Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs)  are licensed health care providers who work within a physical therapy setting under the supervision of a physical therapist. The PTA assists in the practice of physical therapy by performing delegated patient-related activities, helping physical therapists to provide treatment that improves patient mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or lessen physical disabilities of patients. These activities include performing selected treatment procedures, and observing, recording and reporting patient responses. A physical therapist might ask an assistant to help patients exercise or learn to use crutches, for example. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as lower-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Physical therapist assistants perform a variety of tasks. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, they provide part of a patient’s treatment. This might involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. Physical therapist assistants record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.

Program Overview:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Program is an accredited associate degree program centered at the Gaston Caperton Center in Clarksburg. This program is a full-time day program that can be completed in two academic years plus one required summer session. Students learn physical therapy theory in the classroom, practice techniques in the laboratory, and refine their skills in real heath care settings. Clinical placements begin in the second semester and continue in the summer and final two semesters. Clinical sites are situated throughout West Virginia. Graduates are eligible to take the state licensing examination and must pass the exam to work as physical therapist assistants.

Career opportunities for PTAs can be found in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing care facilities, offices of physical therapists in private practice, and in home health agencies. According to the US Department of Labor, employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to grow much faster than average through the year 2014. Average annual salary in May 2004 was $37,890.

Educational Advancement Opportunities:
PTAs may continue their education and receive a baccalaureate degree in a related field such as Allied Health Administration or Exercise Science. Graduates who want to pursue a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT) to be a physical therapist must first get a Bachelors degree in any field that satisfies the prerequisite requirements of the DPT school they wish to attend. Technical courses taken as part of the PTA program do not necessarily transfer for credit toward a degree to be a physical therapist.