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Physical Therapy Assistants – Does a Degree Make a Financial Difference?

May 7, 2010 by admin in programs training careers-8 | 1 Comment

Physical therapy assistants have a job that takes a lot of caring and patience to perform and perform well. Although it can be done without a degree, physical therapy assistants that have completed enough schooling to have a degree will make more money. People in the field of physical therapy have a genuine desire to help better the quality of life their patients experience. It makes complete sense that a person with a degree should and more importantly will make more money than a person in an equal position that does not have a degree.

The biggest thing you have to lose by not furthering your education and gaining a degree as a physical therapy assistant is financial security. Not that you will not earn a living as a physical therapy assistant if you do not have a degree but, you will earn a better, more extensive living if you are degreed.
One other aspect or advantage you have with a degree is often overlooked. When you are a degreed physical therapy assistant, you have a certain level of credibility. Employment opportunities are easier to secure as prospective employers know gaining a degree is optional. They know you took the initiative to further your education and gain the degree.

Look at the situation or decision to gain a degree this way. If you have a degree, and your twin sister or brother is also a physical therapy assistant that does not have a degree, you both live in the same town, and work at the same hospital, you stand to make around twice the money that they will make. You stand to make double simply because you have a sheet of paper that says you are qualified and finished the physical therapy assistant courses.
This is not to say you are any smarter for having the degree. It simply means you took the time and spent the money to learn more information. You can plainly see that a degree is more than a piece of paper. A degree is the key that opens the door to your financial security.

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Physical Therapy State Examination and Licensing

May 6, 2010 by admin in programs training careers-8 | 1 Comment

NPTE is the acronym for the National Physical Therapy Exam. This examination is supervised by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Physical therapy and physical therapy assistants are both required to take this national examination for licensure in almost all states within the United States. Some states also require that physical therapy and physical therapy assistants pass a state jurisprudence examination satisfactorily in addition to the NPTE. Individual states also have additional requirements such as credentialing certification and exams that cover state laws governing physical therapy practice. An excellent resource that outlines state by state requirements for physical therapy candidates can be found at http://www.visalaw.com/IMG/ptchart.pdf. This document also outlines requirements for foreign trained physical therapists and the requirements of each state concerning their licensure. There is contact information listed for each state board of physical therapy as well. Most state boards have a website listed that can also give applicants specific information about requirements and fees. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy website also has a listing of state boards with contact information. The fee to take the NPTE as of January 1, 2005 is $350.

There are several steps involved with obtaining state and national licensure. They include:

-Obtain registration materials from the licensing authority, usually the state board of physical therapy, of the jurisdiction in which a candidate is seeking licensure.

-Complete all state requirements outlined in the information and registration packet.

-Return completed registration materials and payment to the licensing authority as instructed in the packet provided by the state board of physical therapy.

-If the licensing agency approves the candidate’s application, they will notify FSBPT.

-FSBPT will send the candidate an Authorization to Test letter with instructions on scheduling an appointment with Prometric. Prometric is the official testing service for FSBPT.

-Candidates are required to schedule an appointment for examination with Prometric by calling the number included in the Authorization to Test letter.

-Candidates will need to choose a Prometric site that is conveniently located to test at within the 60-day eligibility period indicated on the Authorization to Test letter. Candidates must test within this period of eligibility or they will have to start the registration process for the NPTE over again.

The NPTE exams are comprised of multiple-choice questions covering the major areas of physical therapy. The physical therapy exam contains 250 questions while the physical therapy assistant exam consists of 200 items. Candidates are allowed five hours to take the physical therapy exam and four hours for the physical therapy assistant exam. The tests are designed to assess the competency and knowledge of entry-level physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The questions are designed by actual physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. The exams are computer-based so candidates will sit at a computer for testing. As of July 1996, all jurisdiction licensing authorities recognize a score of 600 or above on the NPTE as a passing score and a score below 600 as a failing score. The Prometric fee for the NPTE for physical therapist candidates is $65. The Prometric fee to take the physical therapist assistant exam is $50.

If a candidate doesn’t pass the NPTE examination, they will need to go through the registration process from the beginning as outlined previously in this article. Jurisdiction vary in their regulations concerning how often the examination can be retaken. The FSBPT only allows candidates to take the exam a maximum of three times in a twelve-month period. Some jurisdictions may also regulate a waiting period between examinations.

State and national physical therapist and physical therapist assistant license renewal requirements vary by state. State licensing authorities will sometimes notify licensees several months before their licenses expire, but it’s ultimately the responsibility of the licensed physical therapist or physical therapist assistant to follow renewal guidelines. PT’s and PTA’s can be assessed late fees and even be subject to disciplinary action if they continue to practice after their license has expired.

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