Physical Therapy Aide

1) What Types of Physical Therapy Aide Degrees Exist and What are They Called?

Sometimes known as physical therapy assistants, physical therapy aides are almost always required to have some sort of formal training, which usually involves a degree at the associate level and/or certification. Below, we have listed some of the options available for aides.

1. Associate of Science – Allied Health
   This two year degree is often chosen by many medical assistants, including the physical therapy aide.
2. Associate of Science – Medical Assisting
   Students learn a variety of medical and health care management skills in this degree, including limited x-ray systems, office management, patient care, and more.
3. Associate of Science – Occupational Therapy Assistant
   Another area of physical therapy, there are also degrees such as this one that specialize in occupational therapy.
4. Associate of Science – Physical Therapy Assisting
   Students are taught how to work with patients with physical disabilities, limited mobility, and accident victims in a variety of areas.
5. Physical Therapy Assistant Program
   These programs specifically teach high school graduates the basics of being a physical therapy aide and can in some cases be completed in a few months.
6. Bachelor of Science in Biology – Physical Therapy
   This four year degree teaches a host of subjects including physics, genetics, ethics, communication, and much more.
7. Master’s in Physical Therapy
   This degree is intended for physical therapy aides or others who hold applicable bachelor’s degrees to learn to become licensed physical therapists.
8. Doctorate in Physical Therapy
   The advanced level graduate degree is the only degree that can give a physical therapist the title of “doctor.”

Because each state has its own requirements for physical therapy aides, it is important to know what they are before choosing a degree or program for physical therapy aides.

2) Where Can I Find Physical Therapy Aide Rankings?

Before choosing any school or program to become a physical therapy aide, it is important to know whether or not it has been accredited. Because both employers and the government require the completion of a program at an accredited school, it is an essential part of landing a career or entering another school. The American Physical Therapy Association is a national agency that accredits programs for both physical therapists and physical therapy aides.

A simple visit to their Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education contains a directory of schools and programs in the field that are accredited. They are listed by state, or you can search for PTA schools by key codes. Best of all, the list is updated on a weekly basis.

If looking for some form of physical therapy school rankings, try a site like U.S. News & World Report. They listed the top graduate schools in physical therapy for 2008 and share the list here. However, with items such as distance, flexibility of classes, out of pocket costs, and transfer credit policies, having different priorities to different people, schools should be chosen by which fit them the best.

3) Can I Transfer Physical Therapy Aide Degree Credits?

Students who have completed any collegiate level courses such as in a junior or community college, or even college level credits in high school, can be eligible for transfer credits. These credits allow students to receive recognition for classes already passed and can put them way ahead in their studies to become a physical therapy aide. Because they can save both time and money, research any potential school’s transfer credit policy as soon as possible.

One of the most frustrating aspects of transfer credits is the issue of nationally accredited physical therapy aide degrees versus regionally accredited degrees. Luckily, since there is generally just the one accrediting agency, this is less of a problem. A visit to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education can tell you which programs have been approved. Because it is a national accrediting agency for physical therapy aide degrees, transfer credits can often be allowed in between approved schools, although each one is different.

Even students who do qualify for transfer credits still experience limitations. For example, the institute granting the degree as a physical therapy aide usually asks for the bulk of – if not all – the specialty courses to be taken there. Also, courses that are transferred must be passed with a certain grade, which is usually a 2.0, C average, or better.

4) What Sorts of Careers are Common With a Physical Therapy Aide Degree?

Although physical therapy aide is the most commonly thought of career, there are other available, a few of which are listed below.

1. Physical Therapy Aide
   These aides often provide care and therapy services under the supervision of licensed physical therapists.
2. Physical Therapy Assistant
   Similar to the above, physical therapy assistants also provide other services that can include treatment interventions, discharging patients, and more.
3. Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant
   This assistant is one who has graduated from an approved program and received the proper licensing and certification credentials from their respective state.
4. Physical Therapist
   These advanced physical therapists need at least a graduate degree, with the doctoral being the most common. Passing a licensing exam, jurisprudence exams, and even continuing education can all be asked of.
5. Occupational Therapist Aide
   Similar to physical therapy aides, the occupational therapy aide must attend an accredited program, obtain a state license in many cases, and can opt for a voluntary certification.
6. Occupational Therapist Assistant
   An associate’s degree from an accredited program is often required to become an occupational therapy assistant, along with meeting other state requirements.
7. Rehabilitation Aide
   These physical therapy aides work for rehabilitation centers, clinics, and other physician’s offices that offer it.
8. Rehabilitation Assistant
   Working under similar conditions as the above, the rehabilitation assistant can also be charged with more patient interaction and other responsibilities.

And the above are just some of the careers available in physical therapy and as one of the many forms of physical therapy aide.

5) How do I Become a Physical Therapy Aide?

The first step to becoming a physical therapy aide is a high school diploma or equivalent. There are even many high schools that specialize in the health sciences or even offer a few courses in physical therapy. Because many physical therapy aides are offered on the job training, this alone can lead to a career as a physical therapy aide.

However, the most common route to becoming a physical therapy aide is to graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. They list physical therapy aide/assistant programs across the country that can take anywhere from four months to two years to complete.

Once an accredited program has been passed, each of the 50 states and District of Columbia has their own regulations for physical therapy aides. A visit to The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy can connect you with your state board as well as outline the particulars for licensing, certification, etc. There are also loads of other resources available for students and candidates such as information on the national exam, practice tools, a downloadable handbook, and much more.

6) What is the Average Salary of Someone With a Physical Therapy Aide Degree?

To get the most current pay information, one of the best sites to stop is Payscale. A quick search shows that the current average annual salary for a physical therapy aide is $19,946 to $26,943. Another of their charts lists the average salary for those who become physical therapy assistants from $38,966 to $55,239 per year. They even list what jobs students can get with an Associate of Applied Science – Physical Therapist Assistant degree. They include physical therapy assistant ($21.42 per hour), physical therapist assistant($22.35 per hour), and licensed physical therapist assistant ($23.48 per hour).

Another site that gathers salary information for many professions is the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Average annual salary for physical therapist assistants and aides was $46,140 in 2008. Average annual pay for occupational therapists and physical therapists were $48,230 and $72,790, respectively for the same year.

Finally, another site that keeps up to date salary information is Indeed. They currently list the average annual salary for physical therapy aides as $47,000. You can also search for salary by specific job, such as rehabilitation aide ($28,000) or rehabilitation assistant ($32,000), or for average salary by location.

7) Where Can I Find Physical Therapy Aide Scholarships and Grants?

To help pay for a physical therapy aide degree, we have gathered a few resources that include scholarships and grants below.

1. FAFSA
   This form is a first step to any education funding and can tell students which grants they qualify for and how much they are worth.
2. AOTA Scholarships
   The American Occupational Therapy Association offers several scholarships to students studying occupational therapy and even has resources for loan forgiveness.
3. APTA
   Get both scholarships and information on financial aid just for physical therapy students from the American Physical Therapy Association.
4. PTCAS
   The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service offers many tools and resources to physical therapy students and even has fee waivers for those who qualify.
5. Tylenol Scholarship
   This drug maker is currently awarding $5,000 and $10,000 scholarships to 40 students based on leadership qualities and academic performance who are pursuing careers in the medical field.
6. Scholarship of Excellence
   The Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions sponsors scholarships to students currently studying in the field of allied health in the amount of $1,000.
7. IOKDS
   The International Order of the King’s Daughters and Sons offers many scholarships, including this one for those studying a health career.
8. Health Student Grants
   The Special Olympics awards these grants to students studying a health profession at the bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate level.
9. National Rehabilitation Hospital Endowed Scholarship
   This scholarship is awarded to a full-time graduate student in the department of physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech language pathology and audiology.
10. HS & HP
    Finally, if you need even more information on physical therapy scholarships and grants, click here for a list of sources available to many students.

The best part about scholarships and grants is that they are both free money given to worthy students for school that does not have to be paid back. However, both are contingent once awarded on the student doing things such as maintaining a decent grade point average, graduating on time, or any other criteria they deem necessary.

There is a difference between scholarships and grants, however. While many students apply for scholarships, only a few get them, making the field very competitive. On the other hand, grants are usually awarded to students showing a financial need and everyone who qualifies for a grant gets one, so be sure to apply for all the grants you qualify for. The FAFSA tells students about all the federal grants they are eligible for.

The best stop to paying for any physical therapy aide education is the financial aid office of the school. They can connect you to both national scholarships, as well as those offered specifically by the school or state you live in. They can also help you fill out forms and answer any questions you have on financial aid at no charge.

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