Education Needs Of A Pharmacy Technician

There are of course many pharmacy technician schools of thought on which kind of education is the best and also the most sustainable in the long run. Developments in technology and computerized systems mean that where the job of the pharmacy technician once focused on aspects like counting and packaging medication, their job has taken on a more specialized nature. They now play prominent roles in industries like medicine manufacturing and medical supply procurement. Thus, according to Linwood F. Tice, D.Sc., Dean, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science (1966): “The pharmacist of tomorrow will function by reason of what he knows, increasing the efficiency and safety of drug therapy and working as a specialist in his own right. It is in this direction that pharmaceutical education must evolve without delay.” Those who are of the same opinion are therefore encouraged to look for practical components in courses and choose educational paths which allow technicians to specialize in certain aspects of the pharmaceutical field.

Choosing the right path of study will have a direct effect on one’s job opportunities in the future. It will also directly affect aspects like one’s starting salary and entry-level position. It is therefore very useful for students to differentiate between their available options. Accredited pharmacy technician schools usually come highly recommended, although it is possible to obtain a certificate from any institution providing a certificate course in this arena. Fortunately for students, there are currently (over) 125 colleges and pharmacy technician schools with accreditation status according to the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education.

Applying For A Certificate Course

“For a pharmacy technician, certification is an indication of the mastery of a specific core of knowledge.” (American Society of Health-System
Pharmacists. White paper on pharmacy technicians. Am J Health-Syst Pharm.1996; 53:1793-6.)

Below, are a few standardized facts about what certification courses entail for prospective students:

• Can usually be completed in a few months (less than a year on average)
• A high school diploma is usually the only pre-requisite for this study path.
• These courses provide only basic or fundamental education.
• Students will become familiarized with the legislation governing their jobs as future technicians and the administering of medication.
• Courses equip students with the skills to work in retail or clinical environments.
• Sitting a formal certification examination usually marks the end of this course.
• Successful students will be able to fill entry-level positions in either retail or clinical environments.

Obtaining A Diploma As A Pharmacy Technician

After obtaining their certification, many students decide to pursue a formal diploma in the field. These programs usually:

• Require at least one year of further studying.
• Require students to have completed a certificate course and passed the formal exam after completion.
• Nurture the practical component of the job and the actual skills needed to build a successful career.
• Enable students with degrees in other medical fields to specialize as pharmacy technicians and make the transition into this field.
• Diplomas equip students with the necessary skills to work in many different arenas including retail, clinical and hospital, institutions and medical facilities as well as mail order pharmaceutical service companies.
• Students will be prepared to sit the required examination process upon completion of their course.
• Successful students will be able to enter a range of different fields of work in the pharmaceutical industry.

Pursuing An Associate/Bachelor’s Degree In The Field

Students who have the capacity and resources to obtain a degree in this field are encouraged to do so. Although formal certification is not always a pre-requisite for obtaining a job after studying (depending on the state’s laws), it is certainly no secret that those who are certified, find the process of getting a job, easier. Getting a degree means that:

• Students will need to commit at least 24 months or more of their time to studying.
• Students require a high-school diploma as a prerequisite for their degree.
• The degree will provide the strongest possible function of knowledge and skills for future technicians to build their careers upon.
• The theory involved will include advanced medical and pharmaceutical terminology, chemistry, inventory management and human anatomy.
• The practical work involved will include working in a clinic or hospital dispensary in direct contacts with patients.
• Students will be able to apply for pharmacy technician jobs across a broad spectrum of fields spanning the retail field to more advanced fields like the medicine manufacturing field in plants and medical laboratories.
• “Ex-ternship”/ internship programs are usually included to provide students with practical experience.

Where the development of practical skills are concerned, It is important for students to recognize the dual importance of both the learning of theory as well as the centrality of receiving good quality practical pharmacy technician training: “While education (as described above) may involve a training component, both are vital to the learning (or preparation) of the technician.” (Barrow W, Milburn G, eds. A critical dictionary of educational concepts. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Teachers College Press; 1970.)

Obtaining Formal Pharmacy Technician Education Online

Nowadays, web-based institutions provide long-distance education online, where it is accessible and widely available to the masses. These part-time programs allow students to work while they study and to complete their qualification in a longer period of time. These students however, need to bear in mind that studying online requires the following personal attributes along with the desire to learn:

• An advanced sense of personal responsibility and the ability to meet deadlines and complete assignments without relying on direct pressure or encouragement from lecturers and face-to-face tutors.
• Good time management and organisational skills.
• The ability to compromise the full-time, “student life,” and dedicate a great deal of one’s free time to studying.
• Perseverance in working to raise one’s course funds.
• Diligence in meeting deadlines.
• Ability to ask for outside help when it is needed.

Studying online has bridged the gap between those who could not formerly study due to financial constraints or demands on their time due to having children and/or supporting an existing family, and those who could. Although in the past, online instructions struggled to obtain formal accreditation and recognition, today, many enjoy accredited status and provide students with the education they need to further themselves as future technicians.

Taking The Certification Exam

The Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) as provided by the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (est. 1995), is a hallmark in the studying career of many aspiring technicians.

Indeed, statistics show that, “By the end of 2001, more than 100,000 technicians had been certified with this program.” (Ernst FR, Grizzle AJ. Drug-related morbidity and mortality: updating the cost of-illness model. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2001; 41:192-9.) To date, according to the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB), this number has reached 400 000.

To assist aspiring technicians who are preparing to take the formal examination, here are a few basic facts provided by the PTCB (www.ptcb.org):

The Exam Format

• 90 multiple-choice questions
• The result of 80 of these questions count towards the final score
• The remaining 10 questions are not considered as part of the final score but are used to assess which students qualify for future versions of the PTCE.
• The exam begins with an un-scored tutorial
• The exam ends with an en exit survey

The Exam Content
The exam is divided into three main content sections, namely:

• Assisting the Pharmacist in Serving Patients (66% of exam)
• Maintaining Medication and Inventory Control Systems (22% of exam)
• Participating in the Administration and Management of Pharmacy Practice (12% of exam)

Exam Scoring

• No penalties are imposed for guessing and no negative marking applies
• Possible sores range from 300 to 900
• The scaled score which constitutes a pass is 650
• Scaled scoring is determined by a method called statistical equating,
• Scaled scoring is used because various PTCEs used annually differ in levels of difficulty and scaled scoring allows students to have an equal chance of passing any one of the PTCEs .
• All scores are kept strictly confidential

Time Limit

• Candidates are given 110 minutes in which to complete the exam
• The starting tutorial takes approximately 5 minutes
• The concluding exit survey takes approximately 5 minutes
• The total examination time limit is therefore 120 minutes (2 hours)

The PTCB provides students with a number of useful resources to aid them in their preparation process. These resources include practice examinations, a formal guidebook and other documentation to assist students with understanding the scoring process.

Deciding Whether This Career Path Is For You

When embarking on this career choice, it is important to take various factors into account. Studies and statistical data provide useful insight to be taken into consideration when making this pivotal decision.

Salary Expectations

Hourly rates and salaries depend greatly on the state in which technicians work as well as the industry. The United States Department of Labor provides an overall indication of the annual salary figures as below, per industry:

Table showing projected salary averages for pharmacy technicians as of May 2007 (industry specific)

Studies (as provided by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Employment & Wages database) are also indicative of the fact that the five top-paying states are as follows:

• Alaska
• Washington
• California
• Hawaii
• District of Colmbia

Industry Employment Rates

Much can be said about the rate at which employment opportunities are opening up for pharmacy technicians. The main reason for the evident increase in these job opportunities is the subsequent increase in demand, caused by shortages of pharmacists in relation to the need for their expertise and technical abilities. This shortage of pharmacists automatically entails that technicians are having to play more prominent roles in the pharmacy, alongside pharmacists.

Required Personal Traits

One’s personal strengths and abilities will also contribute towards success in this career path. A day in the life of a pharmacy technician at an entry-level may require long and arduous working hours, especially in a 24 hour retail or clinical environment. Technicians should have an attitude of attitude of perseverance and determination to deal with emergency situations. They will also spend most of the day on their feet – requiring stamina and endurance. Apart from being presentable and approachable especially within a retail environment, technicians need all the above characteristics to nurture success in their careers.

Studying At A Pharmacy Technician School To Build A Prosperous Career In The Industry

For many professionals in the industry, becoming a certified pharmacy technician is the first step in a long and rewarding career in this industry. With the need for technicians to perform more primary managerial roles in their respective industries, there are many opportunities available for growth and personal advancement. As many come to understand, their roles as technicians are integral to their respective industries and companies but also to greater society as a whole. Aspiring technicians are encouraged to pursue their education with enthusiasm and use it as a stepping stone towards even greater prospects in this thriving industry.

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The Importance Of Pharmacy Technicians

In recent years, due to immense shortages in aspects like education, training and expertise, technicians have been required to extend their reach and influence. These shortages are not limited to developing countries alone. Indeed, even in developed countries, technicians go the extra mile in providing good quality medical care and ensuring that the right procedures are followed in the dispensing of medication. According to the “Pharmacy Technician Overview,” as prepared as part of the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center: “Pharmacy technician jobs hold about 285,000 positions in the United States.”

Job Opportunities For Technicians In The Professional Sector

There are a range of possibilities in terms of pharmacy technician jobs. Placements depend largely on a technician’s level of experience, their formal education and their interpersonal skills.

Technicians In The Retail Field

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook 2010 – 11 as directed by the United Sates Bureau of Labor Statistics: “About 75 percent of pharmacy technician jobs were in a retail setting.”
In the retail field, these technicians play roles as community helpers, working alongside qualified pharmacists in the dispensary and performing tasks which include:

• Filling prescriptions and dispensing the appropriate medication to patrons who have obtained formal prescriptions from their general practitioners and other medical specialists.

• Giving advice on how to use the medication appropriately, how to deal with any potential side effects and what to do if the medical problem persists.

• Recording personal details and medical records for future reference.

• Obtaining approval from the resident pharmacist before prescribing or dispensing certain medication.

• Distributing medical documents and receiving prescriptions from other local pharmacies in order to attend to the needs of patrons.

• Monitoring stock and facilitating the ordering and intake of medication and medical supplies.

• Administrative tasks relating to the operation of the pharmacy, its staff constituent and its medical stock.

In addition to these professional tasks, these technicians need to be able to interact with people on a deeply personal level. Often, these technicians interact with community members when they are at their most vulnerable emotional states. They therefore have to have to have the ability to build a rapport with their customers and be trustworthy and approachable.

Pharmacy Technician Jobs In Prisons And Other Institutions

In institutions, technicians perform vital roles similar to those performed at a retail level. In this field, they may work in conjunction with and according to governmental procedures and ensure that facilities run as effectively as possible. There tasks therefore extend to those including:

• Performing formal audits of the work and consultancies of general practitioners who treat patients in correctional facilities, primary care institutions and armed force treatment centers.

• Ensuring a constant supply of the right kinds of medication through procurement of medication and the use of ordering systems.

• Administering injections and medication as prescribed by other medical professionals.

• Assisting with the treatment of minor ailments like colds and influenza, which are potentially life-threatening in these environments where infected patients live in close proximity with their fellows.

• Administering medication according to state laws and legislation.

• Monitoring the condition of patients and treating them accordingly in conjunction with other specialists and internal practitioners.

As in the retail sector, these technicians will often have to undergo specialized pharmacy technician training to deal with their immediate environments, which can prove very challenging. They will also be trained in emergency procedures to ensure that outbreaks of disease or acts of violence can be contained on a medical level without disrupting the operations of the institution. Although they may not perform the role of professional counselors, they need to have the knowledge and level of assertiveness to deal with patients who may be incarcerated and/or living under highly stressed conditions within an institution.

Mail Order Medical Dispensary Jobs

Ordering medication and filling prescription via mail orders is fast becoming one of the most rapidly growing fields in the industry. The large demand for these kinds of services is influenced greatly by society’s constant need for more convenient service delivery. It requires less effort and time on the part of the customer and works just as effectively as ordering pharmaceutical drugs over-the-counter does. Benefits for these kinds of companies are lower operating costs and the ability to stipulate one’s own working hours according to fluctuations in the level of demand. The duties of technicians in these types of positions include the following:

• Receiving the orders and relevant prescriptions which need to be filled.

• Recording all the orders and tracking the activities of customers for future reference.

• Meeting delivery deadlines to ensure that customers receive the medication they need in the right quantities and within the correct time frame.

• Labeling medication accurately and ensuring that all usage instructions follow legal and medial health protocol in the interests of protecting the well-being of customers.

• Constantly processing the inflow of new orders and ensuring that supplies are kept at sufficient levels.

These kinds of technicians do not play the kind of roles as those in the retail field do, largely because they do not spend much time with customers and in fact, rarely come into direct contact with the people they serve. Thus, they need to practice extreme discipline, as their time constraints and work ethic is not dictated to them directly by the public but is largely reliant on their own sense of responsibility and commitment to doing their job to the best of their ability. They need to be just as meticulous as any technicians in other fields because a mistake in this industry can be a matter of life and death.

Careers In Clinics And Hospitals

Among the range of certified pharmacy technician jobs which are available, are those in hospitals, clinics and medical treatment facilities. Here, it is integral that technicians have the ability to work as a part of a team. The unity of any workforce in this field of medicine plays a central role in its overall success and there simply can be no room left for error. Technicians in this environment also need to be able to use their initiative. Although their work is always done in conjunction with a certified pharmacist or doctor, a large amount of responsibility lies on their shoulders, especially in emergency situations where decisiveness is the key. Their duties include but are not limited to:

• Providing patients with advice on how to use their medication safely while they are in hospital and when they are discharged.

• Checking and recording the different kinds of medication which are prescribed to each patient on a daily basis.

• Helping doctors to prepare specialized medication administered to specific patients with special medical needs.

• Ensuring that all medication is prepared or modified in environments free from bacterial infection and the infiltration of harmful chemicals.

• Helping in the making of special medicines which are not commercially available or which do not arrive in the form in which they will be administered to patients.

• Preparing creams and ointments.

• Measuring, counting and preparing medication for distribution to different wards.

Technicians in this field have to be adaptable and flexible in terms of their abilities. Their services may be needed in different areas in the facility throughout the day and they need to be readily available to help wherever they can. They may be required to work in shifts which may range from day or night shifts to those which require technicians to work in the early hours of the morning. While they may be able to prepare their tasks in advance, they can never be sure when an emergency situation may arise and should be prepared for anything in this fast-paced work environment.

Fields Of Work Requiring The Expertise Of Trained Pharmacy Technicians

In any area of work, whether it be in the retail or the hospital arena, technicians may undertake or oversee the facilitation of certain aspects of work in this industry. These aspects become almost like areas of specialization and technicians may wish to focus on one or more of these areas during their studies and further education.

Medicines Management

According to Richard Seal, Program Consultant in Medicines Management for the NHS: “Medicines management is about enabling people to make the best possible use of their medicines.”
Therefore, in short, it is the discipline whereby the medicine prescribed to each patient is monitored closely to avoid negative side effects which may occur when two or more different types of medication are taken simultaneously. It regulates different medication to ensure that the process runs smoothly and that any medication issued to the patient is directed in a safe and responsible manner. It also requires that technicians be able to assist with a level of forecasting. That is to say, a technician needs to be able to predict which medication may be needed by a patient in future, having taking into consideration their medical history and their present condition. These patients may include cancer patients or pregnant women. This forecasting ability will help them to ensure that the hospital or treatment facility is well stocked with the appropriate kind of medication to adequately supply patients with the assistance they need.

Medicines Manufacturing

The industry of medicines manufacturing is one of the largest and plausibly, the most influential medical industry in the world. It is the boiling pot for the new technologies and medication which have led to the phenomenal increase in worldwide life expectancy and the capability of medicine to sustain and support life for longer. Needless to say, technicians in this industry work in plants and laboratories which are often closely linked with governmental institutions and initiatives and are constantly looking at ways in which to develop the medical industry further.

This particular field of work for technicians has evidently led to the establishment of large-scale companies and medical manufacturing plants.

Quality Control

In this field, all medicines are thoroughly tested to ensure that they are safe for usage, that they produce the desired results and that they perform according to the required standards. Technicians will be involved in tasks like:

• Testing medicines and recording data regarding its effects on patients.
• Technical preventative procedures to ensure that all medication can be safely used.
• Quality management procedures as stipulated by lab scientists and authoritative bodies.
• Ensure that governmental quality standards are followed during the manufacturing, developmental, packaging and distribution procedures.

These tasks are of a highly technical nature and technicians will liaise with medical scientists and technologists.

Medical Supplies Procurement

Procurement technicians work closely with medicine manufacturing companies and plants to determine which suppliers would best suit their company’s/institution’s/hospital’s/retail pharmacy’s business model and individual needs. While working in conjunction with pharmacists and practitioners in different fields, they will have the following responsibilities:

• The ordering and purchasing of patient care supplies, medication and medical equipment.
• Supply sourcing
• Planning services according to available budgetary stipulations.
• Facilitating automated ordering systems and implementing changes where necessary.
• Managing information technology systems for these purposes.

These tasks are imperative to ensuring that the operations of medical facilities run effectively.

Changes And Job Prospects For Future Pharmaceutical Technicians

According to various studies on what the future holds for technicians in these fields, pharmacy technician job prospects look increasingly positive. This is due to a number of factors including:

• New developments in medical technology and the subsequent emergence of new medication which can cure previously “incurable” diseases and conditions.

• A rise in worldwide life expectancy and therefore the longer need for each individual to use medication.

• The opening up of entry-level positions due to the rapid advancements of former technicians and aides who study and fulfill managerial and leadership positions.

• The rising trend in insurance companies using pharmacies and treatment facilities to monitor and track the health of their insurance members.

• The increase in demand for more efficient administrative organisation and technicians’ abilities to fulfill the needs of this demand.

Statistics show that the, “employment of pharmacy technicians is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations,” (“Pharmacy Technician Overview” Sloan Career Cornerstone Center (www.careercornerstone.org)).

For many aspiring medical field workers, striving towards obtaining a pharmacy technician job is an obtainable and sustainable prospect. With studies showing the rise in opportunities for these talented and hard-working individuals, the earning potential for technicians is increasing, much to the benefit of the industry as a whole. Although these positions are demanding and personally challenging at times, the rewards always seem to prove greater. Besides playing a major role in the very sustenance and maintenance of human life, helping people is always a self-fulfilling undertaking.

The post Looking At Getting Pharmacy Technician Jobs appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Medical assistants are employees who help medical professionals in either and administrative or clinical capacity. The trick is, of course, to find the best medical assistant schools and programs in order to make sure that you are being properly qualified for the position. There are several medical assistant schools out there, but you have to make sure that you choose the best one.

Training At A Medical Assistant School

You will soon realize that many positions do not require you to have any training, but you will find it a lot easier to get a job if you do have a qualification form one of the medical assistant schools and programs. With a little more time and effort you can become a certified medical assistant, which will give you a higher status and open up more opportunities for you than you would otherwise have as merely a medical secretary or something similar.

Training at a medical assistant school will qualify you to assist a medical professional or work at a medical institute of practice in the capacity of a clerical or clinical administrator. Because there has been such an enormous growth in the health care sector recently, programs and schools that offer medical assistant training for becoming a medical assistant are becoming increasingly more popular. The growth of this industry is projected to continue, making it a very safe industry and career path to become involved in.

Finding The Best Medical Assistant Schools

In general finding medical assistant schools and programs is as easy as logging on to the internet and clicking a few buttons. There are so many programs out there for you, but finding the best one is a little trickier. Using the internet as a resource to kick-start your career as a medical assistant makes perfect sense, and it is a very easy thing to do.

Online Medical Assistant Schools

Learning online can be easier and it can also open up more doors for you. For example, if you already have a full time job that you are looking to leave, you will be able to study online in the evenings without jeopardizing your position in the employment market. For people who don’t have time or who live too far away from institutes that offer medical assistant programs an online program may the answer and you will soon find that you will be able to complete the qualification easily and quickly.

There are many advantages to studying online:

• The program will be easily accessible
• You will be able to work on your course at any time of the day
• There is a lot more flexibility
• There are usually no time limits and deadlines, or at least not very strict ones
• The fees are usually very reasonable and can be afforded by many people
• The courses will be created with the aid of medical professionals

There are, however, some important things to keep in mind when considering online medical assistant schools:

• Is the school or program accredited and certified? If not then your chances of becoming a medical assistant may be lowered (although in many cases a formal qualification is not a strict requirement)

• There are many different specialized programs, so choose carefully. If you have no interest in dentistry than don’t become a dental assistant
• These types of online courses will usually only offer preeminent training

It is true that you could become a medical assistant by getting a degree at a university or through a vocational school, but if you want to stand the best chance of getting the best jobs in this industry, you should go to an institute or enrol in a program that offers specialized medical assistant training.

Associate Degrees vs. Certificate / Diplomas

There are some important differences between an associate’s degree and a specialized medical assistance degree or certificate.

Associate Degree: Advantages

• You will earn credits towards a Bachelor’s Degree. So this means that you will have the opportunity to study further and go back to school for a stronger qualification. This is something that those applicants looking for a life-long career in the industry should definitely consider. There are many people who have kick-started their careers in this way.

• You will be seen in a better light with an Associate Degree. In general you will be taken more seriously if you have a ‘more serious’ qualification. This is what you will achieve if you get an Associate degree as this means that you are showing prospective employers that you are serious about the job you are applying for and that you want to make the effort to be a great and well-qualified employee.

Associate Degree: Disadvantages

• The time commitment is very high, about 2 years. So if you embark on this degree you will be making quite a long term commitment. It is very important that you consider how much time you able to dedicate to your qualification.
• It is more expensive
• It is more demanding

Certificates And Diplomas: Advantages

• You will get into the job market a whole lot quicker. This means that if you are looking to get a job now, then this is the best course of action for you. This suits people who need to get working as soon as possible.

• It will take less time and money. This is always a big advantage. It is not always possible to pay the high rates that are demanded by universities, so it is a cheap way to get yourself a good and secure job.

Certificates And Diplomas: Disadvantages

• You will not be as highly thought of with this qualification, but bear in mind that you will still most likely be able to get a job. Having an Associate’s degree only increases chances that are already very good.

Basically you can see that there are pros and cons for each of these types of qualifications. The type of school you choose will depend on what your aims are with your course, what you want to achieve and where you want your qualification to take you. The point of your qualification, and such things as whether you plan to do it a temporary job or a full time career, will influence your choice of school greatly.

Important Factors To Keep In Mind When Looking For A Medical Assistant School

It is very important that you make the right decision in this regard. There are a few basic tips that will help guide your decision. Because of the sudden increase in popularity of medical assistant schools, there have been schools that have literally been appearing in a matter of weeks. The quality of these schools may be called into question, and it may be in your best interests to go with a school that is more well-established. However, on the other hand, established schools and programs are becoming swamped with the number of new applicants and are struggling to accommodate them. Finding the best school can therefore be quite a challenging task.

Online Studies. Do you want to study online? There are many opportunities out there for students who want to engage in distance learning through online courses. In this modern day and age it is not always necessary for you to actually go to a university or institute in order to complete your qualification. This is perfect for people who don’t have time. However, there are also many advantages to studying offline, such as having access directly to lecturers and teachers and being in an environment where you can interact and learn together with other students. In both cases you need to check that the school you are considering is certified and that they have a good reputation, whether you decide to study online or offline. However, once you have made this first choice, you will be able to minimize the number of schools that you need to consider.

Standard of Education. What kind of teachers does the medical assistant school provide? Obviously you want to go to a school where the teachers have a good reputation. You want only the best. You will not always be able to afford the best schools, but remember that there are plenty of medical assistant schools out there that are affordable, and that also have excellent teachers. You just need to take the time to consider all of the options and look for the perfect school for you. This ties in with the quality of the medical assistant programs offered. It is very important that you attend a school that will provide you with the qualifications, skills and knowledge you need to do your job as a medical assistant well. Look for schools where students and teachers are screened for suitability rather than schools where anyone is accepted, because this may indicate lower quality and standards.

What is your budget? There is a belief that the more expensive the school the better the school is. However, this is not always true. Many schools trade on their name rather than on their quality. Most people are working within a budget, and it is definitely possible to find an excellent medical assistant school or program at an affordable rate. You need to look at what past pupils from the school have achieved as that is a better indication of the school’s quality than the price of the tuition.

Qualification. You need to be sure of what sort of qualifications your state requires for you to work. These qualifications vary drastically. Some states will accept practically any program or certificate related to becoming a medical assistant, while others have very strict rules indeed. Make sure that you know what sort of qualifications you are aiming for before embarking on a course. This will save you time and money in the long run.

Time Frame. The amount of time you want to commit to a program will also guide your choice. Most formal programs will take one to two years, while on the other hand you will find many online programs that will claim to qualify you in a matter of weeks, usually no more than eight. This of course also has an effect on the quality of the program, so you need to decide if money and time are more important than quality.

Keep the Curriculum in Mind. There are some basic things that you will have to learn to become a medical assistant. If these are things that don’t interest you, then you should probably consider pursuing a different qualification. On the medical side of things you will most likely have to study such subjects as pharmacology, lab techniques and procedures, first aid, physiology, CPR, anatomy and medical terminology, while on the administrative side you will most likely have to learn the skill of keeping records and books, doing insurance coding, and doing medical billing and coding. Some programs will vary, but these are the basics.

Certification. Remember that graduation does not equal certification. You will still have to apply with the appropriate bodies, namely the American Association of Medical Assistants, and the American Medical Technologists. You will then have to sit an exam electronically to become certified. This is an important step in your qualification so don’t forget about it.

Job Offers? Some schools will help you find a job after you have completed training. If the school meets all of your other requirements than this may be a useful criterion to use in order to make your final decision. Anything that makes it easier for you to enter the workforce should be treated as a bonus.

In short, this is not a decision you should make lightly. Any education you embark on must be considered carefully. You need to be certain that you are making the best choice possible; otherwise you will have wasted your time and money.

The post What You Need To Know About Medical Assistant Schools appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

When you get a physical therapy assistant degree you will be qualified to assist physical therapists in a wide range of daily activities. You will be eligible to work in nursing homes, home health care situations, health care practitioner offices and hospitals. You will need an associate’s degree in order to become a physical therapist assistant.

Training And Licensing

To be a physical therapy assistant you will need to get a physical therapy assistant degree. If you want to practice, you will also need to be certified. Something that is very important to keep in mind is that certification qualifications vary from state to state, so find out what the exact prerequisites in your state are.

There are several different courses that you can engage in order to become a PTA:

• Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assisting
• Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health
• Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting
• Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health

Some physical therapy assistants train on the job, but in most states you need to be fully qualified and licensed in order to practice as a physical therapy assistant. For this you will need an associate’s degree.

Online Physical Therapy Assistant Degrees

An online PTA degree is an easy and flexible way for you to become an accredited PTA, but you need to make sure that the online school that you get your Physical Therapy Assistant Degree through is actually one that is accredited and that you are not effectively wasting your time with the qualification.

The following are generally considered to be the 9 best online schools (in reverse order) for getting your physical therapy assistant degree in the United States:

• Florida Hospital College of Health Sciences
• Pima Medical Institute
• Keiser University Online
• Independence University
• Penn Foster Career School
• A.T. Still University
• Argosy University
• Herzing College
• Grand Canyon University

Your Learning Expectations

Different physical therapy assistant programs come with different curriculum’s, but there basics that you will learn will include:

• Theory and Practice of Physical Therapy (resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid, and field experience in treatment centers)
• Medical Sciences Courses
• General Courses (algebra, English, anatomy and physiology, and psychology)
• Practical Work
• You will also develop the skills needed to be well-organized, detail oriented, and caring, as well as being easy to lead and able to work in a team
• Interpersonal skills

More specifically, at the end of a physical therapy assistant degree:

• You should be able to become employed as a physical assistant in an entry-level capacity
• You should be able to comprehend and implement the various procedures that a physical therapy assistant will be responsible for easily and adequately (under the supervision of a Physical Therapist)
• You should be able to pass a licensing exam easily
• You should be able to put theory knowledge regarding legal and ethical considerations in the physical therapy arena into practice efficiently and consistently
• You should have developed an interest in constantly bettering your knowledge in the field through the acceptance and adherence to life-long learning standards for the industry
• You should be able to implement treatments plans and adapt them according to patient responses and interactions
• You should be able to take information you learn from literature reviews into practice efficiently and appropriately
• You should be able to report and communicate changes in patient status and patient progress
• You should be able to communicate effectively in terms of documenting information regarding the patent’s care, progress and responses
• You should be able to collect data and then apply that data appropriately to the plan of care formulated for the patient
• You should be able to identify how to interact appropriately with the various people with whom you will come into contact with and provide the appropriate support needed at a variety of levels

To enter a physical therapy assistant degree:

• You will need to have the comprehension skill of an 11th grader
• You will need to be able to function competently and safely if you are taking prescription or over the counter medication
• You will need to be able to communicate and assimilate information in a variety of different formats
• You will need to have personal and grooming standards that are appropriate for the work you will do as a physical therapists assistant, namely close contact with clients
• You will need to have the skills necessary to analyse and draw conclusions from data
• You will need to have the social skills necessary for this type of work
• You will need to have the physical ability to stand for a minimum of 2 hours
• You will need to have the emotional stability to keep your head under emergency circumstances
• You will need to have the physical ability to walk for a minimum of six hours
• You will need to have the natural ability to identify a potentially dangerous situation and intervene before the situation becomes severe and serious
• You will need to be physically able to stoop and bend for a minimum of 30 minutes at a time and to repeat this activity at uncertain intervals
• You will need to be able to respond well and appropriately to various skills and signals given by patients
• You will need to be physically able to lift a person weighing 40 pounds on your own, and you will need to be physically capable of assisting in moving a much heavier patient
• You will need to have the fine motor coordination necessary to do tasks such as assisting with dressing
• You will need to be able to determine what is going on with a patient by touch

Nature Of Work

You should note that there are differences between physical therapy assistants and physical therapy aides, but a physical therapy assistant degree should qualify you for both.

As a Physical Therapy Assistant you will assist the physical therapist in:

• Providing care to the patient
• Providing exercise instruction to the patient (under supervision)
• Providing therapeutic methods to the patient (under supervision)
• Recording responses to and outcome of the various treatments that the patient is made to undergo

As a physical therapy aide you will:

• Assist in making the therapy session productive (under supervision)
• Keep the treatment area clean
• Keep the treatment area organised
• Prepare the treatment area for each therapy session
• Assist patients in moving from treatment area to another
• Deal with various clerical and administrative tasks (depends on the institute you are working for)
• Physical therapy assistant aides are not licensed to perform clinical duties

In general the work you will do with a PTA degree is:

• Assisting in improving patient mobility
• Assisting in preventing or lessening any disabilities a patient may have
• Assisting patients with exercising
• Assisting patients in learning to use aids, such as crutches
• Gathering and preparing therapy equipment

Environment and Hours

• Strength is required to a certain degree , something you need to keep in mind when applying for a physical therapy assistant degree
• Hours will vary depending on your place of work
• Part time and weekend hours are a possibility in this line of work

Future Prospects And Salary

You’ll be very happy to hear that jobs in the physical therapy assistant field are projected to grow faster than average in the future, making it a safe and secure bet for someone looking for a stable career. This is in fact true of many jobs in the health care industry, the fastest growing job industry at present. New technological advances create new jobs, and higher prevalence of certain conditions cause health care workers to be highly in demand.

It is important to remember, however, that you may face quite stiff competition when applying for a PTA job as more and more people are becoming qualified to work in this area.

There are several future plans you may be able to make once you have a PTA degree:

• You could enter an accredited physical therapy assistant school that will allow you to convert your PTA degree to a Physical Therapist Degree, opening up your career options even further.

The physical therapy assistant salary you can expect varies slightly, generally falling somewhere between $33,840 and $49,010.

In general it is easy to see that if you want to get your foot in the door of the health care industry without the years of study involved in becoming, for example, a doctor, then a physical therapy assistant degree is the perfect avenue for you to pursue. As far as employment goes, you should be able to find a job if you have the appropriate certification, and once you have entered the job market in this way you should never have any trouble staying employed.

The post Obtaining Your Physical Therapy Assistant Degree appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Administrative

• You will need to have good communication and reporting skills. This is one of the more important aspects of the physical therapy assistant job description as you will need to be in constant contact with the physical therapist you work for regarding the patients progress and so on. Your reporting skills come into play here as you will have to report things in a concise manner that allows for the minimum of misunderstanding possible.
• You will need to be able to gather data about your patients. This is a very important role in the physical therapy assistant job description, and you absolutely have to ensure that you are able to record this data accurately, and that you are able to assimilate this data into the plan for care that is being used with the patient in question.
• You will need to be able to communicate with patients and colleagues effectively in both written and spoken mediums.
• Not only will you be required to gather data, but you will also have to sue that data to draw conclusions. You will have to link that data to other information that you already have about the patient, and you will have to carefully analyse that data for patterns and any other important information that it may reveal.

Ethical

• As a PTA you will need to know all of the legal and ethical requirements for the job. You will need to be able to apply them in practice at all times while you are working, and all of the treatments and interventions you are implementing under supervision and careful instruction are in line with the policies put forward by the relevant agencies, namely Guidelines of Ethical Conduct and the Standards of Practice for PTAs.

Clinical

• Although you will be under close and careful supervision at all times, you will need to be prepared to help your employer, who will be a registered physical therapist, to administer the necessary treatment interventions in a clinical environment.
• Once you have qualified as a PTA one of the main parts of the PTA job description is to, under supervision (as will always be the case) put a proper treatment plan into practice. It is important to note that this includes modifying the treatment plan should the need arise in accordance with the patent’s reaction to the treatment and with their progress.

Physical

There are several basic physical requirements that you will have to meet if you want to fulfil the physical therapy assistant job description. If you are unable to do the following then you will most certainly find the job of a physical therapy assistant very difficult indeed:

• As a physical therapy assistant you will have to do a lot of standing during sessions and between sessions. Therefore if you are unable to stand for a minimum of two hours than you may find this line of work to be a very challenging one indeed.
• You will need to be able to walk for at least six hours, but remember that these six hours are stretched out over the day and are not always consecutive. This is another important thing that you will need to be able to do if you want to perform your role as a physical therapy assistant effectively.
• You will need to be able to engage in such physical feats as bending, stooping or twisting for 30 minutes at a time. These 30 minute periods may be repeated throughout the day and you will need to be able to maintain the required position as often as need be.
• It is important that you have a certain degree of strength. If you cannot lift a 40 pound person by yourself, then you may not have the strength requirements necessary to successfully work as a PTA. On top of being able to lift a 40 pound person by yourself, you will also need to be able to assist others in lifting heavier patients and moving them into the required positions. Strength is an important part of being a physical therapy assistant.
• You will need to be able to determine a certain amount of information from your patient based on touch. For example, how hot or cold is the patient and are they sweating or not?
• Your fine motor coordination needs to be at a good level. You will need to perform activities and duties that require small muscle dexterity. Such tasks include such things as operating controls and putting on the gowns necessary for the therapy session.

Academic

• To become a physical therapy assistant you will need to have more than basic reading skills. What this means is that you will need to understand text-book material presented at eleventh grade level as a minimum literacy requirement. If you do not meet this requirement, then you may find that you will struggle as a PTA.
• Your communication skills also need to be very good. You will, for example, have to be able to give a clear and concise message in a number of different formats, including speech, writing and computerized formats. This is a very important aspect for any health care worker. You need to be able to communicate in order to ensure the continuous and constant well-being of the patients who are in your care.
• Once you have qualified as PTA it is a part of the physical therapy assistant job description that you keep up to date with literature on the subject and that you are able to apply that literature to your daily activities in work, in so far as the literature in question is in line with the ethical and practical requirements for practicing as a PTA.
• A very important aspect of being a PTA is commitment to ongoing education in the area. It is very important that you commit yourself to constantly improving your skills in the field of physical therapy and that you engage in continuous learning and physical therapy assistant training opportunities in order to ensure that your skills are up to date and that you are aware of any new advancements or discoveries in the field. A commitment in this area goes a long way to impressing your superiors and colleagues in terms of your dedication to your job.
• There is a licensure exam that you will have to pass. If you are someone who struggles with exams or tests, than you may find it difficult to operate in these circumstances. However, if you feel that you are able to fulfill all of the other roles outlined, than you should not let an exam stand in your way of becoming a physical therapy assistant.

Interpersonal

• As you will be dealing with people all day long, your interpersonal skills will have to be very good. If you don’t like dealing with people, then this is definitely not the job for you. You will have to behave and interact appropriately with each of the people you come into contact with, including therapists and clients, and you will need to provide the appropriate psychological support and so on to patients who may need it during difficult times.
• You will need to be able to respond appropriately and quickly to signals given by both your patients and your employer in order to ensure that everything continue running smoothly. You will also need to know how to respond to the signals given by monitoring equipment and perform the necessary tasks required once you have interpreted the signal.
• A part of having interpersonal skills involves being able to interpret a situation as dangerous, or potentially dangerous, to the well-being of your patient. You will also need to know when to intervene and when not to intervene in order to ensure that no tragedies or catastrophes take place.
• A big part of the physical therapy assistant job description is to keep your head in a crisis situation. You need to be someone who can be relied on when things go wrong and who can cope under a great deal of pressure. This is a big part of being a physical therapy assistant and you will be required to be psychologically stable in this regard.
• You will need to look neat and tidy at all times. This means that you need to be clean and hygienic. The reason for this is that you will often be in close contact with patients and superiors, such as when you are lifting them and helping them from one place to another. It gives a very bad impression and is unpleasant for a patient if they have to put up with your unhygienic habits.
• If you take prescription or over the counter medication, you will have to be secure in the knowledge that this medication will not affect your functioning in any way as this will cause you to do your job less than perfectly.

The post Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

PTAs perform a variety of tasks, some of which are administrative and others which are clinical. They work under the direct supervision of a qualified physical therapist. Very often the PTA and the PT will work together on one patient as certain treatments require more than one individual to perform. All of the treatments and various tasks that are performed by a physical therapy assistant have one aim behind them, and that is to ensure the rehabilitation and comfort of a patient.

Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

Physical Therapy Assistants, together with Physical Therapists, provide essential services to those who are injured, those who are suffering from a medical condition or have suffered some sort of trauma. The goal of physical therapy is the improvement of the patient’s flexibility, fitness and strength; to relieve them of pain and to improve their quality of life.

The duties of a Physical Therapy Assistant include:

• The preparation of physical therapy equipment.
• The observation of patients during treatment.
• Assisting patients with their exercises.
• Coordinating patient treatment in conjunction with physical therapy staff.
• Administering ultrasound, electrical stimulation and massages.
• Measuring a patient’s progress during the weeks or months of physical therapy.
• Reporting the outcome of treatment to the physical therapist.
• Recording a patient’s response to the treatment they are receiving.
• Assisting patients to move to or from a treatment area if necessary.
• Keeping the treatment area and the equipment clean and organised.
• Administrative duties like scheduling appointments, manning the telephone, ordering supplies, etcetera.
• Fitting patients with support devices such as walkers, crutches etc and instructing the patient on how to use them.

Physical Therapy Assistant Requirements

The one important fact about physical therapy which escapes most people is that it is not just about helping a patient to get back to complete health, it is also about knowing how to get through to people who are difficult cases in such a way that they respond positively to you, and to motivate them to want to do the exercises in order to help themselves. This means that you need to be able to strike up a rapport with patients and get them to trust you.

Before you can become a Physical Therapy Assistant there are certain requirements with which you need to comply, both personality-wise and academically:

Academic Requirements

• An Associate of Science (A.S.) in Physical Therapist Assistant is a 2-year associate degree.
• This physical therapy assistant degree can be obtained via attending a PTA Program at a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education accredited institution.
• PTA Programs are offered by colleges, community colleges and universities.
• Hands-on clinical experience.
• Licensure in the state in which you wish to practise, via taking the National Physical Therapy Examination which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
• Certain states also require you to write a state exam.

Skills And Abilities

• Physical strength is important as the job includes a lot of heavy lifting and moving of patients and equipment.
• Physical flexibility is important as you will need to do a lot of kneeling and bending.
• A compassionate nature and the ability to assist people without allowing their circumstances to affect you emotionally.
• Organisation and detail is very important in this type of job.
• The ability to take instruction from one or more physical therapists and being a team-player is of the essence.
• Strong communication skills are important as you will be dealing with patients and other professionals.
• Patience is a personality trait which is very important as you will often be dealing with patients who have suffered brain trauma and do not always respond well.
• Logical thinking and the ability to come up with innovative solutions to problems is a blessing in the physical therapy assistant career.

Physical Therapy Assistant Work Environment

A Physical Therapy Assistant provides services to people of all ages in various types of facilities. Most Physical Therapy Assistants are employed in home situations, where they are privately employed in order to assist the patient to get back to their previous health condition or as close to it as possible. There are also many other types of workplaces where PTAs are employed.

Some of the workplaces where a Physical Therapy Assistant is employed:

• Home Settings – Apart from actual domestic homes, a Physical Therapy Assistant also often works in a home-setting where the patient resides, such as a community hospital, home for the elderly, a nursing home, or some other type of communal-living scenario.
• Hospice – A hospice is essentially a place where one goes to die, but that does not mean that one is just left without nay type of treatment. A PTA can be of great assistance to those in hospices as they can help to make them comfortable and to breathe and also to boost muscle-mass so that the patient is at least comfortable in the last days.
• Hospitals – Anyone who has ever had major surgery or has been involved in a car accident or bad workplace accident which has resulted in head, back, neck or other injury knows that the physical therapy they received was a major part of their rehabilitation.
• Inpatient rehabilitation facilities – These are facilities where patients get treated for acute or sub-acute problems which normally call for extended therapy.
• Schools and Sports Centers – Sports injuries occur quite often and may require a PTA to assist in the alleviation of pain, exercise the person to help them to regain mobility, and fit them with and instruct them in the use of canes, prosthetics and the like.
• Developmental – Children that exhibit developmental problems, have mobility problems and toddlers who were born with birth defects all prosper under the hands of a good Physical Therapy Assistant.
• Education and Research Centers – Many PTAs with some experience will work in research centers where they come up with new and improved therapies or swap the clinic for a teaching position at a college or other PTA program.

Physical Therapy Assistant Work Outlook

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has stated that the outlook for Physical Therapy Assistants is very rosy at a predicted 35% growth-rate in the 2008-2018 decade. These predictions are based on the fact that the changes to restrictions on reimbursement have increased patient access to PTA services, people are living longer due to medical and technological advances, but this means that there are more elderly who require care for longer.

The fact that the baby-boomer generation has now reached the prime of life, which is just the time that heart-attacks, stroke and various other health problems are a big risk. This means that the need for the services of Physical Therapy Assistants to provide cardiac and physical rehabilitation is growing.

Medical and technological advances also mean that more trauma victims and newborns with birth defects are surviving and in need of physical therapy in order to ensure that they live full lives.

Physical Therapy Assistant Programs

One of the requirements to be able to practise as a physical therapy assistant is that you are licensed in the state in which you wish to work. This licensure is obtained by sitting for the National Physical Therapy Examination. This examination is specifically for Physical Therapy Assistants, and is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

How To Evaluate Physical Therapy Assistant Programs

Before making a decision as to which Physical Therapy Assistant Program to access for your studies, there are some important facts to consider:

• Accreditation – In order to be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination to get licensure you need to have studied at an accredited institution. Accreditation is conferred by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education of the American Physical Therapy Association.
• Program quality – Check that the program contains sufficient clinical training and that the culmination results in at least an associate’s degree.
• Success of graduates – Check with the program how many graduates the program has produced and how many of them have gone on to obtain licensure and gainful employment.
• Financial assistance – Find out if there are any scholarship or financial aid opportunities and whether the program facilitates access to them for students.

Physical Therapy Assistant Programs – Prerequisites

To be eligible for admission to a PTA Program, you need to have successfully completed certain prerequisites. Acceptance into a PTA Program is hotly contested as there are normally more applicants than there are spaces on the course.

Academic Prerequisites:

• You need to have a high school diploma or your GED.
• You should have a minimum GPA of 2.5 in both science and non-science classes.
• Two years of high school-level Mathematics; Algebra and Geometry.
• Social sciences such as General Psychology, Growth and Development and Abnormal Psychology.
• English, Communication and Public Speaking or Interpersonal Communication.
• Physical Education or Health Education.
• Biology 160 or 241 is also very important.
• Doing volunteer work in a Physical Therapy work environment helps a lot towards your acceptance.

Other Prerequisites:

• Students will spend time at clinical sites and need to have reliable transport for this reason, especially when they will be required to spend some time at in the field and on campus on the same day.
• Students need to have health insurance cover during the periods that they are doing fieldwork in clinics. Some colleges provide access to this for students.
• Students must have malpractice/liability insurance – this can also usually be accessed through the college.
• Students must pass a mandatory drug test which they must pay for themselves.
• All healthcare workers must have current immunizations, TB tests and CPR training and students need to have these prior to entering a PTA Program.
• A Physical Therapy Assistant Program complies with the “Child/Adult Abuse Information Act,” RCW 43.43.830 through 43.43.840. and each student is thus required to take part in an investigation for criminal history information before entry into a PTA Program.
• Students are required to dress appropriately for professional settings.

The prerequisites for various PTA programs may differ somewhat, but the above is a good guideline. It is recommended that you contact various physical therapy assistant schools to find out what their prerequisites are.

Physical Therapy Assistant Programs – Course Content

A Physical Therapy Assistant Program takes 2 years, is a combination of academic work and hands-on clinical experienced and culminates in an associate degree. Whether you study online via computer-based assignments and video lectures, and have virtual classroom discussions or study on campus, the curriculum is basically the same.

The basic curriculum consists of:

• Patient Handling Techniques
• Physical Therapy Intervention Techniques I, II & III
• Gross Anatomy and Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System
• Orientation to Physical Therapy/Role of the Physical Therapist Assistant
• Kinesiology Integration
• Clinical Experience I, II & III
• Healthcare Delivery System
• Introductory Concepts in Paediatric Physical Therapy
• Advanced Geriatric Physical Therapy for the PTA
• Learning and Service through Immersion
• Specialized Clinical Experience

The modules will cover:

• Intro to Physical Therapy
• Algebra
• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Psychology
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Therapeutic Exercise

Apart from the academic side of the studies you will also do some laboratory work and, as you can see, a lot of clinical work too (approximately 18 – 24 weeks), during which time you will get the chance to experience real-life situations in a clinical setting. The specialized clinical experience is not offered by all PTA Programs, but is a section which gives you a chance to expand your knowledge base and utilize your newly learned skills in a specialist field.

PTA Programs – Licensure

Once you have completed your degree you can immediately apply to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination in order to get licensure, without which you will not be able to work in most states. Some states may also require you to take a state exam in order to work in that state. Make sure that you check with your state as to whether they require you to take a state exam on top of the National exam in order to be licensed to work there.

PTA Reflections Program

The PTA Reflections Program is an arts recognition and achievement program for students. It was started in 1969 by National PTA board member Mary Lou Anderson, who describes it as “almost too simple.” The program has encouraged millions of American students to explore their artistic side. Students from preschool through grade 12 get the opportunity to create works of art for recognition and for fun. They are encouraged to submit works in six areas of the arts:

• Dance choreography
• Film production
• Literature
• Musical composition
• Photography
• Visual arts

Each year a different theme is chosen from suggestions made by the previous year’s students and they have has some wonderful themes over the years, such as “If I Could Give the World a Gift…,” “Exploring New Beginnings,” “Wow!” “I Can Make a Difference by…”, and many more. The 2011-2012 theme was “Diversity Means…”

Hundreds of thousands of students take part in the PTA Reflections Program annually, through their local PTAs. The program is structured in order for PTAs to recognize students at local, council, district, state and national levels.

The local winners move on to the district/regional and state levels, with the best of them going to National PTA to be considered for a National Reflections award.

The following awards are awarded by the PTA each year at national level:

• Awards of Excellence
• Awards of Merit
• Outstanding Interpretation Awards
• Honourable Mention

Any PTA/PTSA who is in good standing is eligible to sponsor a Reflections Program. The rules and deadlines differ from state to state, and you should contact your state PTA for further information.

The Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program

The National PTA Mary Lou Anderson Reflections Arts Enhancement Grant Program was created to complement PTA’s enduring commitment to quality arts education. The grant provides funding to local PTAs to institute or improve arts programs in one or more arts areas: photography, music (including dance), visual arts, and literature (including theatre).

A limited number of Local PTAs are awarded matching grants of up to $1,000 every year for student-centered programs which focus on arts education. National PTA anticipates funding 3 grants of up to $1,000 each.

National PTA places a priority on funding projects representing research-based best practices in arts education, specifically programs which are of a sustained nature and reach multitudes of at-risk students.

According to research, students get the most benefit from programs which include sustained involvement in the arts, which is why National PTA funds proposals for sustained programs which culminate in an arts fair, a performance, field trip, or an assembly.

The post Physical Therapy Assistant Programs Available appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

More people are living longer due to technological advances in the medical field and because more trauma victims and newborns with disabilities are surviving. This therefore means that more people require medical attention for longer, which means that the job prospects for physical therapy assistants are excellent. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA jobs are projected to grow by 35% in the 2008-2018 time-span.

Requirements For Physical Therapy Assistants

Although most states have their own rules and requirements for Physical Therapy Assistants, most of them are basically the same nationally:

Education:

• In order to become a licensed PTA, you will need to obtain an associate degree at an accredited physical therapy assistant school.
• The program is approximately 2 years long.
• Classes consist of both academic classroom work at the PTA school and hands-on clinical experience, which most of the schools for physical therapy assistant courses organise for their students.
• Subjects include pathology, human anatomy, and physiology amongst others.
• Some states require additional training such as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, first aid, and blood-borne pathogens training.

Clinical Experience:

• Most physical therapy assistant schools and physical therapy assistant colleges require that students participate in clinical rotations.
• These hand-on clinical stints allow the student to practise what they learn in class in a real-life situation.
• Various tasks such as documenting care, administering treatments, and educating patients will be undertaken during these periods of clinical work.
• Students are also exposed to various modalities such as sports medicine, wound care, pediatrics, and geriatrics, which can assist them to decide whether they want to specialise or not.

National Physical Therapy Assistant Exam and Licensure:

• All graduates of PTA schools have to undertake the NPTAE before they can practise as physical therapy assistants.
• This is a core requirement in order to get licensure.
• The exam is four-and-a-half hours long and consists of 200 questions.
• Only subjects which have been covered in the physical therapy assistant training will be covered in the exam, and generally include pathology, physiology, documentation, professional skills and anatomy.

Continuing Education Requirements:

• One of the requirements for license renewal, which needs to be done every 3-5 years, depending on the state, is continuing education.
• The exact kind and amount of educational practises which are required vary from state to state.
• You can either contact your State Physical Therapy Association to find out what their requirements are or the PTA school at which you study should also be able to provide you with the relevant information.

The Physical Therapy Assistant Job

A Physical Therapy Assistant works primarily with those who have suffered trauma or have a medical condition. Physical therapy improves a patient’s fitness, flexibility, strength and mobility, in order to help them to be pain-free and live a fully functioning life.

Physical Therapy Assistant duties:

• They assist patients with rehabilitative exercise routines to lessen the effects of a physical disability or chronic illness.
• These exercises are done to improve mobility, flexibility and strength, as well as to improve their balance and stabilize their walking.
• They monitor a Patient’s response and progress in report their observations to the Physical Therapist.
• The PT and PTA will review the treatments after each session and the PT will determine whether they are giving the patient the correct type of treatment or whether they need to change or adjust it.
• PTAs also monitor and record a patient’s continuing physical challenges and mental and emotional outlook.
• The PTA will help patients to adjust to their circumstances and teach them a new way of performing routine tasks so that they do not re-injure or strain themselves, and improve their healing time.
• The exercises they teach and help their patients with can also rebuild muscle strength or help to restore their full range of movement.
• They coordinate treatments with the Physical Therapist and administer massages, electrical stimulation and ultrasound.
• The equipment used by PTAs use can include elastic bands, balance balls, and other simple equipment which the patient can easily use at home to augment the exercise sessions they do with the PTA.
• They fit patients with support devices like crutches, prosthetics, walking frames etcetera and train the patient how to use them.
• They assist patients to move to and from the treatment areas and also to dress and undress if necessary.
• Physical therapy assistants also perform administrative duties such as telephone duties, manning the reception area, ordering supplies, and scheduling appointments for patients.
• They complete insurance claim documentation for patients and record patient information in databases.
• They also keep the treatment area and the equipment clean, tidy and organised.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools

With the demand for physical therapy assistants increasing, there are in excess of 260 recognized physical therapy assistant programs and more than 1 000 schools for PTA training throughout the US. There are various physical therapy assistant degrees and certifications offered by PTA schools:

Associate of Science in Physical Therapy Assisting:

• An Associate of Science program, which is offered by most physical therapy assistant schools, offers a well-rounded introductory education in the fundamentals and general academics of physical therapy.
• The program lasts about 2 years and teaches working with patients who suffer from diseases or who are recovering from accidents, mobility, pain management, and working with physical therapy equipment amongst other subjects.

Associate of Applied Science in Allied Health:

• An allied health degree from one of the Physical Therapy Assistant colleges is beneficial for building a solid foundation in general health care systems and practices.
• The programs are between 1 and 2 years long and prepare students for entry-level work in a medical facility.
• They also provide grounding for more focused study for Physical Therapy Assistants.

Graduate Certificate in Geriatric Health:

• Once you have qualified as a physical therapy assistant and have practised as one for a few years you may wish to specialize.
• To get a graduate certificate you will have to go back to a Physical Therapy Assistant school to study further.
• Specializing in something like geriatrics or paediatrics can open many doors.

Associate of Science in Occupational Therapy Assistant:

• Occupational therapy is the strain of therapy which deals with patients who have physical and cognitive impairments.
• This course will give you a broader perspective and wider range of skills than a normal physical therapy assistant course and will qualify you to do entry-level Occupational Therapy work.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Courses

Courses in most of the physical therapy assistant schools will include the following subjects:

• Clinical Training
• Geriatrics
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology
• Introduction to Physical Therapist Assisting
• Kinesiology
• Laboratory Practice
• Medical Terminology
• Medical Ethics
• Neurological Disorders
• Orthopaedics
• Pathology
• Pathophysiology
• Patient Communication
• Paediatric Physical Therapy
• Pharmacology
• Physical Therapy Fundamentals
• Rehabilitation
• Sports Injuries
• Therapeutic Exercises

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – Curriculum

Although some of the schools for Physical Therapy Assistant training in various states may have a slightly different curriculum, the core subjects remain basically the same no matter which Physical Therapy Assistant school you attend.

Below is the general curriculum that is followed by many of the physical therapy assistant schools for the associate degree in Physical Therapy Assistance:

MODULE CONTENT:

PTA 101 Introduction to Physical Therapy

• Introduction to physical therapy.
• The role of the PTA in the healthcare team.
• The law as it pertains to Physical Therapy and ethical conduct.
• Patient motivation, interpersonal communication skills, and teamwork.

PTA 102 Physical Therapy Terminology

• Abbreviations & terminology used in PT to describe pathology of the body systems, physiology and anatomy.
• Terminology for patient care, laboratory tests, diagnostics, pharmacology, and surgery.

PTA 103 Applied Anatomy

• Human anatomy; external palpation, identification of structures and relationship to function and the musculoskeletal system.
• Kinesiology, motion, joint range of motion and manual muscle testing.
• The neuromuscular process; respiration.

PTA 104 Survey of Pathophysiology

• Overview of disease process, the physiology of healing and repair and general pathological responses.
• Systemic origins of musculoskeletal pain.
• Specific diseases and conditions and rehabilitation treatment.

PTA 105 Introduction to Neuroscience

• Introduction to basic functions and structure of the nervous system and their relationship to PT treatment of neurological diseases.

PTA 106 Regional Anatomy

• Function and structure of the human body; nervous, endocrine, and respiratory systems.
• Muscles, respiratory and circulatory systems.

PTA 110 PTA Procedures I (Basic PT Procedures)

• Basic care skills – vital signs, wound care, taping, aseptic techniques, and bandaging.
• Preparation of treatment environment and patient.
• Theory and application of cold, superficial heat, and hydrotherapy.

PTA 111 PTA Procedures II (PT Modalities)

• Theory and application of deep-heat modalities.
• Principles and application of basic massage techniques.
• Introduction to fundamentals of electrotherapy and traction.

PTA 112 PTA Procedures III (Functional Restoration)

• Principles of normal and abnormal movement.
• Functional restoration techniques.
• Ambulation, patient transfers, postural analysis, and bed mobility.
• Use of selected functional rehabilitation activities and assistive devices.

PTA 151 Clinical Experience 1

• Supervised clinical observation.
• Interpersonal communication and patient interaction.
• Written and oral patient progress reporting.
• Effective problem-solving skills.

PTA 201 Issues in Physical Therapy and Health Care

• Survey: psychological, medical and legal issues and the delivery of healthcare by a PTA.
• The achievement of goals of physical therapy and the physical therapy assistant’s influence.

PTA 202 Introduction to Orthopaedics

• Introduction to mechanics and biomechanics of orthopaedic injuries and diseases.
• Fundamentals of orthopaedic terminology.
• Survey: surgical repair; rehabilitation.

PTA 210 PTA Procedures IV (Therapeutic Exercise)

• Introduction to kinesiological principles related to exercise.
• Instruction in therapeutic exercises.
• Specific exercise protocols and their application.
• Selected physical therapy testing procedures.
• Working as a member of a healthcare team.
• Patient motivation.

PTA 211 PTA Procedures V (Rehab Applications)

• Neurologic disabilities: stroke, head injuries, MS, spinal cord injuries, and other neurologic diseases.
• Development of treatment programs for orthopaedic patients; upper and lower extremity dysfunctions, lower extremity amputations and injuries to the spine.
• Developing of specific home programs, and instruction in family training.
• Selection of appropriate selective devices and equipment for geriatric, orthopaedic and neurologic patients.

PTA 212 PTA Procedures VI (Pediatric Rehab)

• Laboratory sessions – facilitation of developmental sequence.
• Human development, pediatric assessment tools, pediatric treatment philosophies

PTA 251 Clinical Experience 2

• Supervised clinical experience in various PT sites.
• Hands-on development of previously learned skills.
• Functional activities, documentation, etcetera previously evaluated in a lab.

PTA 252 Clinical Experience 3

• Supervised rotation in a clinic.
• Skills development in functional activities, patient care and documentation.
• Practical experience of coursework previously covered.

PTA 253 Clinical Affiliation (12 credits)

• Full-time Internship – appropriate application of PT techniques and procedures.
• Hands-on; understanding of clinical responsibilities and supervisory relationships and the application of PT procedures.

PTA 254 Clinical Seminar 2

• Discussion seminar and clinical lecture – cultural competence.
• Verbal and written communication.

PTA 255 Clinical Seminar 3

• Survey: Issues regarding teamwork and patient care.
• Adjustment to disability and grief, patient interaction, and ethics.
• Role and responsibilities of the PT and the PTA.

Physical Therapy Assistant Schools – List

Some of the best physical therapy assistant schools which offer Associate Degrees are:

• Brown Mackie College – Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina
• Carrington College – Arizona, New Mexico
• Florida Career College – Florida
• Hesser College – New Hampshire
• Herzing University – Florida
• Kaplan Career Institute – Pennsylvania
• Keiser University – Florida
• Medical Careers Institute – Virginia
• MedTech College – Indiana
• New England Institute of Technology – Rhode Island
• Pima Medical Institute – Arizona, Colorado, Washington
• Remington College – Ohio
• Sanford Brown College – Missouri, Virginia
• South College – Tennessee
• South University Campus – Alabama, Georgia, Florida

Online Physical Therapy Assistant colleges

• Bryan College
• Dawn Career Institute
• Fortis College
• Globe University
• Keller Graduate School of Management
• Liberty University
• Ottawa University
• University of Phoenix
• Virginia College

Whichever physical therapy assistant school you choose to attend, make sure that the program is accredited. Not all Physical Therapy Assistant schools are accredited, and if they are not you are wasting your time because you will not be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination, in which case you will not be allowed to practise legally.

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These qualified staff will need to perform very important duties when assisting patients and the national EMT registry will ensure they are more than capable. Such an important role an EMT worker has that strict qualifications and guidelines must be adhered to. The national registry of emergency medical technicians was founded in 1970 and was recommended by the committee on highway traffic safety. This committee proposed a national certification agency to establish uniform standards for training and examination of personnel that are active in the delivery of emergency ambulance service.

NCCA Accreditation

Committed to service excellence the NREMT holds accreditation from the National Commission for Certifying Agencies known as the NCCA. This is connected to the National Organisation for Competency Assurance known as NOCA. The NCCA is recognized as the authority on accreditation standards for professional certification organisations and programs. This means the standards set by the NREMT have been reviewed by the NCCA and is deemed credible for ensuring the health, well-being, welfare and safety of the general public.

Information About The National Registry Of EMT

The national registry is a non-profit organisation that provides a strict standard for determining the skill and knowledge required for emergency personnel. The registry offers a centralized location for certification, re – certification and continuing education requirements. Students will be required to complete a state approved education course that involves both written and practical exams. The NREMT certifies five different levels of EMS professionals from first responders to paramedic. Re-certification is required every two years which ensures that all personnel are always competent in what they are doing. This can be through taking the exam again or continuing education. Progress is conveniently tracked and documented on the NREMT website. The registry provides computer based exams which are fair, accurate and precise. Classes can be completed online which can be very beneficial not only to the candidates but to the educators as well. Candidates will be able to choose where to sit their final exams when finished their classes. Once qualified, the registry will update their database. This will be very beneficial for the public, state licensing agencies and employers as they will easily be able to verify the candidate’s qualifications. Due to the excellent work of the national registry the US public can be assured of a consistent high standard of all emergency medical technicians.

The Different Levels Of Training

There are different levels of EMT training and qualifications. The NREMT is a comprehensive government agency that ensures through accreditation that all EMT educational institutions maintain a very high level of standard established by the law. If you decide to apply for an EMT program make sure that they are accredited to the NREMT. If not, you will be unable to apply for certification or licensing. Once you have completed the appropriate EMT education program you will then have to apply for an assessment exam before you can take any national registry EMT test. You will need to be at least 18 years old when you apply. Once you have successfully completed the assessment and depending on your EMT educational and training level, you will then be allowed to take one of the six national registry EMT tests. The NREMT will send you an authorization to test, known as an ATT. The six different examinations that are available are:

• First responder – This is the first level of training. There are 80 to 100 questions in the exam and the cost of the exam is currently $65.
• EMT B – This stands for basic which is the next level of training which can normally be completed within just a few months of training. A high school diploma or GED is required. The exam comprises of between 70 and 120 questions and the cost to sit the exam is $70.
• EMT I – This is an intermediate level which increases levels of practice with additional training and field experience. There are between 85 and 135 questions in the exam and the cost is $100.
• EMT A – This involves an advanced level of training over the intermediate exam which costs $100 to sit the exam. There are 135 questions involved.
• Paramedic – Only when you have completed all the previous studies and skills are in place gained from practical and classroom experience can you become a paramedic. This is the highest level which normally takes one to two years to complete. This often results in an Associate degree. There are 80 to 150 questions involved and costs $110 to sit.

There are free EMT practice tests available to do which are a convenient way to prepare for any of the above EMT exams. These exams not only include what you have learnt, but also your ability to safely and effectively execute the tasks of an EMT. They will include such things as your ability to think, cognitive, and perform, psychomotor, in emergency situations so not to make a patient’s condition worsen. If you happen to be renewing your certification you would be required to take a refresher course according to National Registry EMT Test requirements and guidelines. This would need to be done within two years as if not you would need to complete another entire EMT course before taking your exam.

Available Jobs For A qualified EMT

There is always the need for qualified EMT’s. There are many different areas of workplaces that require dedicated and good workers. This can be in hospitals, frail care centers, hospices as well as assisting at large crowd sport and music events, schools and colleges.

People tend to forget about the need in those fields and normally just think of the more traditional jobs such as ambulance workers and fire fighters. Many EMT’s are so dedicated to assisting the sick or injured that they use this start in the health field to further their education and knowledge to springboard a move into other health care careers such as nursing, PA’s and some even continuing their education to become medical doctors.

Overview Of EMT Work

The Emergency Medical Technicians are usually the first point of contact for a patient who is unwell and need the assistance of an emergency worker. An EMT will always need to be responsible and careful as they will be handling the lives of people in need. Apart from this they will also need to be quick on their feet when answering an emergency call.

When studying to become an EMT they will learn all about essential first aid response in an emergency situation. Like medical professionals they will also undergo training on basic life support and advance cardiac support. EMT’s will be performing basic procedures according to physicians orders. All EMT’s will only be able to practice their profession once they are certified to do so. Some duties that an EMT may have to perform could include giving necessary medication, patient intubation, management of airways and giving ventilation. Depending on your rank of EMT qualification will determine what level of procedures you can perform. Only qualified paramedics can perform certain procedures. The ranking of an EMT will depend on the level of training they have done. An EMT must always upgrade because they need updated information on emergency procedures. A qualified EMT can be the difference of saving a patient’s life.

The Legal Differences Between Certification And Licensure

Many people think that these are the same. However there are important functional distinctions between the two concepts. The federal government has defined certification as the process by which a non government organisation gives recognition to an individual who has met predetermined qualifications specified by that organisation. This can be also deemed as voluntary where an individual has demonstrated the necessary level of skill and knowledge required in the profession.

The three hallmarks of certification are:

• Voluntary process
• By a private organisation
• This is by providing the public information on individuals who have successfully completed educational and testing requirements. They would also have demonstrated their ability to perform their profession competently.

Licensure is where the state grants legal authority. Under the licensure system, states define by statute the tasks and function or scope of practice of a profession and provide that these tasks may legally be performed only be people who are licensed to do so. As such, licensure restricts anyone from practicing the profession who is not licensed, regardless of whether or not the individual has been certified by a private organisation.

In the US there is often confusion between the terms certification and licensure because many different states call their licensure processes certification, especially when they incorporate the standards and requirements of private certifying bodies in their licensing statues and require that an individual be certified in order to have state authorization to practice. The national registry EMT is a private certifying organisation. The various state offices serve as the state licensing agencies. Certification by the national registry is a distinct process from licensure and serves the purpose of identifying for the public, state licensure agencies and employers individuals that have successfully completed the registry’s educational requirements as well as demonstrating their skills and abilities in the mandated exams.

National Registry EMT Summary

Before the national registry EMT was formed by President Lyndon Johnson’s recommendation in 1970 there were many thousands of people in the US each year that were permanently disabled due to the mishandling by poorly trained ambulance and emergency personnel. It was deemed that the patient was being mistreated twice, once by the injury or illness and once by failing to receive competent emergency care. This all fortunately changed once the new organisation was formed.

It took a number of years to really be efficient, but today if you find yourself in the unfortunate position of being in need of emergency treatment you can feel rest assured that the level of service that you will get will be excellent. Since the 1970’s, pre-hospital emergency medical care has continually evolved and improved. The EMT has been acknowledged as an important member of the health care team. Excellent training programs have been developed and a vital focus has been placed on continuing education. High standards have truly been established. It all has helped that ambulance equipment essentials are set, national accreditation or paramedic programs have been achieved, and professional associations for the EMT have been organised. Without obtaining a licence through the national registry a person will not be able to perform any type of EMT job. You will need to study very hard, pass exams provided by the organisation before becoming qualified.

These stringent tests are certainly for the benefit of the public, knowing that the person who will be treating them in an emergency situation are fully trained and qualified to do so. The exams are difficult and extensive designed in a way to allow candidates to be tested whether they are ready for the job by testing not only their theoretical knowledge in performing emergency help but probably more importantly their practical skills including providing CPR to save a person’s life. With the National registry EMT being a highly critical organisation within the medical industry it would be very difficult to assess whether a candidate is ready to take on duties and responsibilities of an EMT worker without the organisation being in place.

We are all very aware how crucial the role of an EMT is and it should not be assigned to just any individual who wants it. Thanks to the national registry we can all be happy that this certainly is the case. The lives of many people on a daily basis will depend upon the services and assistance provided by a qualified EMT affiliated to the national registry.

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Learning To Be An EMT Online

To apply for any Emergency Medical Technician course you will have to:

• Comply with the minimum age requirement in your state (which is usually 18 years of age, but in some states it is lower).
• Be in a physical state that allows you to lift heavy loads and engage in all of the physical requirements of an Emergency Medical Technician.
• Have good eyesight, and if you have bad eyesight, it will need to be sufficiently corrected either with glasses, surgery, or contacted lenses.
• Have a valid driving license.
• Have at the very minimum a high school diploma.

If you decide to do your EMT training online you will be preparing yourself to:

• Provide life-saving procedures to people who have been involved in accidents and to assist them in dealing with their injuries, illnesses and traumas when such events occur outside of a hospital setting.
• You will need to pass an exam that is in line with the requirements of the particular state in which you would like to work once you are qualified, and you will have to do a certain amount of practical work in order to sufficiently qualify as an emergency medical technician.

In order to become an EMT you will need to complete the online course within the time specified by the particular course that you are taking part in. Usually the time that you will have to complete the course is something like 110 hours. If you look at the coursework and suspect that you may be unable to complete it in the specified time, then you may want to reconsider your career choice.

Advantages Of EMT Training Online

There are several very convincing advantages to doing a portion of your online EMT training. The best advantages are the following:

• Time is flexible. You will be able to adjust your study schedule to suit your needs. Many people are blocked from studying further due to the fact that they have to work as well as study as they have no other means to support themselves. This is not always possible as many employers are not very understanding of a student’s needs. With an online course you can study when it suits you and when you can find time for it.
• You will not have to quit the job you already have. This is related to the previous point. If you are able to study at any time and fit your studies in around a full-time job then you won’t have to sacrifice the work you already have just to enter EMT training for a future job. This is great as you do not want to burn bridges with your current employer and you will be able to continue maintaining yourself.
• You will be able to study at your own speed. That is perhaps one of the best advantages. Were you to take classes in a traditional face-to-face situation, you may find that the lecturer moves at a pace that is too fast for you and does not review the areas that you struggle with the most. Likewise you may find that the classroom pace is too slow and that you are able to move at a much faster speed through the coursework when you study by yourself. As long as you are able to properly manage your time, then doing your EMT classes online will make it easier for you to work at a speed that suits you best.
• Related to the previous point is the idea that you will be able to devote the time necessary to the aspects of the work that you are struggling with the most. You will be able to keep your focus on the areas that need the most attention, and not waste time and effort reviewing work that you are already sufficiently familiar with.
• Unlike classroom programs, you will be able to study for qualification in a state other than the one you live in. this is an important advantage of EMT certification online because different states have different requirements for practicing as an EMT in that particular state. If you are planning to relocate as soon as you qualify then you will not have to retake the test or catch-up any missed points in order to work in a different state.
• If you need to be re-certified you will be able to do this from your own home and without having to deal with any face-to-face situations at any point.

What You Get With An Online EMT Program

When you decide to do your online EMT courses you will find that the lessons are laid out in the following ways:

• The lessons will be web based (as implied by the fact that it is an online course), making it a lot easier to study in your own time and at your own pace. You will not be tied down by work constraints and distance problems.
• The lessons will be self-paced. This means that you will be able to complete the course work at your own speed. You will not be tied down by slow students and neither will you be outpaced by students who are quicker than you are. Rather you will control the speed at which you work.
• Such resources as podcasts and videos will be used in order for you to get a clear understanding of the life-saving techniques and skills in which you will have to be well-versed in order to be an efficient EMT.

With an online EMT course you will learn about:

• Human anatomy
• Human physiology
• General pharmacology
• Medical terminology
• How to respond to asthma attacks
• How to respond to heart attacks
• How to respond to overdoses
• How to respond to strokes
• How to respond to choking
• What to do in the case of a pregnant woman giving birth unexpectedly
• How to lift patients
• How to move patients
• How to identify and check vital signs
• What to do in the case of airway obstructions
• How to administer CPR
• How to set fractures
• How to stop bleeding
• How to use medical equipment (such as backboards and oxygen masks) that are related to the profession of being an EMT
• How to administer oral medication
• How to administer intravenous medication
• How to administer and record EKG information
• How to intubate patient
• How to administer oxygen
• How to use suction devices

Is An Online Program Enough?

Something that is essential for you to remember is that EMT online training will only provide you with the theory side of the training. If you want to become an EMT then you will need to also do some practical training at some point. This should be obvious. You cannot learn how to use the appropriate machinery in the appropriate way if you are only learning online. There has to be some practical and real-life input if you are to be a qualified and effective EMT.

Things to remember when considering an Online EMT Training Program

• You will have to engage in some practical work in order to get the hand-on experienced required to qualify s an EMT.
• You should only do EMT training online with programs that meet the standards as they are laid out by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians(NREMT).
• Some courses are only refresher courses for students who already hold an EMT qualification, so make sure that you are choosing an online EMT certification course that suits you and that will get you the qualifications that you are particularly aiming to get.
• Some courses may expect you to re-take the entrance exam even if you have previously passed it for another EMT qualification, so be aware of this when applying.

As long as you keep in mind that an online EMT course is not where your training ends, then feel free to embark along this route. There are a large number of advantages to doing EMT training online, and it will allow you to open up your career options and broaden your horizons without compromising your current job. Many of the online courses will also provide you with the information and opportunities necessary to complete the practical training which means that you may be in the position to do all of your training in more or less one place. As health related industries are the ones that are growing the fastest in terms of job opportunities and job security, you will find that this is a very stable career on which to embark, and you will not regret your decision to do EMT training online.

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So clearly we’re in perilous danger as we speak, and we all know of how clumsy even the best of us can be – evidently the equation is not stacked in our favor. All we seem to know how to do is cope with whatever comes our way, and if that may be a serious accident or health and medical emergency, then there are paramedics on standby to aid the cause. Now usually you’d look to the doctors for this type of assistance, but the people who get us to the doctors’ examining rooms and tables is invariably the Emergency Medical Technician or Paramedic. Emergencies are, what they are, and by that definition it obviously requires some expediency and simultaneous assistance.

In countless instances it is these people who do the actual saving of lives because it’s on their immediate actions, instincts and training that people depend on most, so often; thus requiring a special skill set and a very particular type of person. Needless to say that apart from doctors, virtually everyone else in the medical fraternity is underpaid; EMT’s and Paramedics are no different. These public servants are on the virtual medical front lines, often putting their own lives in danger to save the stricken person but one would be hard pressed to find a EMT salary to match this kind of commitment and sacrifice.

EMT And Paramedic Workload Expectations

Considering the salary of an average EMT or paramedic, one has to look at the very sort of the work being done and what is required of them. Paramedics often encounter things such as:

• All sorts of accidents (including household and motorcar)
• Typical emergency health problems like heart attacks and seizures
• Childbirth
• Gunshot and stab wounds

The treatment of all this and more is performed to ensure that the patient is transported safely to the particular medical facility for further specialized treatment. Very often they work together or at least side by side with police and firemen and on many occasions have to perform medical procedures on site to stabilize the patient before transportation.

The role of the EMT or paramedic is also to transport the patient into the hospital or clinic and report their findings to the serving doctor, including vital signs and the extent of the wound/wounds as well as what procedures were already carried out prior to that point. All this expedites the process from initial emergency response to specialist care and treatment, resulting in more lives being saved. So, the EMT has to work with all types of people both civilian (patients) and professionals (doctors, firemen, police).

The Office Conditions And Working Times

Most are familiar with EMT’s and paramedics due to the number of medical shows on television, so it’s easy to decipher the type of working environment that the typical paramedic will work in; in or outdoors, through rain, snow or sunshine and any time of day or night. EMT’s work odd hours as it’s a 24 hour job, though between emergencies, it is known to be a tad boring in some places as they’re inevitably waiting for that accident to happen, thus all this presents its own kind of challenges with customary stresses too. One also tends to forget or underestimate the amount that EMT’s see, and the traumatic experiences that their job presents.

With all these requirements and duties, what training is needed to be done?
A simple high school diploma is required to enroll into a Paramedic training program and the subjects on offer usually include treatments for:

• Bleeding
• Fractures
• Obstructions in the airway
• Cardiac arrest
• Emergency childbirth

They’re also trained in operating certain medical equipment and instruments like suction devices, splints, oxygen supply systems, and stretchers. There are written and practical examinations that aspiring emergency medical technicians will be required to pass under state law – such is the basic EMT training.

What Is The Emergency Medical Technician Salary?

The EMT salary mostly depends on the area or specific location of their work, and of course their level of training and experience. The average paramedic and EMT salary and hourly wages were around $14 almost 4 years ago. The annual salary in the USA for emergency medical technicians and paramedics is just under $30 000, equating to $2500 a month. It’s then up to the individual to decide whether or not that salary is worth the sacrifice of every paramedic; nevertheless the earnings would undoubtedly increase with more experience and a higher level of training. Of course there’s plenty of overtime opportunities where the EMT salary ranges between $14 and $32, with an added and similar bonus incentive.

Average EMT Salary:

Potential Job Growth Opportunities

Generally the growth expectation in this job sector is regarded to be the same as all other jobs in terms of job availability and demand, though if the health sector does get its act together as it begrudgingly looks to be doing, then those job opportunities could increase over time with an already aging population. Countries with a good healthcare sector should hence have a higher mortality rate, meaning the population is more likely to grow, and thus have a higher propensity for emergencies.

Recently though, hospitals have experienced an increase in ‘traffic’ hence they’ve been more busy and in many instances have turned ambulances onto different hospitals due to overcrowding. This is a general problem across the board and has resulted in a slowing of the treatment process time. What this means is that it takes longer for the afflicted patient to get from wherever they were to the hospital for treatment, meaning they spend, on average, a longer time with the paramedics and/or EMT’s. So with this general increase in time spent with the paramedics, it also means that there are effectively more, or a higher statistical percentage of ‘occupied’ ambulances driving around, requiring more ambulances and hence, more EMT’s and paramedics.

Furthermore many EMT’s eventually move to associate fields or use the EMT program to prepare them for careers in nursing or any other medical role. Others too may deviate toward the medical assistant or even teaching and training jobs.

States With The Highest Employment Level:

EMT Salary Prospects

So, what can we expect to see in the way of increases in earnings for paid paramedics? Well as we’ve seen, the job is a very taxing one, with long and unpredictable hours as well as potentially traumatic challenges, so it undoubtedly takes its toll; for this reason there’s been a downturn in volunteers, thus paid EMT’s have become something of a sought after commodity. Of course this gives them much more leverage in terms of higher salaries as the demand for emergency medical technicians and paramedics will only increase with time.

Industries With The Highest Paying Wages:

States With The Highest Paying Wages:

The Value Of A Paramedic

Not many will be able to put a price on a paramedic but as we’ve seen they can often be looked down upon by others in the medical fraternity, despite this, the general consensus is that they are indispensable. The need for both paid and volunteer EMT’s and paramedics will increase and so too, logically, should the salary, though most wouldn’t hold out for too much. The emergency medical technician salary is mostly determined by their medical knowledge, as is everyone’s in the medical sector, hence doctors get paid the most because they are the most knowledgeable in their field. Although with the unpredictable nature of the work and unique challenges that so often presents itself on the front lines for medical response units, they are certainly candidates for a risk and service versus reward (salary) review. If the situation is not looked at, and especially since we’re in a recession, more and more EMT’s and paramedics will seek employment in other fields, continuing to drain this one, putting a further strain on the industry and fraternity.

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