How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant in Kansas

In Kansas, physical therapy assistant jobs are becoming increasingly popular.

If you want to build a career in the industry, take a look at this guide for tips and info.

Earning Your License as a Physical Therapist Assistant in Kansas

In this state, you first need to get a physical therapy assistant certification that will allow you to work.

You first need to get a degree similar to these, or higher:

• Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Applied Science (AAS)
• Physical Therapist Assistant Associate of Science (AS)

For that to happen, you have to enroll in a training program.

This program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and by the Kansas Board of Healing Arts.

Getting the degree takes about 2 years.

You will also have to attend clinical practice hours, which have a duration of 17 weeks.

The clinics where you practice will usually first require a background check first.

The clinics that are open to clinical practice are:

• The University of Kansas Medical Center – Kansas City
• Saint Luke’s South Hospital – Overland Park
• Saint Luke’s Cushing Hospital – Leavenworth
• Labette Health’s Center of Rehabilitation Excellence – Parsons
• Cedar Lake Village’s Hoeger House – Olathe

The classes you will attend include:

• Medical Terminology
• Functional Musculoskeletal Anatomy
• Neuromuscular Rehabilitation
• Pathophysiology for Rehabilitation
• Clinical Kinesiology
• Orthopedic Rehabilitation

Besides theory, you also have to take 500 to 600 hours of practice.

After you get your degree, you can start applying for the PTA certification.

You will need to take the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs, provided by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT)

The documents you have to submit include:

• A 2” x 3” photo, taken in the previous 90 days
• Notarized and signed release form
• A current school transcript

The documents need to be sent to the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts in Topeka.

To get certified, you should pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTAs.

This exam is offered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) who charges $400 for it.

This exam is open-book and features topics like:

• Diseases/Conditions that Impact Effective Treatment (28%)
• Equipment & Devices; Therapeutic Modalities (14.7%)
• Interventions (30.7%)
• Physical Therapy Data Collection (20.7%)
• Safety & Protection; Professional Responsibilities; Research (6%)

You have to get a score of 600 to pass the test.

Additionally, you have to pay a $70 Prometric fee.

Remember, that in Kansas, unlike in other states, you can apply for a temporary permit to practice after you graduate and until you get the license.

You’ll use the same application form and documents while requesting a temporary permit.

This permit costs an additional $25.

Physical Therapist Assistant Employment and Salary Information

In this state, you can apply to work for the following companies:

• Therapy Management Corporation
• RehabCare Group, Inc.
• Kindred Healthcare, Inc.
• Key Rehabilitation, Inc.
• Life Care Centers of America
• Reliant Rehabilitation
• Select Medical – SMC
• Encompass Home Health
• HealthSouth Corporation
• Genesis HealthCare

Big cities like Lincoln and Omaha hold the best job prospects for PTAS in Kansas.

According to The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), jobs in the field will see an increase of 28%.

This is expected to happen between 2012 and 2022.

In Kansas, the biggest employer is The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City.

However, you can get hired in any of the clinics and health centers in the state.

Generally, physical therapy assistants in this state earn higher salaries than the rest of the country.

You will also have higher chances for a good salary once you have some experience.

Regional Salary in Kansas

Physical Therapist Assistant License Renewal Information

In Kansas, your PTA license has to be renewed once every year by December 31.

Those who obtained their license after October 31 will renew their license on the next renewal date.

You need to submit a $70 renewal fee to receive it.

You can submit the renewal request later than the deadline, however, you’ll need to pay higher fees.

Failing to renew the license by the end of January, your license will be listed as inactive.

You will also be required to take 10 additional classes of education during each renewal period.

The subjects eligible for training include:

• Lectures
• Panels
• Workshops
• Seminars
• In-service training
• College or university courses
• Administrative training
• Self-instruction
• Professional publications

If you need extra industry resources, you can check out The Kansas Physical Therapy Association.

Physical Therapist Assistant Schools by State