What Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Do?
Being a PTA is a highly hands-on role. In California, licensed PTAs are allowed to assist physical therapists (under their supervision) with tasks before, during, and after treatment. PTA duties include everything from helping with the creation of treatment plans to assisting patients during treatment (such as through instruction and technical assistance) to clerical duties.
Physical therapy is often confused with occupational therapy (OT) though the two are distinct — with OT focusing more on ensuring patients can complete day-to-day tasks. The steps to becoming an occupational therapist assistant (OT) in California differ from those involved in becoming a PTA. Check out our Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy post for a thorough comparison.
According to the the California Employment Development Department (EDD), some common PTA duties in California include:
- Administering therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or other treatments
- Observing and documenting patient progress and reporting that information to the physical therapist
- Measure patients’ range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs for the purpose of patient or treatment evaluation
- Discussing patients’ therapeutic activities or treatment plans with caregivers or family members
- Assisting with the development of patients’ treatment plans
- Helping patients dress/undress or put on/remove supportive devices (i.e., braces, splints, slings), and training them how to use such devices
- Transporting patients to and from treatment areas, and lifting and repositioning them as needed
- Securing patients into or onto therapy equipment
- Instructing and assisting patients during physical therapy exercises and activities
Now that you know what a PTA does, you can learn how to become one in the next sections of this post.
Physical Therapist Assistant License Requirements in CA
To work as a PTA in California, you must obtain a license from the Physical Therapy Board of California (PTBC).
Here are the steps for obtaining your PTA license:
- Earn a physical therapy assistant associate degree from an accredited program or meet the equivalent requirements.
- Submit an application to the PTBC for examination and licensure
- Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for physical therapist assistants (PTA NPTE) and the California Jurisprudence Assessment Module (CAL-JAM). (The CAL-JAM replaced the CAL-Law as of July 1, 2024.)
- Ensure all information required for your application is submitted, such as education verification, exam scores, a passport-style photo, and fingerprinting.
- Pay a $300 application processing fee and an initial licensing fee.
Once your application is completed and your exam scores are received, your license will typically be issued within 45 days, according to the PTBC.
Physical Therapist Assistant Education Requirements in CA
As mentioned above, you’ll need a physical therapy assistant associate degree (or the equivalent) to become a PTA. Your program will need to be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
The average PTA program lasts two years, but some programs take less time. American Career College’s CAPTE-accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program can be completed in 20 months.
Physical Therapist Assistant Gallery
What does PTA curriculum include?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, PTA program curriculum typically includes classroom and lab study as well as clinical experiences. PTA program courses usually include but are not limited to anatomy, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, clinical pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, and ethics/values.
To learn which courses are required for American Career College’s PTA associate degree program, view ACC’s college catalog.
