How to Become a Physical Therapy Assistant in Texas

Physical therapists help patients function in daily life.

Physical therapy assistants (PTA) work with patients undergoing physical therapy under the supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs help patients relearn how to do many basic things, like walking and using the arms. PTAs work with traction machines, sonograms and electrical stimulation. PTAs work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and private homes. Most states, including Texas, have strict regulations about how to become a physical therapy assistant.

Instructions

1. Earn an associate's degree as a physical therapy assistant. Texas requires a copy of the diploma be sent to the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE), which oversees physical therapy assistants in Texas. If you prefer, you can get a letter of completion that includes your Social Security number, an official school seal and a signature from the program director.

2. Take the Federations of State Boards of Physical Therapy Exam. Texas requires the score of this exam to be on file before you can become a physical therapy assistant. As of Jan. 1, 2010, the fee for the exam is $370.

3. Send a copy of your college transcripts to the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners. Texas requires that your transcripts come from a college accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, or CAPTE, which oversees physical therapy and physical therapy assistant education programs.

4. Take the Applicant Jurisprudence Exam. The online exam is open book and based on the Texas PT Rules and the Practice Act.

5. Send in a photograph to the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners. The photograph needs to resemble a passport photo and have the applicant's printed named, Social Security number, and signature in dark ink on the back.

6. Fill out an application and pay the fee. As of Jan. 1, 2010, the application fee for PTAs is $116. The application must include your Social Security number. If you do not have a Social Security number, you must fill out a Social Security affidavit instead. Your application will not be considered without your Social Security number or the affidavit.

References

• The Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners: PT Licensure and Information
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
• The Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners: PT Act & Rules
• The Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners: Current Fees