Health Careers
Physical Therapist Assistant
Professional Activities
Physical therapist assistants (PTAs) provide skilled care to people who have been physically disabled by an illness, accident, or who are born with a disability. PTAs perform and assist in treatment procedures. They follow a patient’s plan of care that is developed by a physical therapist. Activities include supervising exercises and administering therapies which may involve massage, sound, water, electrical currents, heat, cold, and light.
A major part of a Physical therapist assistant’s profession involves teaching various techniques and exercises that help a patient reduce his or her disability. These techniques help to improve walking, climbing, moving from one location to another, performing activities of daily living, and strengthening muscles. PTAs also observe the patient’s abilities and report their observations to the physical therapist.
Physical therapist assistants work under the direction, or at least general supervision, of a physical therapist. The physical therapist is not required to be on-site for direction and supervision, but must be available at least by telecommunications. The Alaska statutes state that “the supervising physical therapist shall give the physical therapist assistant periodic supervision on site at least once every month. The physical therapist shall be available for consultation with the physical therapist assistant that may be provided by telephone, verbally, or in writing.”
Generally, physical therapist assistants are employed wherever physical therapists work. Hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home and public health agencies, schools, private physical therapy practices, and the armed forces are major employers. Opportunities in rural Alaska are generally found in hospitals located in the regional centers.
Educational Requirements
- Graduation from high school with coursework in English, math, and science.
- Graduation from an accredited PTA Associate’s degree program.
- PTA licensure is required by the State of Alaska and most other states. After graduation, candidates must pass a state-administered national exam and be approved by their state’s licensing board.
Academic Programs
There are currently no physical therapist assistant programs in Alaska.
The nearest program is in the state of Washington. Three Community Colleges offer a two year program.
For more information, contact:
Green River Community College
12401 SE 320th St.
Auburn, WA 98092-3699
Phone: (253) 833-9111
Web site: http://www.greenriver.edu/ProgramInformation/PhysicalTherapistAssistant.htm
Spokane Falls Community College
3410 W. Ft. George Wright Drive
Spokane, WA 99224
Phone: (509) 533-3500
Toll free: (888) 509-7944
Web site: http://www.sfcc.spokane.cc.wa.us/
Whatcom Community College
237 West Kellogg Road
Bellingham, WA 98226
Contact: Margaret Anderson, PTA Program Coordinator
Phone: (360) 676-2170 ext 3311
Email:
Web site: http://www.whatcom.ctc.edu/programs/index.html
Contacts
State Contact:
Alaska Physical Therapy Association
P.O. Box 140351
Anchorage, AK 99514
Phone: (907)727-0935
Fax: (907) 929-2979
Email:
Website: http://www.akapta.org/
National Contact:
American Physical Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Phone: (703) 684-2782
Toll free: (800) 999-2782
Fax: (703) 684-7343
Web site: https://www.apta.org/
This page was last updated by Janice Troyer on September 24, 2007
