Become A Certified Physical Therapy Aide
Physical therapy aides work with physical therapists to provide a positive experience for patients undergoing physical therapy treatment. This 100% online course will teach you the concepts, skills and practices to become a certified physical therapy aide. Upon successful completion, students will be eligible to take the American Medical Certification Association’s (AMCA) Physical Therapy Technician/Aide certification exam. The course also includes an externship starter kit with resources to secure a position as a physical therapy aide extern.
Registration and Enrollment
This course is 100% online. Start anytime!
Course Details
- Prepare to take and pass the AMCA Physical Therapy Technician/Aide certification exam.
- Understand the role, responsibilities, and qualifications of the certified physical therapy aide in various healthcare settings.
- Build knowledge of human anatomy, functional body movements, and system disorders as they relate to physical therapy.
- Identify proper positioning, patient transfers, common exercises, modalities, and medical equipment.
- Demonstrate ethical and legal behavior specific to healthcare settings.
- Differentiate between tasks appropriate for a certified physical therapy aide and other healthcare professionals.
- The Physical Therapy Profession
- Medical Terminology
- Organization Of The Human Body
- Principles Of Pathology And Its Treatment
- Infection Control
- Body Mechanics
- Positioning And Draping Patients
- Transferring Patients Safely
- Wheelchair Basics
- Pressure Ulcers
- Normal And Abnormal Gait
- Ambulation Aids
- Ambulation Related Activities
- The Skeletal System
The Muscular System
- Treatment Of The Skeletal And Muscular Systems: Exercise
- Treatment Of The Skeletal And Muscular Systems: Physical
Agents
- The Cardiovascular And Respiratory Systems
- The Nervous System
- Treatment Of The Cardiovascular, Respiratory, And Nervous
Systems
There are no prerequisites to take this course. You do not need any prior experience or training in this field. However, if you plan to sit for the AMCA Certification Exam, candidates must be 18 years old and have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Hardware Requirements:
- This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.
- Webcam and microphone for testing.
Software Requirements:
- PC: Windows 8 or later.
- Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
- Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
- Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.
Other:
- Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.
Instructional Material Requirements:
The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment. The following textbooks will be shipped to you approximately 7-10 business days after enrollment:
- Principles and Techniques of Patient Care
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions
Holly Trimble
Holly Trimble earned a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the University of Colorado, a master’s degree in pediatric physical therapy from Boston University, and a master’s degree in biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney. After working as a physical therapist for many years, Trimble transitioned into teaching. She has lectured on health-related topics to all age groups and works as an adjunct instructor of anatomy and physiology. She received an Adjunct Faculty Excellence Award and is the author of “College Success Now!”
$1,995.00 (USD) per person.
This course is 100% online.
| Course Hours | Duration | Start Dates |
|---|---|---|
| 90 hours | 9 Months | Start any time! |
Job Outlook
Physical therapy professionals, especially physical therapy aides, are in high demand. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists physical therapy assistants and aides among its fastest-growing career areas.
The BLS projects 27% growth in overall employment for physical therapy support positions between now and 2028. This is over five times faster than overall expected job growth.
The BLS attributes the growth in demand for physical therapy to the aging Baby Boomer demographic. According to the BLS, Boomers are staying active later in life than previous generations commonly did.
As a result, experts anticipate a surge in health concerns as the Boomers reach the age at which heart attacks, strokes and mobility-related injuries become common.
Physical therapist aides earn around $27,000 per year, on average, according to BLS data. Pay rates for physical therapist aides can vary by location and the type of patients they serve.
Those who work in nursing or skilled care facilities earn around $35,000 per year. Therapy aide jobs in the offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists and audiologists pay around $25,600 per year.
FAQs
WHAT DOES A PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE DO?
Physical therapy aides are responsible to support the overall therapy environment. They usually manage the cleanliness and safety of the clinic or work environment and help prepare the equipment for each patient’s visit. And they often help patients as they arrive and move around in the treatment facility. Some common duties include:
- Cleaning the treatment areas
- Setting up therapy equipment
- Washing linens
- Helping patients move to or from a therapy area
- Handling clerical tasks, such as answering phones scheduling patients and checking patients into the clinic
IS A PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE THE SAME AS A PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSISTANT?
Physical therapy assistants work directly with patients to facilitate treatment. They may assist patients with exercise, massage, balance and other forms of therapeutic interventions. Physical therapy assistants often supervise the work of physical therapy aides.
IS CERTIFICATION NECESSARY FOR PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDES?
The AMCA exam covers the following areas:
- Patient care
- Practice administration
- Law and ethics
- Patient preparation and positioning
- Anatomy and physiology
- Safety and infection control
- Therapeutic modalities
- Each of these areas is critical to patient care, effective treatment and limiting liability for the physical therapist or employer organization.
IS PHYSICAL THERAPY AIDE A GOOD CHOICE FOR A REMOTE CAREER?
Changes in health coverage after then Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2014 have shifted many physical therapy activities from the healthcare setting and into the patient’s home. As a result, physical therapy support activities now also take place in the home. The shift to home care has also opened opportunities for independent and even traveling physical therapy professionals.
“I loved taking this course and found it very interesting. Along with us putting in our personal input, Ms. Holly also put in hers, which doesn’t happen often. Hopefully I will be able to find other classes that are online that you teach.”