Physical Therapy Technician

Career Prep (with exam voucher)

About the Program

This online program will cover the knowledge, practices, and techniques needed to prepare you for the AMCA Physical Therapy Technician certification exam and satisfy the certification course requirement prior to exam admittance. Throughout this program, you will be required to read portions of the assigned text, complete reflective activities and practice activities, watch videos demonstrating procedure and research more information on assigned topics.

At the completion of this program, you will be required to take and pass the 50-question exam that will prepare you for your national certification exam.

Students will:

  • Discuss the role of the physical therapy technician and rehabilitation team as it relates to working with patients with physical disabilities.

  • Demonstrate understanding and proper usage of applicable medical terminology.

  • Identify clerical and administrative tasks, and their associated steps and procedures, that may be required of the physical therapy technician.

  • Define the role of the physical therapy technician in caring for patients.

  • Explain the purpose of patient preparation and identify the physical therapy technician’s role, identify individual responsibilities, in preparing the patient for physical therapy treatments.

  • List and define all procedures to properly transfer a patient.

  • Explain how to choose the appropriate ambulatory device for a patient’s use, based on the patient’s specific need.

  • Describe the purpose and proper usage of therapeutic exercises and identify the physical therapy technician’s role in these practices.

  • Discuss the purpose and identify the different agents and modalities in performing physical therapy.

  • Identify the different types of specialist therapies used for patients with specific needs.

This is a self-paced program. Self-paced programs create a unique learning experience that allows students to learn independently and at a pace that best suits them.

Certifications

This course fully prepares students to take the AMCA Physical Therapy Technician certification exam.

The cost of the program includes the cost of the AMCA Physical Therapy Technician certification exam.

The certification exam is not a requirement for graduation.

AMCA logo.gif

Tuition: $2,487

Duration: 120 Hours

Students will have access to the program for 1 full year.

Prerequisites: HS diploma/GED, basic computer skills and familiarity with the internet

To learn more about ETI’s tuition and financial aid options, click here.

Course Outline

  • In this introductory lesson, you will learn about the Physical Therapy Technician profession. This will include information on the daily requirements as a PT Technician and the responsibilities as part of a rehabilitation team. You will also learn about a variety of career avenues and medical offices that require technicians on staff. Following this, you will begin content knowledge regarding ethical and professional behavior, proper charting and documentation, electronic health records, confidentiality, effective communication with patients and colleagues, and understanding legal guidelines, including HIPAA laws and regulations. You will end this lesson by completed all activities, reading all resources provided and completing the lesson quiz.

  • This lesson will focus on the most common medical terminology and abbreviations followed by the basic structure and function of the human body. This will include the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous, integumentary, urinary, endocrine, reproductive, and musculoskeletal systems. You will continue into the anatomy and physiology of the musculoskeletal system since this is the primary system that Physical Therapy evaluates and treats.

  • Lesson 3 will focus on safety in the workplace and the working environment for both you, your colleagues and the patient. Specifically, you will learn about maintaining a positive therapeutic environment for patients that ensures comfort, confidentiality and security. Additionally, you will learn about safe transfers of patients, proper body alignments and movements, turning and positioning a patient, infection control and OSHA guidelines.

  • This lesson will encompass everything from diagnostic testing and physical therapy assessment tools including ROM and strength measurements. From there, you will learn about different modalities the physical therapist has to choose from when treating patients and how to assist the therapist with exercises. These will include different ROM activities and different forms of strengthening techniques.

  • This lesson will encompass everything from diagnostic testing and physical therapy assessment tools including ROM and strength measurements. From there, you will learn about different modalities the physical therapist has to choose from when treating patients and how to assist the therapist with exercises. These will include different ROM activities and different forms of strengthening techniques.

  • Lesson 6 will cover the most common types of diseases and injuries seen by physical therapists in different settings. From there, an overview of the most common exercises will be described.

  • This lesson will assist you in how to write a cover letter and resume when searching for a job. From there, it is important to learn how to practice for an interview and present a good first impression.