Stephanie Shoop

English 1010
Tara Moore
Career Rhetorical Practices
Physical Therapist Assistants / Aides
Physical therapist assistants or aides under the direction of a physical therapist are the
only providers of physical therapist services. Physical therapist rely on PTAs to assure that each
patients is provided with the proper care for healing. Physical therapy helps bring individuals
back to their maximum physical functions. The physical therapist and the PTA work side-by-side
to make sure that the goals of healing are met.
There are over 300 schools just within the United States of America that provide the PTA
programs required to enter the job force. Every school that provides this program, has certain
prerequisite classes that prepare each student for the program. All in which are the same. You are
required to obtain your generals in order to apply to the PTA program. Within your generals, you
must complete the following classes;

Math 1040
English 1010
Phycology 1100
Biology 1610 & 1615
Biology 2320 & 2325
PTA 1010
PTA 1500

- Intro to statistics
- Into to writing
- Lifespan Human Growth and Development
- Biology and Biology Lab
- Human Anatomy and Human Anatomy Lab
- Into to Physical Therapy
- Practice issues for the PTA

All prerequisites have a limit of two attempts. Human Anatomy, Human anatomy lab, PTA 1010
and 1500 must be completed with a B or higher. All other prerequisites must be completed with a
C or higher. Each prerequisite has their own levels of difficulty depending on the student.
Upon completing the prerequisite classes required, you then must apply to the PTA
program. Each PTA program has the same applying process. You must first take the HESI
(Health Education Systems incorporated) test. This test must be scheduled one week in advance,
and you must pass this test with a 77% or higher. If desired, you can retake this test after a two
week remediation period. Though, you are only allowed to take this test two times over a two
year period. The HESI scores are valid for two years.
After taking the HESI test, you are required to do a back ground check. You can order the
criminal background check and compliance management system online. Criminal Background
Check Package - $29.00 USD, Compliance Package - $15.00 USD. In addition to these
packages, you will need to take a drug test. Which, you can also order online. Drug screening
package - $35.00 USD. Each package must be completed before you start your program. If you
do not pass either test / check, you will not be accepted into the program. No exceptions.

You will also need to provide proof of the following immunizations;

Annual Influenza Vaccination

Tuberculosis Blood Test
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) booster.
Measles, mumps and rubella. (MMR)
Varicella (Chicken Pox)
Hepatitis B Vaccination Series
Hepatitis A Vaccination Series

Some schools offer these immunizations at a discounted price for students who are low income.
You will also need to be CPR certified. Some programs except many associations, but
others like SLCC only accept American Heart Association Two-year Health Care Providers. You
can take the Heartsaver CPR AED course online to receive your CPR certification card. And
finally, you will be required to write a one page essay. Depending on the program, the subject
matter of this essay may change as well as the format. As for SLCC, each essay must be typed in
11-point Calibri font, with single line spacing and one inch margins.
Costs for these programs vary all over the United States. Please see below for a few examples;

Salt Lake Community College, Salt Lake, UT.

Dixie State University, St George, UT.
University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AL
Daytona Stage College, Daytona Beach, FL.

- 11,000 Total
- 11,000 Total
- 8,448 Total
- 10,794 Total

As for every college, the price changes if you are not a residential student. Sometimes the change
is very little. But most times, it is drastic. Many professionals would recommend staying in state
for college.
Most schools have a very high employment rate after the program. High as in above
90%! On average, above 90% of students graduate, and over 95% are hired to different PTA
offices right off the bat! The Bureau of Labor Statistics expect this profession will grow at a rate
of 41% between the years of 2014 and 2024, equating to 31,900 jobs for PTAs. Medical
technology advances, which are saving more lives, is also creating more jobs for PTAs. Since
they are increasingly needed to provide therapeutic services to the individuals.
Physical Therapist Assistants or Aides, work under the direction and supervision of
Physical Therapist. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain
movement and manage pain. Most Physical therapist Assistants work in Physical Therapist
offices or in hospitals. PTAs are frequently on their feet moving and setting up equipment as
well and helping care for patients. They also do a variety of clerical things such as scheduling
patients and recording insurance information.
PTAs often do tasks that are indirectly related to the patient care. These things may
include; observing the patient before, during and after treatment, helping patients do specific
exercises as part of the plan of care, treat patients using a variety of techniques such as massage

and stretching. They also help patients stand and lift heavy equipment. Because of this, PTAs are
prone to back problems. Also, because of the physical work that is required it is often times
better for the PTA to be in shape. They must be capable of the tasks asked of them by the
physical therapist. Whether that be lifting patients, setting up heavy equipment, helpings others
walk, ect.
The median annual pay for Physical therapist assistants was $55,170 USD in May of
2015. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in a specific occupation earn. The
lowest earned less than $32,640 USD and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,940 USD.
In May of 2015, the median wages for physical therapist assistants in the top industries in which
they worked were as follows:
1: Nursing care Facilities

- $64,030 USD

2: Home Health Care Services

- $60,680 USD

3: Hospitals

- $53,110 USD

4: Offices of Physical Therapist

- $53,000 USD

5: Offices of Physicians

- $52,210 USD

Some important qualities to have while working this job would be compassion, detail
oriented, dexterity interpersonal skills, and physical stamina. In order to truly excel in this area
you should enjoy helping people. PTAs work with people in pain, and they must have empathy
to help their patients truly heal. If this is something you do not enjoy, becoming a PTA would not
be the right job for you.
PTAs spend their days writing out extensive workouts and filling out patient forms. Also,
while spending time on the computer using specific systems to make appointments for clients.
Though, there may not be a lot of writing involved in the job, its great to get some experience in
professional writing.

Work Cited

Salt Lake City Community College, Physical Therapist Assistant

http://www.slcc.edu/ptassistant/index.aspx

American Physical Therapist Assistant Association

http://aptaapps.apta.org/accreditedschoolsdirectory/AllPrograms.aspx?UniqueKey=

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 201617 Edition, Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides, on the Internet at
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapist-assistants-and-aides.htm

College of Central Florida

http://www.cf.edu/explore/programs/health/pta/a-day-in-the-life/index

Learn How to Become

http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/physical-therapist/