Is the PTA Profession Changing?

I would love the opportunity to further my career as a therapist. As a PTA that has been practicing for over 10 years feel that it is foolish that if I would like to become a PT that I would have to start "from scratch". I feel that programs should be offered as they are in nursing if we would like to advance our careers. This could be an answer to the drop in PT student admissions if we could advance the PTA's that are actively practicing.  I think a "seasoned" practioner brings more to the table than a new grad any day.

I would like to thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this post.

I am a PTA with 10 years exerience in Orthopedics/Sports Medicine Currently working the Home Health and I am very concerned reguarding the direction of the PTA. The first time I read "Vision 2020" I remember thinking, " What is going to happen to us?'". I am a member of the APTA and fully support the continuing growth of the PT as an key part of the health care team, and I have had the pleasure of working with many wonderful therapists who have taught me the skills I know today and have helped mold me into the clinician that I am today. But...I said TEAM and I believe strongly that PTA's are a key part of the rehabilitaion team in optimal results for patients and when ulitized, as I have always been, can be crucial in a patient's success. Therefore, I am concerned about our place in "Vision 2020". We must as PTA's let our voices be heard in order to become a part of "Vision 2020". We need to become active in seeking that all PTA's in all 50 states seek to further education standards so that we have the atonomy to move forward as providers. We also need to become more active as APTA members so that we may advocate for our future. I absolutely love what I do in touching several lifes everyday as my patients regain the function they have lost due to injury or illness and I can't imagine not being able to continue in my career.

There are PTAs who prefer to continue their career as PTAs in comparison to PTs who prefer not to persue a DPT designation. The difference is PTs have the option to grow where as the PTA who may have the experience and skills to further promote themselves and profession are left stagnant. Several allied healthcare professionals with equal or less training than PTAs have options to continue to grow within their professions such as LPN to RN to BSN or CRRT to RRT. I believe there are many skilled and committed PTAs who are feeling stagnated leave physical therapy and enter other healthcare professions. I hope the APTA will realize the potential growth and promote from within.

I think this will be great.  

Hopefully the APTA will address all the issues that have arisen in the last 10 plus years.  

My first "Letter to the Editor" in Advance about 10 years ago addressed the issue of raising education levels or offering advanced training.  The APTA offers the training but has not focused on it like they have with the DPT issue.

As you read in my blog postings and in the print editions the PTA's have concerns and these do need to be addressed.  

I hope the APTA will acurately address these issues rather than what the title says about the PTA, "Physical Therapist Substitute"

If it is a case study on what PTA's did wrong and what they could have done better I will pass.  If the APTA will address where the Assistants will be in 2020 I will attend.