How many PTAs can A PT supervise in Texas

Q. Is it legal for me or one of my employees to perform “physical therapy” (PT) within the confines of my medical practice office, or would that violate a licensing code?

A. The answer is generally no, but with important qualifiers.

The Texas Occupations Code (in Chapter 453) prohibits any person from practicing or representing himself or herself as being able to practice physical therapy unless licensed by the Texas Board of Physical Therapy Examiners. However, the statute also specifically states that this rule “does not restrict the holder of a license issued by another state agency from performing health care services within the scope of the applicable licensing act.”

Physicians, who are licensed by the Texas Medical Board, fit this exception, says TMA’s recently updated white paper, “Delegation of Duties by a Physician to a Nonphysician”

However, there are some restrictions:

• The exception applies to physicians as long as they do not represent (e.g., advertise) to others that they are physical therapists or that they perform “physical therapy.”
• It is also a violation of the PT licensing statute to advertise the ability to perform physical therapy unless the person actually providing the physical therapy is licensed as a physical therapist.

What if you decide to employ a licensed physical therapist in your practice? The PT board provides licenses to and regulates “physical therapy facilities” (any place where the practice of physical therapy takes place).

Further, the white paper says, a physical therapist employed by a physician was disciplined by the PT board because of failure to comply with PT board rules regarding charting, patient assessment, and other matters. The Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners, in an FAQ regarding PTs and PT assistants in a physical medicine setting, states the following:

"The services a PT may provide, and the rules under which they are provided, are the same regardless of setting. The presence of a physician, or a licensee of any board besides [the PT board], does not [affect] the requirements for the provision of physical therapy services. If physical therapy is being provided, the facility must be registered if it is not exempt … and a PT or PTA [i.e., a physical therapist assistant] must be onsite when treatment occurs. If a PTA is providing services, they must work from a PT Plan of Care developed by a PT, and must be supervised by a PT."

Physicians who employ licensed physical therapists should consult legal counsel regarding these matters.

For citations of the laws referenced above, see the white paper. The 18-page paper covers the law, ethical considerations, billing, standing orders, delegating duties and prescriptive authority, supervisory requirements, administration of anesthesia, and other practical considerations. It discusses supervising and delegating duties to advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, physical therapists, medical assistants, pharmacists, and midwives.

Published March 15, 2017

NOTICE: This information is provided as a commentary on legal issues and is not intended to provide advice on any specific legal matter. This information should NOT be considered legal advice and receipt of it does not create an attorney-client relationship. This is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. The Office of the General Counsel of the Texas Medical Association provides this information with the express understanding that (1) no attorney-client relationship exists, (2) neither TMA nor its attorneys are engaged in providing legal advice, and (3) the information is of a general character. Although TMA has attempted to present materials that are accurate and useful, some material may be outdated and TMA shall not be liable to anyone for any inaccuracy, error, or omission, regardless of cause, or for any damages resulting therefrom. Any legal forms are only provided for the use of physicians in consultation with their attorneys. You should not rely on this information when dealing with personal legal matters; rather, legal advice from retained legal counsel should be sought.

TMA Practice E-Tips main page 

Physical Therapist Assistants, or PTAs, are licensed skilled health care providers who work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTAs assist the physical therapist to provide treatment programs to help restore or improve function, relieve pain, encourage independence and educate patients and their families.

Students are admitted to South Texas College through the provisions of Board Policy 3200. General admission to the College does not imply admission to all programs of the College. The Nursing and Allied Health Division offers Selective Programs with application requirements. Application requirements are included in the description of each program. In addition, some Selective Programs have a Competitive Entry selection process based on a competitive point system.

PTA Program Application

PTA Program applications will be available March 2023.

Application Deadline: May 23, 2023.

Information Sessions

Students interested in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program are required to attend an information session. We will discuss program requirements, the application process and the point system evaluation.

Day/Time: Thursdays at 3 p. m.
Location: STC Nursing & Allied Health Campus - McAllen

To receive an invite to one of the PTA Program Information Sessions, please email:
Maria Ponce-Vargas, Guided Pathways Specialist at
.

Please provide the following information in the email:

• Name
• Student ID #
• Preferred Email
• Phone #

For additional information contact:
The Physical Therapist Assistant Department
Maria Ponce-Vargas, Guided Pathways Specialist

• Start: A new program class begins every Fall Semester.
• Delivery: Daytime, Full-time
• Application Deadline: May 23, 2023 for Fall Term
• For an advising appointment please email Mari Ponce-Vargas.

Accreditation

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program at South Texas College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: ; website: http://www.capteonline.org

If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 956-872-3152 or email .

Program Outcomes

• Graduation Rate: 79% of students graduated from the Program (2 year average – 2020, 2021).
• Licensure Examination Pass Rate: 100% of the graduates who tested as of 11/2021 have passed the licensure exam (2 year average – 2020, 2021).
• Employment Rate: 100% of program graduates have obtained positions as PTAs within 12 months of passing the licensure exam (2 year average - 2019, 2020).

Program Application Data

Apply HESI A2 Assessment Competitive Entry Process Student Financial Fact Sheet Resources In the Spotlight

Application Requirements

All applicants must:

1. Participate in the required Prospective Student Information session. For the session schedule, access the information online at http://nah.southtexascollege.edu/pta/ or contact the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at 956-872-3161.
2. Be admitted to the college as a high school graduate or GED equivalent
3. Meet TSI College Readiness Standards, or meet TSI exemption standards ( view testing requirements).
4. Complete all prerequisite courses with a minimum grade of "B" as listed in the Physical Therapist Assistant Program degree plan. BIOL 2401 Anatomy and Physiology I must be completed within the past five years and PTHA 1409 Introduction to Physical Therapy must be completed within the past two years
5. Complete the HESI A2 (Admissions Assessment) Exam as follows: Achieve an English Language Composite Score of 75% or higher, a Science (Anatomy & Physiology) Score of 75% or higher, and a Math Score of 75% or higher.  Scores must be current within the last 2 years. HESI A2 Exemptions are not permitted (click here for testing requirements).
6. Earn a minimum grade of “B” in “Introduction to Physical Therapy” course within the last two years. Required HESI A2 English Language Composite, Science, and Math test scores are needed to register for this course.
7. Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in all courses, including transfer courses, and those completed at STC.
8. Pass a criminal background check, 10-panel drug screen through approved providers, and complete all required immunizations including Hepatitis B series. Students with criminal histories must provide proof of licensure eligibility from the Executive Council of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Examiners (ECPTOTE). This process may take up to 6 months to complete. For more information contact the NAH Clinical Affairs Specialist at 872-3022.
9. Submit Documentation of Experience Forms as evidence of a minimum of twenty-five (25) hours of volunteer or work experience under the supervision of a PT or PTA in two different settings, for a total of fifty (50) hours. One experience should be completed in an inpatient setting (hospital or nursing facility), and the other should be completed in a different type of setting such as an outpatient clinic or pediatric center. Home Health hours are not accepted. Therapists who supervise volunteer experiences cannot be a relative or personal friend of the student applicant.
10. Meet Technical Standards as stated by the Physical Therapist Assistant Program.
11. Submit a completed Program application by stated deadline. For more information contact the Physical Therapist Assistant Program at 872-3161 or access the information online at http://nah.southtexascollege.edu/pta/.

Students who have met the above requirements may submit their application. Applications will be evaluated through a competitive selection process. Due to program size limitations, meeting application requirements does not guarantee admission into the program.

HESI A2 Exam

The HESI (Health Education Systems, Inc.) Admission Assessment, administered at South Texas College is a computerized exam designed to assess prospective students entering certain health fields at STC. The South Texas College Board of Trustees has approved the HESI exam for Fall 2017. Beginning September 1st 2017, students can begin signing up for the HESI exam through the STC Marketplace and pay all applicable fees.

How do I register for the HESI exam?

Student taking the HESI A2 exam must follow these instructions:

1. View the HESI available test dates at STC Marketplace using the HESI store. After you select a test date and time, you will be prompted to enter your information, payment, and to check off rules and regulations to test for the HESI A2 exam. Students are responsible to check out if they are testing for the HESI exam for the second time, failure to provide that information will result in taking the wrong exam. Absolutely no refunds will be given for providing the wrong information.
2. Once all information is entered, and your payment has been processed, you will receive a test date receipt which you will need to bring with you on the day of the exam. Your receipt is your proof of purchase; without it you may not be able to test.
3. Create an Evolve account at evolve.elsevier.com. Click on I’m A Student, then click My Evolve. In the orange pop-up box, click Create Account. You will receive an email containing your username and password.
4. Bring your payment receipt, your username and password, a valid non-expired ID. We do not recommend bringing in any other personal items; they are not permitted inside the testing room. If you bring any personal items, they will not be allowed inside the testing room. Students will be directed to place all personal items in a locker. STC nor the Student Assessment Center are responsible for any items damaged, stolen, or lost while being stored in the lockers.

What fees do I have to pay to take the HESI exam?

All students are required to pay a $25 reservation fee, plus a $45 test fee. All fees are not refundable and non-transferable. NO EXCEPTIONS.

What sections will I be tested on?

Students will be tested in seven areas and will be given a total of 5 hours for the exam.

Where is the HESI exam administered?

At this time the HESI exam is only administered at the Pecan campus. All students should report to the STC Student Assessment Center located at 2603 Pecan Plaza.

What do I need to bring on the day of the exam?

On the day of the exam, students are only required to bring in their valid non-expired ID, receipt of payment, and student username and password. Personal belongings, including electronic devices are not permitted inside the testing room. Students are advised to not bring these items on the day of the exam, however a locker is provided to store personal items if needed. SAC is not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items stored inside the locker.

How do I prepare?

A study booklet is available and can be purchased at the online store:

HESI Admission Assessment Review, 4th Edition
ISBN-10: 0323353789
ISBN-13: 9780323353786

When do I know the results of my exam?

A copy of the HESI test scores will be given after completion. The Student Assessment Center does not discuss test scores with testers. Students are recommended to discuss all test scores with their particular department of study.

If you have any further questions or comments, please contact the Student Assessment Center at 956-872-3484.

How many times can I test?

Students are allowed to test for HESI only twice per eligibility period only.

There are three eligibility periods:

• January 1 through May 31
• June 1 through August 31
• September 1 through December 31

STC PTA program may not accept HESI scores for students who test for more than twice per eligibility period. Students will not receive any refunds if they test more than twice per eligibility period.

Competitive Entry Selection Process

The PTA Program selection process is based on a Point System evaluation. Points are awarded for the following selection criteria: GPA of PTA Program prerequisite and general education courses, HESI A2 Exam scores, volunteer/experience forms, interview scores, and optional points which may be obtained from items listed on the Application Form (for example, completion of CSFH 0101 College Success for Healthcare course with a B or better, etc.). Qualified applicants are numerically ranked based on the number of acceptance points earned, and are either accepted, placed on an alternate list, or not accepted. Due to program size limitations, a number of applicants who meet the additional program application requirements may not be admitted to the program. The typical number of new positions available on an annual basis is 20; the final number is dependent upon available resources. Should any of the accepted applicants decline admission, an alternate will be offered acceptance to the program. In the case of tied applicants, finalists will be chosen based on the date of application.

A new applicant pool is established for each admission period. Applicants who are not admitted for the current application period must re-apply to be considered for a later application period. PTA Program applications are available annually from the PTA Program Department. The window for submission of completed applications opens on the second Monday of June and closes on the second Monday of July of the current year. Selection of students is made one time a year during the summer. Newly selected students attend program orientation in the summer and begin program classes in the fall semester.

Program Resources

• Program Costs
• PTA Program Application Process
• Application Points Computation Worksheet
• Course Descriptions
• Clinic Participation Requirements
• Technical Performance Standards
• Volunteer Forms
• List of Skills

Helpful Links

• American Physical Therapy Association
• How to Become a PTA in Texas
• STC Student Financial Services
• Texas Physical Therapy Association
• Texas State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy

PTA Program in the Spotlight

• Student Physical Therapist Assistant Club Facebook
• Student Physical Therapist Assistant Club Instagram
• Feature Article - Robert Garza (2014)
• Feature Article - Glenn Alaniz, SPTA (2010)
• Class of 2010 APTA Membership (2010)
• Class of 2011 Graduates Passed Exam (2011)
• STC PTA Program Collaborates with TWU (2012)
• PTA State Conference 2013
• Collaboration with ADN Program 2014
• APTA You Can Be ME

Degree Plans Faculty Staff Career Exploration

Faculty

For faculty not listed, please contact the department.

Staff

Work Environment

PTAs work in settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, home health, schools, sports facilities, and more. Patients/clients treated in physical therapy range from newborns to the elderly and sample diagnoses include athletic injuries, back/neck problems, strokes, spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, arthritis, and post-surgical conditions such as total joint replacements.

Care provided by a PTA may include:

• teaching patients/clients exercises to increase movement and flexibility
• helping increase a patient's/clients balance, strength and coordination
• providing training for activities such as walking with crutches, canes, or walkers
• use of physical agents and electrotherapy such as ultrasound and electrical stimulation

Salary Data

National Average Wage: $25.63/hr. or $53,320/year (BLS, May 2013)
Texas Average Wage: $33.04/hr. or $68,730/year (BLS, May 2013)

How do the rules describe supervision of PTAs?

How many patients can a PT see at once?

How many PTAs can a PT supervise in TN?

How much do Texas PTAs make?