Much like a physician’s assistant, the public tends to think of a physical therapist's assistant (PTA) as someone who does the same thing as a physical therapist (PT) but does not have the same level of knowledge. Superficially, that is partially correct.
While PTs attain either a master’s degree or a doctoral degree after completing a bachelor’s degree, a PTA is required to complete an associate’s degree from an accredited institution. Many schools training PTAs are of the community school variety while most PT schools are a part of major research universities or medical programs. An associate’s degree in physical therapy assistance is typically completed in 2 years versus the 6-7 years for PTs. The vast difference in educational requirements reflects the expected level of understanding about the function of the human body as it relates to general health and movement.
As the title suggests, a PTA is trained to assist a physical therapist. Therefore, a PTA is educated through academic (classroom) methods and clinical (hands-on) methods. They learn the legal issues related to providing care, how to write in a patient’s chart and how to provide some of the hands-on treatment that a PT can assign. PTAs learn how to help a patient through range of motion and strengthening exercises, train patients to use walkers or wheelchairs, and do other health and fitness exercise activities. All the duties of a PTA are delegated or assigned by a supervising PT. No PTA can practice without a supervising PT even though a PTA holds their own license (or certificate) to practice in their given state.
PTAs serve a vital role in the provision of physical therapy services. Just as a physician’s assistant is well-suited for some duties that a physician could perform but does not need to do themselves, a PTA performs activities for patients that the PT planned but does not necessarily need to do themselves. Overseeing a patient performing exercises or training them to use an assistive device requires a different level of expertise than the clinical decisions regarding what should be done and what should be avoided.
As a patient, there should be no apprehension in receiving treatment from a PTA since they work under the supervision of a PT. You will see the PT a few times during the course of your treatment, including the initial evaluation to determine what you need and how your rehabilitation program will be structured. The PT will also have input regarding when your goals have been reached. The PTA can be a person with which you spend much of your appointment time. It is this close personal interaction (as well as the lesser amount of education required) that attracts some people to pursue a career as a physical therapist assistant.
