New Jersey and Pennsylvania Practice Act/ Rules and Regulations of Practice

New Jersey and Pennsylvania Practice Act/ Rules and Regulations of Practice

Introduction

Physical therapists are experts in the field of movement and mobility and provide services to those who have changes in their physical function due to injury, illness, or other causes (APTA, 2013). Physical therapists undergo specialized training to practice in a variety of settings, including hospitals, outpatient clinics, school health centers, athletic facilities, and occupational environments. Physical therapists are trained and involved in the promotion of health and wellness. At the primary level this includes the prevention of an illness or disability. The secondary level of promotion a therapist is involved with is decreasing the severity of a condition. At the tertiary level, therapists limit the degree of disability. Physical therapists accomplish this goal by conducting screenings to identify factors related to the home, school, workplace, or community. Physical therapists can then define programs to address the prevention with programs in the same area (APTA, 2013). These programs can include exercise programs, ergonomic modifications, and widely based education through literature and advocacy programs. Through appropriate screening, examination, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention, impairments may be minimized and health maintained to prevent further disability.

Discussion

“Who can use the title of Physical Therapist Assistant or Physical Therapist after their name?”

The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) defines physical therapy as “a health profession whose primary purpose is the promotion of optimal human health and function through the application of scientific principles to prevent, identify, access, correct, or alleviate acute or prolonged movement dysfunction” (APTA, 2013). To become a physical therapist, one must earn a master's or doctorate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. This process takes approximately 5 to 7 years. PTs work with a diverse patient population, including patients with neurological, cardiopulmonary, orthopedic, and physical developmental conditions (APTA, 2013).

Thus, in New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania, a person who represents himself/herself as having acquired the title of Physical Therapist has met the following standard:

Graduated from a recognized physical therapist education program, that is a post-baccalaureate degree.

Passed NPTE that is the National Physical Therapy Exam for physical therapists. This examination is based on an all-inclusive practice investigation conducted to establish critical knowledge, abilities and skills of physical therapists.

Licensed to practice in the state or jurisdiction where they work (APTA, 2013).

Similarly in both states, the title Physical Therapist Assistant after a person's name denoted that he/she has:

Graduated from a recognized physical therapist assistant education program, that is usually a 2 year, post high school degree.

Passed NPTE that is the National Physical Therapy Exam for physical therapist assistants. This examination is based on an all-inclusive practice investigation conducted to establish critical knowledge, abilities and skills of physical therapist assistants (APTA, 2013).

“What abbreviations are suitable or proper for a physical therapist assistant or a physical therapist ?”

In New Jersey as well as Pennsylvania, the appropriate abbreviations for a physical therapist are "PT" (Physical Therapist) or "LPT” (Licensed Physical Therapist). Similar is the case for assistant physical therapist ...