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What are the requirements I need to be a physical therapists assistant?
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paula lempart
Director, Provider Engagement and Risk Adjustment Ops
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paula’s Answer
Physical Therapist Assistant Education and Licensure
To work as a physical therapist assistant in the United States, you must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist assistant education program and pass a state-administered national exam to obtain licensure or certification required in most states.
The length of a PTA program is typically two years (five semesters). Primary content areas in the curriculum may include, but are not limited to, anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, clinical pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, and ethics/values.
Approximately 75% of the PTA curriculum is classroom (didactic) and lab study and the remaining 25% is dedicated to clinical education. PTA students spend on average 16 weeks in full-time clinical education experiences.
Getting Into a PTA Program
Entry-level physical therapist assistant education programs are offered at the associate degree level.
CAPTE's website provides the list of PTA programs.
To work as a physical therapist assistant in the United States, you must graduate from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist assistant education program and pass a state-administered national exam to obtain licensure or certification required in most states.
The length of a PTA program is typically two years (five semesters). Primary content areas in the curriculum may include, but are not limited to, anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, clinical pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, and ethics/values.
Approximately 75% of the PTA curriculum is classroom (didactic) and lab study and the remaining 25% is dedicated to clinical education. PTA students spend on average 16 weeks in full-time clinical education experiences.
Getting Into a PTA Program
Entry-level physical therapist assistant education programs are offered at the associate degree level.
CAPTE's website provides the list of PTA programs.
Updated
Zach’s Answer
Being currently in a PTA program I can the say selection process looks at you GPA (either from high school or college), specific class scores (anatomy, physiology, chemistry, and physics) and holds an interview before deciding if you are selected to be in the program. The program consists of 2 years (including summers) were you will have class lecture and lab. During the summers, you will be in clinicals and be out in the field to test your skills. The program is very high paced and requires lots of commitment.
Updated
Hassan’s Answer
According to https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pta to work as a PTA you must graduate from a CAPTE accredited PTA education program and pass a state-administered national exam to obtain certification required in most states.
https://aptaapps.apta.org/accreditedschoolsdirectory/AllPrograms.aspx list the accredited schools and Western Technical College-Texas (Private for Profit $$) and El Paso Community College are the only ones in El Paso.
https://aptaapps.apta.org/accreditedschoolsdirectory/AllPrograms.aspx list the accredited schools and Western Technical College-Texas (Private for Profit $$) and El Paso Community College are the only ones in El Paso.