| Physical therapy assistants work in an extremely | | | | PTs in performing selected procedures related to the |
| competitive career field. | | | | physical management of illness, injury, and wellness |
| To become a PT assistant you have to earn a | | | | throughout the lifespan. |
| certificate from any of the accredited PT assistant | | | | So as you can see marketing or for that matter any |
| schools. In most cases you will also need to get | | | | business skill dos not form part of the curriculum at PT |
| hands-on experience in a hospital or clinic that offers a | | | | assistant schools. Since PT assistants work as part of |
| PT program. | | | | a physical therapy clinic it is crucial for them to learn |
| As part of the curriculum, PT assistant schools teach | | | | about how they should market themselves, about |
| basic skills such as sterile technique, wound care, and | | | | managing referrals, how they should position |
| vital signs monitoring. Students are also trained in | | | | themselves and how they can attract more clients. |
| procedures using cryotherapy, radiant energy, paraffin, | | | | Just being well trained physical therapy assistants is |
| and hydrotherapy. Rehabilitative procedures such as | | | | not enough. PT assistant schools need to equip their |
| exercise, patient positioning, and transfer activities are | | | | students with skills that will help them to tackle the |
| also taught. | | | | issues that they may face in the real world. |
| The coursework at PT assistant schools typically | | | | They should aim to bridge the gap between theory |
| includes physical therapy science, therapeutic exercise, | | | | and practice in order to make their curriculum more |
| hydrotherapy, orthopedic therapeutic exercise, | | | | meaningful and current. PT assistants who are |
| neurological therapeutic exercise and electrotherapy. | | | | well-versed with marketing skills will be in a better |
| The Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) curriculum is | | | | position to add value to a physical therapy clinic and will |
| designed to prepare the student to work as a skilled | | | | know how to educate clients about PT services. Such |
| technical health worker. The Physical Therapist | | | | students will also find themselves more employable |
| Assistant works within a PT service under the | | | | once they graduate as they will have more than just |
| supervision of a professional PT. He/She helps the | | | | technical knowledge. |