Physical Therapy Assistant

Job Description

Job Description

Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)

Position Description

The Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) provides skilled physical therapy interventions to pediatric clients under the supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist. Services are delivered in a collaborative, child- and family-centered model of care and may include individual and group treatment sessions across a variety of service delivery settings.

Essential Responsibilities

The responsibilities listed below are core to the position. Inability to perform these responsibilities, with or without reasonable accommodation, may result in disqualification from the position.

• Implement individualized and group treatment plans based on the supervising Physical Therapist’s evaluation, targeting the child’s and family’s short- and long-term goals.

• Provide developmentally appropriate therapeutic activities and caregiver education to promote skill acquisition and functional carryover into daily routines.

• Communicate patient goals and progress with families during treatment sessions and at designated progress-monitoring or reassessment intervals.

• Collaborate with supervising Physical Therapists to update plans of care as clinically indicated.

• Maintain a caseload consistent with employment status and assigned service delivery model, which may include insurance-based services, school-based services, consultative services, and/or private-pay clients.

• Complete all required documentation within clinic-established timeframes, including but not limited to daily treatment notes, progress notes, equipment letters of medical necessity, and incident reports.

• May complete reassessments for children on caseload after demonstrating competency, in collaboration with and under the direction of the supervising Physical Therapist.

• Communicate regularly with supervising Physical Therapists to ensure timely updates to plans of care.

• May supervise Physical Therapy Assistant students, providing timely feedback and fair evaluation in accordance with affiliated academic program requirements.

• Adhere to the APTA Code of Ethics, Guide for Professional Conduct, Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, Standards of Practice for Physical Therapy, and the Oklahoma Physical Therapy Practice Act.

Skills, Qualifications, and Licensure Requirements

• Current licensure as a Physical Therapy Assistant through the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision  or eligibility to sit for the licensure examination. License must be obtained within six (6) months of hire.

• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification issued by the American Heart Association, required upon hire.

• Strong professional writing skills with the ability to document medical necessity and communicate effectively with families, interdisciplinary team members, and other stakeholders.

• Effective time management and organizational skills to meet expectations for clinical efficiency, documentation accuracy, and billing timelines.

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy team.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Frequent standing, walking, kneeling, squatting, and floor-based activities during treatment sessions.

• Ability to lift, transfer, and position pediatric clients and equipment, with or without assistance, in accordance with safe patient-handling practices.

• Ability to engage in active play, therapeutic movement, and facilitation of gross motor activities.

• Occasional lifting of therapy equipment and supplies.

• Visual, auditory, and physical ability to observe, assess, and respond to child performance and safety needs in a dynamic clinical environment.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.