Physical therapists work every day with people suffering from everything from a bruised hip to combat trauma. As a result, physical therapy continuing education is critical in keeping up to date on the latest therapies.
Selecting a Speciality
As with many things today, the term PT encompasses a broad range of disciplines. So, in looking at physical therapy continuing education, you really have to focus or one or two areas. You can take classes in athletic training, massage therapy, occupational therapy, special education, and then speech and language therapy. Under occupational, you can further specialize in helping people recover from severe trauma. This can include vehicular accidents and military injuries. There are also geriatric and paediatric specialities; the former helps the aged, and the latter deals with children.
Checking Your State’s Requirements
Every state has varying degrees of requirements as to physical therapy continuing education. As a physical therapist, you’ll be licensed by the state, and can check with their department of professional regulation to see what those rules are. In some cases, classes are required to be taken yearly, others every two years; some classes can be taken online, and with others you have to appear in person. Also, the state’s website can give you a list of approved continuing education providers.
The Four Forms of Physical Therapy Continuing Education
As of 2000, a bachelor’s degree was declared to not be enough to practice in this field; a master’s or doctorate is required, and there are four ways to earn either. With the master’s degree, you can either get a direct entry or a transitional. The former is if you have a bachelor’s degree in another subject and you want to switch to PT, and it generally lasts two years. The latter is if your bachelor’s is in PT, and is often completed in a year. The doctorate is the same way – direct and transitional – and it applies in the same manner.
Online Classes
With physical therapy continuing education, it’s hard to believe that some classes could be offered online – as it is a hands-on profession. However, there are classes related to the non-physical therapy aspects of the profession that you can take this way. You can learn about reimbursement policies, dealing with managed care (HMO’s), professional ethics, and fraud and abuse. Then there are some physical courses that also don’t require you to practice on a live patient. You can study the anatomy of various areas of the body, and learn about skin lesions and their treatment. Depending on the requirements of your state, these forms of physical therapy continuing education may be enough.
Check with the Association
The American Physical Therapy Association can be helpful in dealing with physical therapy continuing education. Their website – apta.org – has a plethora of information about the various educational programs available – both online and at colleges near you. They can also advise you as to dealing with state regulators to insure they accept the classes you take.
By: Gust Lenglet
Posts Tagged ‘Physical Therapy’
Steps in Getting Physical Therapy Continuing Education
February 8th, 2010Goals And Objectives Creation For Special Education Students
October 15th, 2009
Planning and Placement Team Meeting continued…
What are goals and objectives?
Goals and objectives are the areas that your child will work on throughout the year in the classroom, with a special education teacher, a counselor or in some other way. Hey have to be monitored and measured. Monitoring can be through completion of tasks, teacher observation, etc. The measurement can be through grades, standardized tests or mastery of a task. Each goal and subsequent objectives has a page dedicated to it. Goals can be related to academics, self-help skills, behavior, counseling, etc.
How are goals and objectives created?
The team including yourself (the parent) will talk about your child’s strengths and weaknesses. Goals/objectives will reflect areas that a child needs assistance in. Any classes taken with a special education teacher will have their own set of goals/objectives. Depending on the age of your child, he or she may need transition goals from one school to the next or post-graduation Behavior goals are generally for mild behavior problems. Students with serious behavior issues generally have a behavior intervention plan made up separately from an Individualized Education Plan. Other goals may be added as necessary in terms of community participation, general education participation, self-help skills, etc. Children with Occupational, Speech or Physical Therapy needs will have goals related to these areas as well.
Who writes the goal page?
The special education teacher generally writes the goals and objectives with input from the team. Certain goals related to counseling, speech therapy, etc. would be written by the individuals providing the service.
Can a parent request certain goals/objectives?
Certainly. Most teachers will work with the parent in creating goals and objectives that both feel are appropriate and in the best interests of the child. Also, if there are goals or objectives that you feel are not needed or are inappropriate talk to the individual about it and see why it was created and discuss whether or not it is relevant.
By: Melissa A Gilbert
