5 answers
William
Student
Pomona, California
1
Question
Asked
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Is there any volunteer places or work available for a physical therapy aide?
I would like to try my hand in this field. I am certified and just looking for some experience in the field.
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5 answers
Christina Stone
Personal care aid
1
Answer
Jamestown, New York
Updated
Christina’s Answer
Perhaps look for some volunteer opportunities or part-time jobs at not just local hospitals, try to branch out to local clinics, or rehabilitation centers. Also, word of mouth, stop by local gyms or healthcare places and Network with physical therapists, ask them if it would be ok to shadow them, thereby gaining opportunities to assist. Emphasize your passion, willingness to learn, and dedication to gain valuable experience in the field.
I appreciate your support, Christina
William
Like what gyms have physical therapist? 24. LA, Golds, or fitness 19. I didnt even know gyms offered that service.
William
Yes many PT clinic welcomes student who wants to shadow . One would contact any near by PT clinic/ office and inquire about shadowing/ volunteering .
Nina Theard
Deborah R. Brandt, PT, DPT
Good Moves Physical Therapy, mindful movement
43
Answers
New York, New York
Updated
Deborah R.’s Answer
As you can see from the above answers, physical therapists work in many, diverse, locations. I can add a few more - schools, preschools, cardiac rehabilitation, cancer care, gyms, senior centers, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, possibly prisons. If you are certified in something that interests you, I suggest you think about how you can further inform your current interest and possibly try to find a practice that would help you with that. In addition to physical therapy training, there are therapists who go on to study other modalities like Feldenkrais, Alexander, a specific sports specialty, dance physical therapy, music physical therapy, on an Indian Reservation, with children who have autism, in hospitals and private practice as has been suggested, Early Intervention homecare for children ages 0-3 year-of-age, senior home care, and much more.
You may find it difficult finding a place that will let you volunteer or shadow a therapist. But when I was applying to school, I had to do 100 hrs. of volunteer work as part of my application, so facilities should be aware of that requirement. I volunteered in a private practice and in a hospital. In the hospital, all I did was push people around in their wheel chairs, but it was part of my application. When I was working I let potential therapists watch me work and was happy to talk with them and answer any questions I could.
Good luck. There may be options all around you that you don't yet see as possibilities.
Approach a volunteer position the same way you would approach a paid position. They will have to spend time thinking about you, so they may be interested in what you can offer them in exchange. Maybe you can think of what you could offer in a volunteer position in exchange for them allowing you to be in essence, part of their staff.
Don't forget about legal liability and confidentiality - information you should study. Perhaps you should think about your own legal liability and how you should be protecting both yourself, and wherever you may end up volunteering.
I have suggested many steps in my answer. Go through my answer and decide what is most and least important to you of the things I mentioned, and the things you are prompted to think of on your own.
Prepare as though you are applying for a job. You will probably need an updated resume. You might want to prepare a short elevator speech about why you are there, what you want, what you have to offer, and ask how should you proceed.
You may find it difficult finding a place that will let you volunteer or shadow a therapist. But when I was applying to school, I had to do 100 hrs. of volunteer work as part of my application, so facilities should be aware of that requirement. I volunteered in a private practice and in a hospital. In the hospital, all I did was push people around in their wheel chairs, but it was part of my application. When I was working I let potential therapists watch me work and was happy to talk with them and answer any questions I could.
Good luck. There may be options all around you that you don't yet see as possibilities.
Approach a volunteer position the same way you would approach a paid position. They will have to spend time thinking about you, so they may be interested in what you can offer them in exchange. Maybe you can think of what you could offer in a volunteer position in exchange for them allowing you to be in essence, part of their staff.
Don't forget about legal liability and confidentiality - information you should study. Perhaps you should think about your own legal liability and how you should be protecting both yourself, and wherever you may end up volunteering.
Deborah R. recommends the following next steps:
I appreciate this, thank you for the advice.
William
Thank you for the advice. I was interested in sports or pediatric care. Im just tried of of applying for positions and not getting anything. I have been at this for a couplenof months now.
William
Where are you located? What is your certification? Are you looking for a job as an assistant physical therapist? Have you tried applying through the local school system?
The more specific you can be about yourself, the higher the likelihood that I can address your question in a relevant fashion.
Deborah R. Brandt, PT, DPT
I live in Pomona, CA and I have not tried applying through the school systems. I have a degree in applied economics from Cal Poly Pomona. All the interviewers ask why I don't have a degree in any of the biological fields. I have the 2 month certification in Physical Therapy Aide program from Mt, San Antonio College in Walnut. The aide program covered medical terminology and the PT modalities. I am also BLS and CPR certified because all the jobs said I needed to, to be considered for a position. I have only been applying to PT aide positions.
William
https://www.apta.org/apta-and-you/leadership-and-governance/policies/the-role-of-aides-in-physical-therapy-service
"Given this role of the physical therapy aide, the American Physical Therapy Association opposes certification or
credentialing of physical therapy aides. "
This link and quote are from the American Physical Therapy website,. It may help explain why you are feeling so frustrated. I can't answer questions in these comments, so ask another question, post it as a question and I'll look for it. You sound like you have a lot to offer and are trying to move into a new field - have you thought about how you could combine your two interests - perhaps in a medical office financial management area? Ask me another question!
Deborah R. Brandt, PT, DPT
I dont really have no interest in going back to finance. I really hated sitting behind a desk. I disliked the people i was working with. All of them were all masters of business psychology. Just trying get every penny they could. I have no urge to support thay type of behavior.
Thank you again for taking the time to try help me. I will try to use all the advice with stride. I will certainly take a look at those websites to try to help. I hope you have a wonderful day.
William
Davina Nolten
Referral Coordinator
15
Answers
Milton, Washington
Updated
Davina’s Answer
Your best bet is to try and independent physical therapy clinic. They should be a whole lot easier than trying a hospital.
At this point everything is on the menu for jobs in the physicaltherapyfield. Anything on indeed, i sent an application.
William
James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity => Self-Actualization.
6338
Answers
Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hey there, William!
Absolutely, there are a bunch of opportunities out there for you to volunteer and work as a physical therapy aide. Your certification in this field is a precious asset that can be put to good use in a range of environments. Here are some options you might want to think about:
1. Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers: Many of these facilities offer volunteer programs specifically for physical therapy aides. This is a great chance for you to pick up some experience, work with seasoned professionals, and learn new techniques. You'll be able to help with patient care and even observe therapy sessions.
Reference: American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) - Hospital-Based Physical Therapy
2. Outpatient Clinics: Places like sports medicine clinics and orthopedic clinics often need physical therapy aides to help with patient care. This can be a great way to learn more about helping patients recover from injuries or improve their mobility and strength.
Reference: APTA - Outpatient Physical Therapy
3. Non-Profit Organizations: Groups like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club run physical therapy programs for seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Volunteering your time here can give you experience with a wide range of people.
Reference: National Council on Aging - Fitness and Exercise for Older Adults
4. Home Health Care: Working with a home health care agency can give you the chance to work closely with patients in their own homes. This can be a more personal setting where you can really make a difference.
Reference: APTA - Home Health Care
5. Research Studies: Universities and research institutions often need physical therapy aides to help with their studies. This can be a fantastic opportunity to help advance the field of physical therapy research.
Reference: ClinicalTrials.gov - Physical Therapy Clinical Trials
6. Community Events: Local events like health fairs and charity runs often need physical therapy aides. This can be a fun way to give back to your community and gain experience in a variety of settings.
Reference: APTA - Community Outreach and Education
Besides these options, you might also want to reach out to local physical therapy clinics and hospitals to see if they have any volunteer or work opportunities. Many of them have internship programs or volunteer opportunities specifically for certified physical therapy aides.
When you're applying for these opportunities, don't forget to mention your certification and any relevant experience you have. Best of luck finding the perfect opportunity for you as a physical therapy aide!
References:
1. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). (n.d.). Hospital-Based Physical Therapy. Retrieved from <https://www.apta.org/HospitalBasedPhysicalTherapy/>
2. APTA. (n.d.). Outpatient Physical Therapy. Retrieved from <https://www.apta.org/OutpatientPhysicalTherapy/>
3. National Council on Aging. (n.d.). Fitness and Exercise for Older Adults. Retrieved from <https://www.ncoa.org/health-wellness/fitness-exercise/>
Absolutely, there are a bunch of opportunities out there for you to volunteer and work as a physical therapy aide. Your certification in this field is a precious asset that can be put to good use in a range of environments. Here are some options you might want to think about:
1. Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers: Many of these facilities offer volunteer programs specifically for physical therapy aides. This is a great chance for you to pick up some experience, work with seasoned professionals, and learn new techniques. You'll be able to help with patient care and even observe therapy sessions.
Reference: American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) - Hospital-Based Physical Therapy
2. Outpatient Clinics: Places like sports medicine clinics and orthopedic clinics often need physical therapy aides to help with patient care. This can be a great way to learn more about helping patients recover from injuries or improve their mobility and strength.
Reference: APTA - Outpatient Physical Therapy
3. Non-Profit Organizations: Groups like the YMCA and the Boys and Girls Club run physical therapy programs for seniors, children, and people with disabilities. Volunteering your time here can give you experience with a wide range of people.
Reference: National Council on Aging - Fitness and Exercise for Older Adults
4. Home Health Care: Working with a home health care agency can give you the chance to work closely with patients in their own homes. This can be a more personal setting where you can really make a difference.
Reference: APTA - Home Health Care
5. Research Studies: Universities and research institutions often need physical therapy aides to help with their studies. This can be a fantastic opportunity to help advance the field of physical therapy research.
Reference: ClinicalTrials.gov - Physical Therapy Clinical Trials
6. Community Events: Local events like health fairs and charity runs often need physical therapy aides. This can be a fun way to give back to your community and gain experience in a variety of settings.
Reference: APTA - Community Outreach and Education
Besides these options, you might also want to reach out to local physical therapy clinics and hospitals to see if they have any volunteer or work opportunities. Many of them have internship programs or volunteer opportunities specifically for certified physical therapy aides.
When you're applying for these opportunities, don't forget to mention your certification and any relevant experience you have. Best of luck finding the perfect opportunity for you as a physical therapy aide!
References:
1. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). (n.d.). Hospital-Based Physical Therapy. Retrieved from <https://www.apta.org/HospitalBasedPhysicalTherapy/>
2. APTA. (n.d.). Outpatient Physical Therapy. Retrieved from <https://www.apta.org/OutpatientPhysicalTherapy/>
3. National Council on Aging. (n.d.). Fitness and Exercise for Older Adults. Retrieved from <https://www.ncoa.org/health-wellness/fitness-exercise/>
Bryce Peck
Physical therapy aide
1
Answer
Lehi, Utah
Updated
Bryce’s Answer
There are many settings where Physical Therapist work in. I have found the easiest way to greet experience is from an outpatient clinic (maybe that’s because there are a-lot where I live). I have either found aide jobs where you really interact with the patients. As well, I have entailed physical therapist to ask if I could come in a few times a week and follow/observe them. During this time you get to follow the Therapist and see how they work. You get time to ask them questions and allow them to teach you why they are doing certain things.