Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) provide physical therapy services under the direction and supervision of a licensed physical therapist. PTAs help people of all ages who have medical problems, or other health-related conditions that limit their ability to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTAs' duties include, but are not limited to instructing patients in exercises and activities of daily living (including physical modalities), using adaptive equipment, collecting data on the patient's progress, documenting and reporting on the patient's response, and educating families and assisting with gait training and other functional mobility techniques. Graduates of the PTA program may work in a variety of settings including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health, nursing homes, schools, and sports facilities.

The objective of the PTA Program of St. Louis College of Health Careers is to successfully prepare students to sit for the national licensure exam and to prepare a competent entry level PTA professional.

Successful completion of the accredited PTA program does not guarantee certification & licensure. If a candidate meets state requirements, a state administered national exam, administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) must be taken and successfully completed before a license will be granted. Graduates must pass this exam to be eligible to work in most states.

Accreditation Information: The Physical Therapist Assistant program at St. Louis College of Health Careers, has applied for accreditation and has been granted "Candidacy for Accreditation" Status by the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)), located in 1111 N. Fairfax St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1488. Once accreditation of the program has been obtained, its graduates will be eligible to sit for the national licensure examination for the Physical Therapist Assistant administered by the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA). In addition, most states, including Missouri and Illinois, require licensure in order to practice; however, state licenses are usually based on the results of the NPTE.

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