It is time for change

There are currently thirteen OTA to OT bridge programs and fifteen weekend OT programs. There are only two PTA to PT Bridge programs one of which is a weekend program. It is time for change, not only for career advancement, but for our profession, in its entirety. We as Physical “Therapist” Assistant’s are all too often looked down upon and not respected as the professional’s that we are. Because of our title, other healthcare workers confuse us with “Aides”. Whenever I mention the thought of making changes to not only our title but to the career advancement road blocks, I am met with hostility and anger by fellow therapists. We need more transition options and our title of “Assistant” should be dropped. Why is there no difference in a PT with an A.S. or B.S. from ten or fifty years ago and a PT with a Doctorate who just graduated?
More to follow.......
Thoughts?

Ahem BROTHER! If there were some bridging programs that allowed my work experience and classes taken to be accepted as credits then i would most definitely make the transition to PT

Has anyone here completed the PTA program at LaGuardia Community College in NYC? What was your experience like? Were you able to get a job? What was or is your salary? How much should I expect after graduation?

PTAKeith in Honolulu, Hawaii said: There are currently thirteen OTA to OT bridge programs and fifteen weekend OT programs. There are only two PTA to PT Bridge programs one of which is a weekend program. It is time for change, not only for career advancement, but for our profession, in its entirety. We as Physical “Therapist” Assistant’s are all too often looked down upon and not respected as the professional’s that we are. Because of our title, other healthcare workers confuse us with “Aides”. Whenever I mention the thought of making changes to not only our title but to the career advancement road blocks, I am met with hostility and anger by fellow therapists. We need more transition options and our title of “Assistant” should be dropped. Why is there no difference in a PT with an A.S. or B.S. from ten or fifty years ago and a PT with a Doctorate who just graduated?
More to follow.......
Thoughts?

I agree...I know of many COTA's who have bridged to OT or are in the process. But it is rare for PTA's to bridge to PT because of the complicated process. Most of the PTA's I know who returned to school for advanced education actually pursued other disciplines!

Carolyn04 in Houston, Texas said: I agree...I know of many COTA's who have bridged to OT or are in the process. But it is rare for PTA's to bridge to PT because of the complicated process. Most of the PTA's I know who returned to school for advanced education actually pursued other disciplines!

Good point

I totally agree with you. I, too, am sick and tired of being looked down on for being a mere PTA by PTs. There should be more bridge programs, even an online option, to further our degrees. I am actually thinking about going back to school and pursuing another career. I'm totally disgusted by the lack of appreciation that PTAs are shown in the workplace.

Im so glad that there is other people with my same issues! Ive been a PTA for 16 years and at the hospital I work if anyone needs anything or has questions for or about PT(or other rehab questions) they send them to me. I feel my knowledge base has increased significantly since I began, and should not have to "start over". I am thinking seriously about bridging to the OT program myself or ever nursing! The APTA I believe does not want us to bridge and they are certainly not advocates for the PTA. They want us around to do the "heavy lifting" and get paid less.

I am also wondering why we don't have a bridge program based on our experience. I really resent the APTA they want the pta's to join take our membership fee but they don't do anything for us.
Maybe it is time we break away from them, It is obvious they don't want to treat our profession as a stepping stone to PT and that makes me very angry.
The so called bridge programs that exist out there are not true bridges they don't give you any credit for all your work experience and still want you to take all the waste of time courses like physics,etc.
If you look at the bridge program from LPN to RN they do help the student make an easy transition and don't require the so called"weed out course"
I work in an acute care environement and I can not recall the last time any of our staff members had to pull out there physics book
or chemistry manual to assist a patient.
I hate the APTA and how they treat PTA's I wish some one with some power would intervene

Okay, I agree also, but what do we do about it?

I ask years ago for various Physical therapy magazines to look into why there were so few PTA to PT programs... it was ignored. The impression I got was the same you get from the APTA. PTAs are paraprofessionals whom don't have a voice. We are to do the work, obtain our CEUs, and not be encourage to obtain the PT degree. If we wish to get the PT degree, we are made to believe our years of experience and the college education we have successfully completed is substandard. I question if the APTA makes the bridging program accreditation process to difficult so for colleges to invest in.

I beleive the APTA does make it difficult for schools to develop real bridge programs (like LPN to RN) I beleive they are behind it.
If schools came out with bridge programs that gave us credit for our experience and education there would be a waiting list years long to attend and every other school around would be developing the program because it would be profitable for them.

Thank you for saying what we all are thinking.

When I was working full-time as a PTA in NJ, once in agreat while, clients would ask about the degrees we all had...I had been working with a client for a few times and she never asked me about myy schooling, but did ask a fellow PT. When she heard I was a PTA, she called me a "paraprofessional" and refused to let me treat her. My fellow PT's totally disagreed with her statement. AT least they stuck up for me!!

I did do a year of schooling after graduating the PTA program to go to Kean College and enter the PT program. My GPA was a 3.8 but I didn't make it in beacuse they needed 25% of the students to be male, 25% to be minority, 25% to be in-state and 25% to be out of state. With alot of applicants and 30 spots, it was tough. I decided to work as a PTA instead.

PTAKeith in Honolulu, Hawaii said: ...We as Physical “Therapist” Assistant’s are all too often looked down upon and not respected as the professional’s that we are. Because of our title, other healthcare workers confuse us with “Aides”...I am met with hostility and anger by fellow therapists. We need more transition options and our title of “Assistant” should be dropped. Why is there no difference in a PT with an A.S. or B.S. from ten or fifty years ago and a PT with a Doctorate who just graduated?
More to follow.......
Thoughts?

AMEN! Why is it that in the Nursing Profession it is easier to transition in any direction you would like to go, but in physical therapy, physical therapists are exceptionally hostile a great deal of the time, making statements such as "it is a separate entity" that is just the sound of insecurity in my book. For those of us well up into our careers who are getting older, there needs to be more options to transition programs available. It galls me that so many new physical therapists are given all the breaks and know very little compared to those of us who have been in the field and have all kinds of tools we utilize to provide exceptional care to our patients. Things they have no clue about but still get all the breaks, much better pay, and promotions,and worse speak in condescending tones and will not listen to what works. PTA's have been downgraded over the years in their responsibilities, the only thing PT's did in my area were initial evals then the PTA's took over and the PT's moved on. We need to do something about it. Where do we start?

I agree, but where to start? St. Augustine maybe? They seem to have weekend programs and fast tract programs. Do we unite and present our desires to them? Invite them to our forum? individually write or call? what are you ideas? please

Unfortunately I had approached St augustine early on and they seem to feel that our experience is worthless and that physics is much more important. Does anyone out there have a Laywer as a family member that they could possibly give us some options and throw some ideas out? I have no idea how to even begin a project like this?

I like your train of thought, JL, I think that if physics is necessary, then fine, we should be able to take the the class or have the option to clep it...I think it is a crying shame that we are treated second rate. It is really funny how we are such an important part of the "team" until we start talking about advancing and all of a sudden "it is a totally different line of curriculum" as if we are not capable of learning...besides, it cannot possibly be that different especially if you went to school and graduated 10-15 years ago when PTA's did everything except the IE's. Come on! Anyway, I would love it if there is an attorney in someone's family that would be willing to share some advice with those of us who just would like to further our professions, just as LPN's are offered if they choose.

I'm actually looking to enter the fall class at LaGuardia CC as well and was wondering if anyone can share their experience.

I wonder if the lack of bridge programs is a design to control the demand for PTs. It really makes you wonder why there is so little opportunity to transition from the PTA to PT. The big question is why. Why only two programs? Why is there so little support for PTAs to pursue the DPT?

If you can shoot for DPT straight the better.

I totally agree. I have been working as a PTA for 2 years now. I'm still a "baby" to the profession but have came across this stigma we have many times. We are too often looked down upon because of our titles. I have met many PTA's who know more than the PT's do. In fact, when I first got out of school I remember showing new tricks to my boss who was a DPT. Let's face it, without PTA's there would be fall less PT's in the field because most have grown accustomed to handing us most of the workload. I propose we try to do away with the "Assistant" title. When working in the hospital setting. RNs and LPNs would always ask me the difference, just assuming that because I was an "Assistant" I was a tech/aide. I would go on to explain that PTA would be like he equivilent of a LPN in their field. We just got shafted when it came to our title. I say we are all part of a team and it's time we get the compensation and respect we deserve! I'm not sure where we could start, but am willing to do whatever is necessary to make some kind of change!

Did anyone here get this survey from the APTA?

Hello – The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) requests your assistance in completing its Environmental Scan Survey. This Environmental Scan Survey is being provided to you and other valued stakeholders to gather your views about the physical therapy profession’s current and future environment. Your response to this invitation on or before January 20th is greatly appreciated!
The analysis of the collected data will help APTA identify current trends and possible changes that are occurring, or will occur, in the next one to three years that could affect the nature, direction, or viability of the physical therapy profession. Responses will be summarized and the data used to inform APTA’s strategic planning process. Your individual responses will remain strictly confidential and results will be reported in aggregate form only.
To complete this survey, please click the link below and follow the instructions provided. Please answer the questions in this survey from your individual perspective. We understand that some questions may not be applicable you. In such instances, please skip the question and move on.
Click here to begin the Environmental Scan Survey.
If you have any questions, or if you would like additional information about this survey, please contact Marc Goldstein, EdD, APTA’s Senior Director of Research at research-dept@apta.org.
Finally, APTA is seeking to gather input from a variety of stakeholders, including:
• Physical therapy patients/clients,
• Non-PT Health care providers, and
• Product/Service Vendors who serve the physical therapy profession
If you know someone who fits in one or more of these categories, please feel free to pass the survey link on so they can contribute their views.
Thank you,
R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD
President, American Physical Therapy Association

Ok...Ive been getting ready to apply to PTA school. So I read on here day after day for months and I read only great things about being a PTA...NOW i reach this subject and i hear the opposite. How looked down upon it is to be a PTA. I have a BSN- Nursing. And let me tell you..NURSING sux. There are alot of bridge programs out there though. I live in MIssissippi..and there are PTA's making 60,000. That is more than i made as an RN with a 4 year degree. I feel let down reading these posts hearing this. People here are telling me that they would rather hire 1-2 PT's and more PTAs because its cost efftive for them. Someone help me out with some posive news..please thanks

Hi,
I have never had the experience of being looked down upon by any PT or staff member in the hospital that I work at. My Boss has even told me on several occasions that I am just as good a therapist or better at times than some of her PT's. Hospital staff are constantly forgetting that I am a PTA and are always asking me to do a stat eval. The PT's in my hospital know I work my but off to get treatments done so they can finish there never ending load of evals. Maybe I just happen to be lucky.
My gripe with the profession is the lack of true Bridge programs.
I feel th APTA does not want us to have the opportunity to easily tansition into PT's (nursing doesn't do this). I personally enjoy treating patients and not just having to do evals. But the bottom line is money. PT's make almost double the amount of money.
I live in florida and work in an acute care setting per diem no benefits $25/hour
which at full time is no where near 60,000. I could see home health possibly making that as a PTA or a little higher pay in a SNF.
The profession is great I can't imagine doing anything else, But I would like the opportunity to bridge and get some credits for all my years of work.
Yes I do agee with you on NSG they have hard, hard jobs. I think you would enjoy being a PTA....Go for it!!

JL said: Hi,
I have never had the experience of being looked down upon by any PT or staff member in the hospital that I work at. My Boss has even told me on several occasions that I am just as good a therapist or better at times than some of her PT's. Hospital staff are constantly forgetting that I am a PTA and are always asking me to do a stat eval. The PT's in my hospital know I work my but off to get treatments done so they can finish there never ending load of evals. Maybe I just happen to be lucky.
My gripe with the profession is the lack of true Bridge programs.
I feel th APTA does not want us to have the opportunity to easily tansition into PT's (nursing doesn't do this). I personally enjoy treating patients and not just having to do evals. But the bottom line is money. PT's make almost double the amount of money.
I live in florida and work in an acute care setting per diem no benefits $25/hour
which at full time is no where near 60,000. I could see home health possibly making that as a PTA or a little higher pay in a SNF.
The profession is great I can't imagine doing anything else, But I would like the opportunity to bridge and get some credits for all my years of work.
Yes I do agee with you on NSG they have hard, hard jobs. I think you would enjoy being a PTA....Go for it!!

Hello, JL...It depends on your goals. You can make an excellent living as a PTA, but depending on where you work and the attitudes you deal with are a large issue. I have been a PTA for 13 years and due to physical issues it continues to get harder to do what I love and I do love it! However, the bridging issue is huge for me personally due to this fact. If you are in good condition, and just looking for a change, it is a great alternative, just be mindful that some PT's will be respectful of your knowledge and experience and others will not. Weigh your options carefully and I am sure that you will make the decision best for you. -G

Thanks JL for your comments. I appreciate the time you took to tell me this. I am going to go for it. I'm also a LMT and teach Kinesiology, so i think this is where i need to be. I do believe its where you work re: the respect you get. The hospital here is awesome and i believe i would be in a similar situation as you are. Since i do have the BSN, i do believe the will see that and think maybe alittle different. I do plan on putting BSN infront of my PTA badge to show everyone. Again, thanks for all your comments.

PTAGin,

I noticed your posting and see that you are located in Jacksonville Florida. I recently registered at Florida State College and am planning on going into the PTA program. I would welcome the opportunity to correspond with you regarding the PTA industry here in Jacksonville and any other insights you could provide to me. Feel free to email me @ Mitman@gmail.com

Regards,

Allen

PTAGin,

Apologies. It would help if I gave the correct email addy >> Mitman2008@gmail.com

nancy45000 in Forest Hills, New York said: Has anyone here completed the PTA program at LaGuardia Community College in NYC? What was your experience like? Were you able to get a job? What was or is your salary? How much should I expect after graduation?

I graduated from LaGuardia in December of 2008 and got a job from one of my affiliations before I even graduated. I started working before I even had my diploma. Since I've graduated, I've been offered 3 other jobs from PTs and OTs who have watched me work and try to "steal" me away! There is great demand for PTAs and I make a great salary with 4 weeks paid vacations a year plus paid sick time, personal days, 401k, and full medical, dental and vision insurance. Plus I get to have a wonderful job working with children! I just bought my first home and am saving up for a car. I will probably go back and get my DPT in a year or two because my job really needs PTs to do evaluations and I would get a serious pay raise. My job is even willing to pay for part of my school.

I don't want to be a PT. I have eight years of school as a psyschology major and bio/chem minor. I was an X-ray technologist and went to MRI school. I have been a PTA for 16 years.
I like what I do and I like to learn.
Are there PTA's that are an embarrassment to PTA's and a detriment to us. YES. Are there PTA's that give PT's nightmares and anxiety attacks to supervise YES.
There are also PTA's who have a broad knowledge base, multiple years of school besides PTA school and the ability to think critically.
Are there PT's who feel threatened by PTA's. I don't know why? It is not my role to perform an eval. It is not my role to perform a supervisory visit to make sure goals are being accomplished. I am fine with having a supervisor. I feel this only makes for better patient care.
I have traveled the last four years in six states and worked in every type of setting.
PT's can still easily be replaced with a foreign trained PT. This will increase as the shortage rises. This was at an all time high just before PPS and it is on the rise again. Some of these PT's are unbelievably skilled and others are a detriment to the profession. It is bad when a PTA worries about his license because he knows the foreign trained therapist in charge is not competent in their skills. Depending on the state PTA's can perform DC paperwork, modify or update goals as needed. It depends on the practice act and the state. Regardless it is hard to say no when your supervisoring PT tells you it is your job.

One more thing. I think it is going to be very important that PTA's and PT's find a balance and stand up together. It can be very confusing when every state has so many differences in practice acts. It can also be very confusing when it requires an intermediary to interpret what we can or cannot bill. It can be very difficult to stand up for what we "think" is right when we are not even sure what the right thing is.
PT's should not feel threatened by a PTA. Our roles overlap but are also very different.
PTA's should not discount the amount of school it requires to become a PT.
In all fairness I have yet to encounter a poorly written eval by a DPT.
PT's should not believe that just because someone was able to complete a program or call themselves a physical therapist that they indeed have the ability to problem solve or possess clinical skills or can achieve a positive outcome with goals. In fact, don't even assume that because they are a PT that they have an understanding of how all their schooling is supposed to teach them how to write a good eval.
I would attend additional school to be able to consistently modify, update and change goals in all states, to be able to consistently perform a DC or to become NDT certified. I however, have no intrest in performing an initial eval or performing monthly/weekly supervisories or the mountain of extra paperwork to which PT's are even more priviledged. I certainly don't feel it would be worth going through another three years of school after having eight years of college already. I wish there was a bridge to an assistant physical therapist although no such thing exists.
There are PT's out there who DO understand the role of a PTA and who DO appreciate a good PTA. Granted some of these PT's were at one time PTA's but not all of them.
We must try to learn to work together and forget about egos or feeling under appreciated. It is about teamwork and most importantly what is best for the patient.

Noah,
I like your comments. Great attitude and perspective.

Stan in Gulfport, Mississippi said: Thanks JL for your comments. I appreciate the time you took to tell me this. I am going to go for it. I'm also a LMT and teach Kinesiology, so i think this is where i need to be. I do believe its where you work re: the respect you get. The hospital here is awesome and i believe i would be in a similar situation as you are. Since i do have the BSN, i do believe the will see that and think maybe alittle different. I do plan on putting BSN infront of my PTA badge to show everyone. Again, thanks for all your comments.

If it's not too personal, why aren't you a nurse with your BSN degree?

I have been a PTA for 8yrs, but have been in the field for over 20yrs. I started out as an aide and move on to be an office coordinator and then went back to school to be a PTA. I have worked with many great PT's and some awful ones that are extremely intimidated by my knowledge as a PTA. I know my stuff and I am always increasing my medical knowledge with education. I feel we do need to be respected more and they need to increase the educational degree to a bachelor for the new incoming PTA's. However, I think some PT's should not think just because they have a master's or Doctorate degree in PT that you are smarter. We are not trying to take sny thing away from the PT's, but We learn alot as a PTA's in college just so we can be the same level as the PT's. We learn every thing that PT's learn except evals and screens.I believe we are a great asset to PT's and the rehab world so I have been told. So PTA's we need to form a social meeting once a year to get together in different states to support one another and make it better for PTA's.

I have been a PTA for 8yrs, but have been in the field for over 20yrs. I started out as an aide and move on to be an office coordinator and then went back to school to be a PTA. I have worked with many great PT's and some awful ones that are extremely intimidated by my knowledge as a PTA. I know my stuff and I am always increasing my medical knowledge with education. I feel we do need to be respected more and they need to increase the educational degree to a bachelor for the new incoming PTA's. However, I think some PT's should not think just because they have a master's or Doctorate degree in PT that they are smarter. We are not trying to take any thing away from the PT's, but we do learn alot as PTA's in college, just so we can be on the same level as the PT's. We learn every thing that PT's learn except evals and screens.I believe we are a great asset to PT's and the rehab world so I have been told. So PTA's we need to form a social meeting once a year to get together in different states to support one another and make it better for PTA's.

HI,
I never had a desire to be a nurse, as you said before nursing *&$
and I agree with that. They have too much on there plate. I actually started out as an exercise physioogist. I have always been an exercise person and truely believe that exercise can fix most health problems. Unfortunately exercise science degrees do not provide a lot of job opportunities so I went into the closest thing I could find and that was a PTA. Best move I ever made because the jobs are abundant. But the pay in an acute care setting is not keeping up with this economy.

Are you thinking of attending a continuing ed course in PA, WV. Or Va, this year? if so, post where and maybe we can attend it, and also have this social event.

Kimberly in Nashville, Tennessee said: Im so glad that there is other people with my same issues! Ive been a PTA for 16 years and at the hospital I work if anyone needs anything or has questions for or about PT(or other rehab questions) they send them to me. I feel my knowledge base has increased significantly since I began, and should not have to "start over". I am thinking seriously about bridging to the OT program myself or ever nursing! The APTA I believe does not want us to bridge and they are certainly not advocates for the PTA. They want us around to do the "heavy lifting" and get paid less.

APTA DOES NOT CARE FOR PTAS AS WAS RECOGNIZED DURING PPS CRISIS IN 1998 THEIR CHANGES HURT MANY PTAS WHO LOST THEIR WEEKEND JOBS IN HOSPITALS - CONTINUED ADVANCEMENT FOR PTS BUT NOTHING FOR PTAS - I STOPPED BEING A MEMBER SINCE 1998

before they started masters or phd for pts every university should have started bridge programs as now it is even more difficult to become pt, like nsg after bs in pt there should be pt practisoners specialising in different fields if thats what they wanted and not generalised masters or phd programs as i see no difference in those kids than who came out with bs from old programs it is sad kid want to get their degrees and get to work and not get burnt out with school school and more school also not everybody has the money to repay loans no wonder we are such stressed society

I've worked in speech for special ed. students and there are many colleagues that are currently attending schools to pursue Masters in Comm Disorders. Most don't have BS in same concentration so they take "leveling" courses and then apply for masters programs, all while being able to service the individual's speech goals. Our SLP's rely on us to no end and they never look down on us.

The title finally given to this particular position within our company is "Speech Specialist", which has been approved!!!

Hi Kimberly,

I agree about alot what you were saying, but until us PTA's stand up and together we won't be important. They should increase our education but they have not. I have been in the field as well for alot of years and know alot more then some PT's.

PTAs have it pretty good right now. I really don't get the fuss. The pay/ quality of work is good for the amount of schooling. People are upset about the title, but the PTA assists in the treatment prescribed by their supervising PT by definition. It's the supervising PT on the line if something goes wrong and someone gets hurt. Thus the "Assistant" nomenclature is appropriate for the role that PTAs play.

You want more education for the PTA program? What will that really accomplish. Has it awarded any greater autonomy or pay in the transition to the DPT for therapists? The answer is no. What would be accomplished is simply more mandated years and student loan debt in school to become a PTA. I hear many on here say that they know more than their PT. If this is really true, than what is that extra schooling accomplishing.

The truth is if you want more schooling than make plans to pursue the DPT. While I agree there should be some credit for time served, such as decreasing time in clinicals pertaining to PTA's previous work setting, I don't think that the educational requirements should be decreased. PTAs should have to go through the same struggles as any other DPT student didactically. This including all the prerequisite courses for getting into the program as well as the didactic courses of the DPT program. I agree with more bridge programs becoming available, but with the aforementioned provisions in place.

PTAs are important in the PT profession, but their role is just that. I don't agree with increasing the educational requirements. It would simply add an additional barrier of entry into working as a licensed PTA and not significantly improve outcomes. I agree with more opportunities for PTAs to advance for a DPT degree, but they should have to complete the same didactic training of DPTs to assure consistency of educational standards. To not do that would hurt the overall standing of the profession.

Oh really, what make you or anyone think that we don't have more education or don't increase our knowledge in our field as a PTA. As a PTA we have to learn in our program just as much as PT's in a 2 year frame and order to relate to PT's and the patient or resident. We are not trying to do less schooling or training to get where you are as PT's.Just think about it PT's went from bachelor's to DPT in how many years. PTA's should at least be at a bachelor degree by now. This is nonsense. Sometimes other profession or professionals don't even know the knowledge,training and experience we process. People think we are some tech or like a LPN. Not that we take anything away from them but we learn a whole hell of alot more in college. Now PT's don't like to be called PTA's and I wonder why. This is not about PT's it is about PTA's and the fairness and we don't see PT's trying to help or speak on this matter at all or if I am wrong, please let me know.

To the palm beach state..... We are a forum discussing PTA issues not a sight to offer advertisement!!! Unless you have a PTA to PT Bridge program to offer Please advertise some place else

I believe the average bridge program costs around $75,000.00 I know in the 1990's some PTA's DID have more clinical experience than new grad BS PT's & many foreign trained PT's and WERE able to put that experience into real world practice. I am finding that most of the DPT's are not only very knowledgeable but also have a sense of just what makes a good eval good. I don't want to ruffle any feathers about what makes a good eval good. I shudder to think of how hard it can be to write a good eval when management crunches your time with productivity expectations and paperwork and supervision of PTA's and techs. I don't know if I could focus enough to consistently turn out good evals under that much pressure. Still, I hate to read a bad eval. What makes an eval bad? When the POC does not match the goals. When the goals are not functional but instead read like an exercise routine. I understand the rational if the person can do a SLR they should be able to get their leg OOB. Still, a PT tech can work on a SLR. A PT who says all they really need are techs may find that the insurance company is one step ahead of them. If any layperson can just do the exercises then really there is only need for an eval and an HEP if the problem is general debility. This could be extended to include hip fractures and THR's. A one time eval to work on precautions and gait FB and HEP. So keeping evals functional is important. Precautions and any pertinent medical information is always well heeded by this PTA. I don't think cost of more school should be a reason why PTA's should not recieve more education as a requirement. It would only benefit the profession. It would benefit the patient and it might ease the poor PT who is supervising four of us under his or her license. For instance, in Colorado PTA's do not have to have a license. If a PTA does something stupid what do they have to lose? Two years of school and maybe a law suit. But what does the DPT stand to lose?

It is not about money and time your choice what u wanted to be and if you "do somthing stupid" consequences amounts to the same as 2 years maybe all that person was able to do so please whine or glory about dpt i admire people who pursue it and do it, as i know it is a lot of time and money and ofcourse brains. again there are now very few states that ptas do not need license please don't ruin it for them, i would just like to know then why in some states like new york foreign pts can work with their bachlor degrees! so why cant ptas have bridge to bachlor program

Judith I'm not a PT.

"As a PTA we have to learn in our program just as much as PT's in a 2 year frame and order to relate to PT's and the patient or resident."

So you claim that the PTA program is equivalent to a DPT program? You really think you learn "just as much" as a PT within your really one year of clinical education that you'd learn in a 3 year DPT program?

"Just think about it PT's went from bachelor's to DPT in how many years. PTA's should at least be at a bachelor degree by now."

So the rationale for increasing the educational requirements of the PTA degree would be based upon the fact that PT has increased its entry-level requirements to the DPT level?

"Sometimes other profession or professionals don't even know the knowledge,training and experience we process."

So public perception is a problem. Do you think that a BS degree is really going to help this perceived issue? FYI Physician Assistants possess a Masters degree, but the public many times compares them to Medical Assistants. Is it really the degree or is it the title that's bothering people?

"Precautions and any pertinent medical information is always well heeded by this PTA. I don't think cost of more school should be a reason why PTA's should not recieve more education as a requirement. It would only benefit the profession. It would benefit the patient and it might ease the poor PT who is supervising four of us under his or her license. For instance, in Colorado PTA's do not have to have a license. If a PTA does something stupid what do they have to lose? Two years of school and maybe a law suit. But what does the DPT stand to lose?"

I disagree that, as a whole, it will benefit the profession. I think it would put pressure on raising salaries from an already shrinking reimbursement pool. I don't think that patient safety is currently a a significant issue with the AS PTA education model. If it was, we'd be hearing more about it a whole lot more. Currently the PTA is an essential component to providing low-cost services. Increase the costs to become one and you put pressure in increasing the costs of rehab services. When there's no money available to pay, no one gets a raise, regardless of what your title or degree says.

KAY VYAS you've just made the strongest point for increasing the PTA educational standard to the BS level and you didn't even know it. The reason wouldn't be for increasing patient safety, increasing salary, or increasing autonomy. It would be to enhance the essential, basic skills such as English writing. Thank you for posting. You've given me confidence that the AS degree isn't enough.

Joe in Cumberland, Maryland said: KAY VYAS you've just made the strongest point for increasing the PTA educational standard to the BS level and you didn't even know it. The reason wouldn't be for increasing patient safety, increasing salary, or increasing autonomy. It would be to enhance the essential, basic skills such as English writing. Thank you for posting. You've given me confidence that the AS degree isn't enough.

An excellent point! LOL