Expert: Jenny - 5/19/2001

Question
Jenny, just the person I need some help from! I am the sole PT working for an intermidiate school district. Due to a high caseload, the administrators have decided to hire a PTA. I need some information as to what a PTA's understanding of supervision requirements are. Also, can a PTA attend IEPs (program planning meetings) and write goals? How often should I be planning to observe treatment sessions? I will not be in the same building as the person we hire. What about salary ranges? I checked the Michigan Practice Act and haven't found anything. Any help you can give me would be great. Cathy  

Answer
Hi Cathy!

I work in Florida, so my answers will be about what is true here, but I think I can help give you a good idea about what PTAs require supervision-wise, and where you can get more information.

PTAs require the 'general supervision' of a PT, meaning that you would need to be reachable by telecommunication to answer questions and be in the same geographical area (ie, not on vacation in Washington with your cell phone) so that if there were an emergency, you could drive there if needed.  

PTAs cannot write goals, but they can track progress towards goals that you set and give input and suggestions on the forming of new goals.  They can definitely attend the meetings and make suggestions.

In Florida, it is not required that a PT observe the treatment sessions, but it is required that there is documented communication between the PT and PTA on a regular basis (I usually do this weekly with my PT, just a short written note saying that I updated the therapist, and was advised to do this, change this, keep things the same..etc) and we both sign it.  

Salary ranges in northwest Florida range from around 23,000 to start to 35,000 maxed out.    I would suggest that you visit www.salary.com and look under your state and medical technicians (not professionals) for the PTA salaries in your area.  

Also, the APTA site, (www.apta.org) or their 1-800 number (1-800-999-APTA) gives access to more detailed information on each state's supervision of PTAs.  Another way to find out if rules are different in your state is to contact a PTA school in your area and speak to the director, who should be very familiar with supervision requirements.  

In general, PTAs are educated in assessment techniques and treatment interventions.  We are not taught evaluation techniques, and are not allowed to set up or modify goals or set up or modify treatment plans.  The level of supervision you give (ie, whether you visit a session or not) really depends on the skill of this particular PTA.  At first, my PTs (I work with 5 of them) tended to come by often and have frequent discussions with me.  Now, I go to them if I have a question, and they occasionally come up and ask me how a particular client is doing.  

I hope this has helped!  Please write back if I can answer any other questions, and best of luck!

Jenny