profession through practice, teaching, administration, and the discovery and application of new knowledge about physical therapy experiences of sufficient excellence and breadth to allow the acquisition and application of essential knowledge, skills, and behaviors as applied to the practice of physical therapy. Learning experiences are provided under the guidance and supervision of competent faculty, in both the classroom and the clinic.

Physical Therapist Degree

Professional (entry-level) physical therapist education programs in the United States only offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students who enroll. The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) and Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) degrees are no longer offered to any new students in the United States. To practice as a physical therapist in the US, you must earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE- accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.

Physical Therapist Curriculum

The length of professional DPT programs is typically 3 years. Primary content areas in the curriculum may include, but are not limited to, biology/anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, ethics/values, management sciences, finance, sociology, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, cardiovascular and pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, and musculoskeletal. Eighty percent (80%) of the DPT curriculum comprises classroom (didactic) and lab study and the remaining 20 percent (20%) is dedicated to clinical education. PT students spend on average 27.5 weeks in their final clinical experience.

• Bachelor's Degree Required? Most physical therapist education programs require applicants to earn a bachelor's degree prior to admission into the professional DPT program. Other programs offer a 3+3 curricular format in which 3 years of specific pre-professional (undergraduate/pre-PT) courses must be taken before the student can advance into a 3-year professional DPT program.
• Freshmen Entry - A few programs recruit all or a portion of students directly from high school into a guaranteed admissions program. High school students accepted into these programs can automatically advance into the professional phase of the PT program pending the completion of specific undergraduate courses and any other stated contingencies (eg, minimum GPA).

Bachelor's degree requirements (key code A4) and freshmen entry (key code A2) programs are identified on the Accredited PT & PTA Programs Directory.
Choosing the Right Program

It is extremely important that you attend a DPT program accredited by CAPTE and will only be able to sit for the licensure exam if you have graduated from a CAPTE-accredited program. Without a license you will be unable to practice. Check APTA's accredited programs directory and the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) websites for a list and descriptions of DPT education programs. A visit to one or more programs is also a valuable means for selecting the programs that best meet your educational goals and personal needs. You should consider a variety of factors when researching DPT education programs:

•     Program structure and curriculum
•     Types of clinical education and training opportunities
•     Faculty composition and cohesiveness (years working together)
•     Student demographics
•     Facilities (eg, classrooms and labs)
•     Campus setting (eg, rural, urban, suburban)
•     Geographic location and distance from home/family
•     Size of the university
•     Size of PT program's entering class
•     Licensure pass rates
•     Employment rates
•     Degree awarded
•     Length of program
•     Admission requirements
•     Cost and financial aid opportunities
•     Extracurricular activities

In an effort to compare the above factors, you may wish to:

    Contact current students and recent graduates of the program
    Interview employers who hire graduates and ask about program strengths and weaknesses

Ranking

APTA does not rank DPT education programs. Programs are accredited by CAPTE, which assures quality in physical therapist education. Graduation from an accredited program is currently required for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination for physical therapists in those states in which licensure is required.
Tuition and Fees

The mean tuition rates per year for DPT programs in 2013 were as follows:

    Public In-state: $14427 (range: $3387 to $45340)
    Public Out-of-state: $29157 (range: $8425 to $65156)
    Private: $31716 (range: $19500 to $94020)

Check the directory of accredited programs and contact the DPT education program directly about Scholarships, Awards, and Grants opportunities.
Furthering Your Education (After Graduation)

Clinical Residency and Clinical Fellowships
Licensed physical therapists may choose to pursue a residency or fellowship program to enhance their knowledge and practice.

• Clinical Residency: A clinical residency is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for physical therapists that is designed to significantly advance a physical therapist resident's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mentoring with a theoretical basis for advanced practice and scientific inquiry.
• Clinical Fellowship: A clinical fellowship is a planned program of postprofessional clinical and didactic education for a physical therapist who demonstrates clinical expertise in an area of clinical practice related to the practice focus of the fellowship. (Fellows are frequently post-residency prepared or board-certified specialists.) A fellowship program must possess a curriculum that:
• is focused, with advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice;
• is intensive and includes extensive mentored clinical experience; and,
• provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building.

Specialty Certification

Physical therapists have the opportunity to become board-certified clinical specialists through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialities (ABPTS). Specialization is the process by which a physical therapist builds on a broad base of professional education and practice to develop a greater depth of knowledge and skills related to a particular area of practice. Specialty certification is voluntary. PTs are not required to be certified in order to practice in a specific area.

Physical therapists can become board-certified specialists in the following areas:

•     Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
•     Clinical Electrophysiology
•     Geriatrics
•     Neurology
•     Orthopaedics
•     Pediatrics
•     Sports Physical Therapy
•     Women's Health

SOURCES: Normative Model of Physical Therapist Professional Education: Version 2004
CAPTE Fact Sheet: Physical Therapist Education Programs: 2012-13

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Reference : www.apta.org

Occupational Therapist (Burbank) - Physical Therapy Careers

Occupational Therapist (Burbank) - Physical Therapy Careers

Who We Are: Discover an exciting career at CVHCare (Compassionate Visionary Health Care), a thrivinghome health company, where passion and team spirit are nurtured and rewarded. Now celebrating our 10th anniversary, CVHCare is a stable and growing company. 

Title: Occupational Therapist

Schedule: Per Diem

Position Description:
Occupational therapy focuses on specific daily activities and movements. Utilizing the common items at home or special adaptive equipment, the OT will train the patient or caregiver in activities such as self-grooming, dressing, toileting and bathing. There are also advanced activities such as cooking, housekeeping, laundry and shopping that the OT is particularly geared toward. In addition to the above, the occupational therapy team focuses on community re-integration, as well as introducing patients to leisure-type activities that provide a holistic approach to treating health and wellness.

Benefits of Working for CVHCare

Flexible Schedule:
You can schedule patients around other commitments.
A great way to earn extra income!

One on One Care:
The home care setting allows you quality time with your patient in the comfort of their own home.

Support Team Environment:
Our wonderful, responsive, internal team truly allows you to function remotely and independently.

Requirements:
Minimum 1 year OT experience and valid CA License.
Reliable Transportation.

To Apply: Respond with submitting a copy of your resume.

More Information: Contact a Corporate Recruiter, at 510-690-1930 and visit our website at www.cvhcare.com.

EEOC: We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace, and an affirmative action employer. 

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