Certified Physical Therapy Aide

Thousands of people attend physical therapy schools every day to become a part of this hot career field. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment of physical therapy aides is expected to grow by 29% over the next decade, which is much faster than the average job.

A physical therapy aide most often works under the direction of a physical therapist and/or physical therapy assistant. Physical therapy aide jobs often include keeping the treatment area clean and well organized, as well as to help escort patients in wheelchairs, perform clerical duties, order supplies and more. A physical therapy aide generally needs to be well organized, have patience, and enjoy working with others.

At the completion of this course, offered by our accredited school partners, you should be able to:

List the core elements of medical terminology
• Name the core elements of the physical therapy profession
• Identify the systems of the body and their functions
• Recall the steps to treat common medical disorders
• Recognize the steps to turn, transfer, and position patients

As the fastest growing industry, pursuing a career in the healthcare field will provide stability, profitability, and satisfaction. All career paths in healthcare require Medical Terminology knowledge and skills. In this course learners will explore the word structure and analysis of medical terms including prefix, root word, and suffix. Next learners will review the organization of the body and body systems in regards to terminology. Lastly we will discuss diagnostic testing and radiology and how medical terminology is used to determine the proper testing methods. Learners will navigate through the training material before completing several short activities at the end of each lesson to test their retention of the information. After completing each of the lessons, learners will complete a final assessment that will verify they have successfully gained the knowledge and skills covered in the course material. Accompanying the course is a terminology workbook that will give learners the hands on experience and tools to master the use of medical terminology in any healthcare setting. Alongside the terminology workbook are study materials and resources such as quizzes, games, flash cards, exercises, animations of the different tests, procedures, and terms, and an audio glossary of medical terms that will allow learners to hear the correct pronunciations.

Upon successful completion of this course, learners will be able to:
• Describe the structure of medical terms
• List the differences between prefix and suffix
• Determine testing and radiology using medical terminology
• List the different body systems in relation to medical terminology

Course Outline:
Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 1
• Basic Word Structure

Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 2
• Body Systems

Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 3
• Prefixes and Suffixes

Physical Therapy Aide Module 1
• Medical Terminology Review
• Pronunciation
• Spelling
• Word Roots
• Combining Vowels/Form
• Prefixes
• Suffixes
• General Rules
• Word Building
• Abbreviations
• Procedural and Diagnostic Billing Codes
• Body Structure
• Organization of the Body
• Anatomical Position
• Body Planes
• Directional and Positional Terms
• Body Cavities

Physical Therapy Aide Module 2
• The Profession of Physical Therapy
• History and Evolution of Physical Therapy
• Multidisciplinary Approach to Health Care
• The Rehabilitation Team
• The Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• History of Physical Medicine
• Physical and Therapeutic Allied Health Careers
• Understanding Medical Ethics and Medical Law
• The Patient and the Health Care Worker
• Patient Medical Records and the Law
• Interprofessional Issues
• Communicating Effectively
• Communication in the Physical Therapy Setting
• Appointment Scheduling
• Using Medical Abbreviations
• Understanding the Patient's Medical Record
• Administrative Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• Billing, Banking, and Insurance Processing

Physical Therapy Aide Module 3
• Scientific Principles
• Understanding the Human Body
• Systems of the Body
• The Musculoskeletal System
• The Digestive System
• The Circulatory System
• The Respiratory System
• The Nervous System
• The Integumentary System
• The Urinary System
• The Endocrine System
• The Reproductive System
• The Skeletal System
• The Axial Skeleton
• The Appendicular Skeleton
• Joints and Movement

Physical Therapy Aide Module 4
• Physical Dysfunctions, Safety and Charting
• Treating Common Medical Disorders
• Using Physical Therapy to Treat Burns
• Treatment of Amputation
• Treatment of Genitourinary Disorders
• Safety in the Working Environment
• Practicing Good Body Alignment and Movement
• Asepsis and Infection Control
• Performing Proper Handwashing
• Infection Control
• Preparation for Patient Care
• Management of the Environment
• Body Mechanics
• Verbal Commands
• Patient Preparation
• Transportation

Physical Therapy Aide Module 5
• Patient Care Skills & Physical Therapy Modalities
• Turning and Positioning the Patient
• Turning in the Prone Position
• Turning on the Floor Mat
• Turning from a Supine Position to a Side-Lying Position
• Returning from a Supine Position to a Sitting Position
• Types of Patient Transfers
• Preparation for Beginning Transfers
• Standing Transfers
• Bathtub Transfers
• Sitting Transfers
• Drawsheet Transfers
• Pneumatic Lift Transfers
• One-Person Transfer from Floor to Wheelchair

Physical Therapy Aide Module 6
• Physical Therapy Modalities
• Tips on Preambulation Teaching
• Choosing the Appropriate Device
• Gait Training and Gait Deviations
• Therapeutic Exercises
• Measuring Muscle Strength
• Skill or Coordination Exercises
• Range of Motion Exercises
• Superficial Heating Agents
• Deep Heating Agents
• Ultrasound
• Hydrotherapy
• Cold Therapy
• Massage
• Cervical Traction
• Specialized Clinical Procedures
• Electroneural Stimulation
• Application of a Cast
• Administration of Medication
• Specialized Reflex Tests
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Sports Bandaging and Taping
• Pet Therapy
• Career Skills and the Physical Therapy Aide
• The Job Search
• The Cover Letter & Resume
• Interviewing
• Finding Job Leads

Enroll through one of our accredited university or college partners today!

Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 1
• Basic Word Structure

Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 2
• Body Systems

Medical Terminology: A Short Course Module 3
• Prefixes and Suffixes

Physical Therapy Aide Module 1
• Medical Terminology Review
• Pronunciation
• Spelling
• Word Roots
• Combining Vowels/Form
• Prefixes
• Suffixes
• General Rules
• Word Building
• Abbreviations
• Procedural and Diagnostic Billing Codes
• Body Structure
• Organization of the Body
• Anatomical Position
• Body Planes
• Directional and Positional Terms
• Body Cavities

Physical Therapy Aide Module 2
• The Profession of Physical Therapy
• History and Evolution of Physical Therapy
• Multidisciplinary Approach to Health Care
• The Rehabilitation Team
• The Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• History of Physical Medicine
• Physical and Therapeutic Allied Health Careers
• Understanding Medical Ethics and Medical Law
• The Patient and the Health Care Worker
• Patient Medical Records and the Law
• Interprofessional Issues
• Communicating Effectively
• Communication in the Physical Therapy Setting
• Appointment Scheduling
• Using Medical Abbreviations
• Understanding the Patient's Medical Record
• Administrative Role of the Physical Therapy Aide
• Billing, Banking, and Insurance Processing

Physical Therapy Aide Module 3
• Scientific Principles
• Understanding the Human Body
• Systems of the Body
• The Musculoskeletal System
• The Digestive System
• The Circulatory System
• The Respiratory System
• The Nervous System
• The Integumentary System
• The Urinary System
• The Endocrine System
• The Reproductive System
• The Skeletal System
• The Axial Skeleton
• The Appendicular Skeleton
• Joints and Movement

Physical Therapy Aide Module 4
• Physical Dysfunctions, Safety and Charting
• Treating Common Medical Disorders
• Using Physical Therapy to Treat Burns
• Treatment of Amputation
• Treatment of Genitourinary Disorders
• Safety in the Working Environment
• Practicing Good Body Alignment and Movement
• Asepsis and Infection Control
• Performing Proper Handwashing
• Infection Control
• Preparation for Patient Care
• Management of the Environment
• Body Mechanics
• Verbal Commands
• Patient Preparation
• Transportation

Physical Therapy Aide Module 5
• Patient Care Skills & Physical Therapy Modalities
• Turning and Positioning the Patient
• Turning in the Prone Position
• Turning on the Floor Mat
• Turning from a Supine Position to a Side-Lying Position
• Returning from a Supine Position to a Sitting Position
• Types of Patient Transfers
• Preparation for Beginning Transfers
• Standing Transfers
• Bathtub Transfers
• Sitting Transfers
• Drawsheet Transfers
• Pneumatic Lift Transfers
• One-Person Transfer from Floor to Wheelchair

Physical Therapy Aide Module 6
• Physical Therapy Modalities
• Tips on Preambulation Teaching
• Choosing the Appropriate Device
• Gait Training and Gait Deviations
• Therapeutic Exercises
• Measuring Muscle Strength
• Skill or Coordination Exercises
• Range of Motion Exercises
• Superficial Heating Agents
• Deep Heating Agents
• Ultrasound
• Hydrotherapy
• Cold Therapy
• Massage
• Cervical Traction
• Specialized Clinical Procedures
• Electroneural Stimulation
• Application of a Cast
• Administration of Medication
• Specialized Reflex Tests
• Orthotics and Prosthetics
• Sports Bandaging and Taping
• Pet Therapy
• Career Skills and the Physical Therapy Aide
• The Job Search
• The Cover Letter & Resume
• Interviewing
• Finding Job Leads

All required reference materials are provided with this program. Technical requirements:

Internet Connection
• Broadband or High-Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)
Hardware Requirements
• Processor - 2GHz Processor or Higher
• Memory - 1 GB RAM Minimum Recommended

Software Requirements
• Operating Systems - Windows 7, 8 or 10; Mac OS x 10 or higher
• Microsoft Office 2007, 2010 or 2013 or a Word Processing application to save and open Microsoft Office formats (.doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx)
• Internet Browsers - Google Chrome is highly recommended
• Cookies MUST be enabled
• Pop-ups MUST be allowed (Pop-up Blocker disabled)
• Adobe PDF Reader

The Certified Physical Therapy Aide Specialist (CPTAS) exam prepares individuals in the field of Therapeutic Services for a career as a Physical Therapy Aide Specialist. Achieving national recognition as a CPTAS will ensue you are recognized by employers in the industry and demonstrate you are prepared for a career as Physical Therapy Aide Specialist.
Certified Physical Therapy Aide Specialists (CPTAS) are an important part of a professional physical therapy staff. CPTAS are employed by hospitals, physical therapy offices, orthopedic clinics, and personal care facilities to work under the direct supervision of Physical Therapist and their assistants. CPTAS assist in caring for the facility, help patients to and/or from the therapy areas, complete clerical tasks, answer phones, and assist patients with insurance paperwork. CPTAS play a significant role in helping to make therapy sessions productive for Physical Therapists and pleasant for the patients.
Each state may have additional licensing requirements, be sure to research your states requirements for employment by visiting your states occupation board.

This class is an independent-study course. Students will have all the resources needed to successfully complete the course within the online material. A student helpdesk is available for technical support during the course enrollment.