Choosing a career in healthcare means making a big impact on individual lives. Physical therapy especially helps people move, recover, and live independently after serious injury or illness. This could be the right field for you, and if you’re interested in a fast track into a career in physical therapy, then consider becoming a physical therapist assistant (PTA). It allows you to make a direct difference in the lives of your patients, and it usually only takes two years to finish your education.
If you think a career as a PTA is right for you, then this article breaks down the steps to becoming one so you can start planning your future today.
Understanding What a PTA Does
PTAs are always in the room with patients, playing an important part in their physical therapy journey. PTAs help by guiding patients through treatment plans, which may include certain exercises, stretches, massages, and other hands-on therapeutic techniques.
The median pay for a PTA is around $60,050 a year, or $28.87 per hour. For only two years of school, that’s a pretty good return on investment. Plus, the field of physical therapy is growing faster than the national average, with a projected growth of 16%-22% in the next decade. So, if you decide to become a PTA, you’ll have plenty of job opportunities after graduation.
Step One: Meet PTA Program Requirements
Before you can apply to a PTA program, you’ll have to meet their requirements. While this is different for every school and every program, at BYU-Idaho, these requirements look like:
- Acceptance into BYU-Idaho
- Overall GPA of 3.0 or higher
- Core science courses GPA of 3.0 or higher
- 30+ hours of job shadowing in an Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinic
- 30+ hours of job shadowing in one of the following:
- Acute Care,
- Rehab/Sub Acute Rehab
- Extended Care/Nursing Home
- Home Health, or
- Pediatric Facility.
- Completing 13 credits of prerequisite courses
Step Two: Complete an Accredited PTA Program
You’ll need to attend a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Once you’ve been accepted into a PTA program, it’ll take about two years to complete it. During that time, you’ll have plenty of experience in and outside of the classroom. You’ll learn essential topics like:
Step Three: Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination
After you finish your PTA program, you’ll be prepared to take and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Physical therapist candidates take the same test, just a slightly different version. The PTA national exam measures your knowledge and ability to treat patients directly in physical therapy. It is recommended that you take this test as soon as you finish your program, so everything is still fresh for you.
You’ll have to apply for licensure for the state you want to work in, and some states might have additional requirements. You’ll also have to renew your license every few years and take some continuing education classes, depending on where you work. It’s important that you research the requirements for your state.
Get Started on Your Career
Once you pass the NPTE and earn your license, you can find a job! And with impressive growth in the physical therapy field, this shouldn’t be too difficult. As a quick breakdown, the steps to becoming a licensed PTA are:
- Meeting program requirements
- Completing an Accredited PTA Program
- Passing the NPTE and Applying for Licensure
Becoming a PTA is a rewarding way to help others while building a solid career in healthcare. You can make an incredible impact on the lives of patients, and yourself. Take the first step today and investigate PTA program requirements [LINK TO Physical Therapist Assistant DEGREE PAGE]; you can get started on your future career right now.
Citations
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Application
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Clinical Kinesiology
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Therapeutic Procedures I
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Clinical Pathology
Academic Catalog: Principles of Rehabilitation
BYU-Idaho Academic Catalog: Pediatrics for the Physical Therapist Assistant
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy: State Licensure