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A Quick Look at Physical Therapy Assistant Programs

If you are searching for the right physical therapy assistant programs, you might want to know that the options are now quite numerous. And there are now a lot of job openings for PTAs this is why the rising demand has also paved the way for more physical therapy assistant schools to open.

Embodying the Best PTA

A therapist of this type covers various areas of patient care more specifically in gaining or regaining function and mobility. This can include things like working with balance issues, taking care of patients with movement-limiting injuries, dealing with amputees and many more. Each of these patients is being monitored and assessed each day. The PTA tries to gauge whether the treatment formulated by the physical therapist is really working.

A PTA needs to teach self-sufficiency to the patient. This means that he will inculcate recovery into the minds of his patients rather than temporary mobility or any other short-term gain. A patient should be able to look after himself or at least his relatives should be informed on how to care for a patient with disability.

A PTA also needs to work with a medical team in order to aid in the prevention of mobility or function deterioration. There are many forms of treatments that can be used in order to improve a patient’s condition and this will depend greatly on the injury or disability at hand and the willingness of the patient to try the possible treatments.

The Average PTA Salary

An educated and qualified professional physical therapy assistant, one who has attended an accredited PTA school, can expect to earn anywhere in between $33,840 and $49,010. A PTA who works in home healthcare can earn about $46,390 annually. Those who are employed in nursing care facilities should earn about $44,360 each year. While those employed in medical hospitals can earn about $40,670.

Choosing the Right Physical Therapy Assistant School

Now that you know the characteristics (and even the earnings!) of a professional PTA, what you now need to focus on is how to achieve these characteristics. Here are examples of universities and colleges which cater to PTA wannabes:

  • The Grand Canyon University – this university offers online education, more specifically the Physical Therapy Assistant to Bachelor of Science in Biology (Pre-therapy) program. A PTA who wants to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Biology would do well to do so. This will be a great stepping stone in becoming more than a PTA. Who knows, you could even become a doctor someday?
  • The Herzing College – also offers online Associate of Science in Medical Assisting. This PTA program aims to introduce basic health care with a sturdy foundation for physical therapy advanced studies. A student can begin his physical therapy assistant career by acquiring a 65-credit online training. This includes general education courses as well as patient management documentation and other vital skills.
  • The Argosy University in Minnesota – offers the Associate of Applied Sciences, Medical Assisting program.  Students can look forward to learn healthcare management, the x-ray systems, patient care, office management, patient safety and much more. Those who are serious in becoming a PTA will surely gain valuable skills in this program.

Physical Therapy Assistant Program Types

  • Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting – this will give a good foundation in general academics and physical therapy. A PTA program such as this may last for two years and you can learn pain management, working with patients who suffer from diseases, mobility, recovering from accidents, utilizing physical therapy equipment, etc.
  • Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health – if you want to build a strong foundation on general healthcare systems and related practices, then this allied health degree is what you need. This usually takes 12-24 months to finish. As soon as you graduate from this kind of course, you can already begin working in a medical facility as a physical therapy assistant.
  • Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant – this will become a choice for PTAs on their continuing education. You will acquire more skills with this program but you will need to finish your physical therapy assistant schooling prior to enrolling in this.
  • Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health – is a program that a working PTA can achieve. You can either go back to school or set your schedule to accommodate this program. This will definitely open up a lot of opportunities for you. Owning a geriatric certificate will give you ample training in senior care.

Choosing the right school and the right PTA program will give you all the needed skills and knowledge in assisting physical therapists. But these aren’t the only things that you need to learn. You are also, literally, the brawn of the physical therapist or physician so your training should also include becoming physically fit for your upcoming duties. A good program should cover this portion by providing sufficient hands-on experience. This will give you a good grasp of the physical responsibilities that you will tackle in the future.