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In the State of New York, the demand for physical therapist assistants is high.
They are needed in many settings:
- Hospitals
- Rehab centers
- Various clinics
We’ll present you the steps you must follow to become a physical therapist assistant in New York, so read on!
Article Table of Contents
Earning Your License as a Physical Therapist Assistant
You can’t work as a physical therapist assistant without a license issued by the NYSED Office of the Professions Physical Therapy Division.
You first need a degree in the field, and some examples include:
- Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (AAS)
- Associate of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant (AS)
- Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapist Assistant
These programs last for at least 2 years and the school offering them needs accreditation from CAPTE and approval from the Division.
The admission requirements may vary, but it’s common to have to show:
- Having immunizations done
- Passing a drug screening test
- Having passing grades in science and math
- Having CPR certification
- Completing a volunteering program with a physical therapist of at least 10 hours
You may be studying topics such as:
- Introduction to Rehabilitation
- Clinical Procedures I – Basic Procedures
- Clinical Procedures I – Physical Agents
- Anatomy & Physiology
- Clinical Kinesiology for the PTA
- Clinical Procedures II – Data Collection
- Clinical Procedures II – Advanced Procedures
- Clinical Procedures III – Orthopedic
- Clinical Procedures III – Neurological
- Abnormal Psychology
You cannot attend online classes because you’re expected to complete an internship as well.
The internship of a physical therapist assistant in New York lasts for at least 6 weeks.
If you graduate you’ll need to send an application for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) that you pass with a score of 600.
To apply you need to:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Be of good moral character
- Download, fill out and notarize the application form
- Pay the $103 licensing fee
- Request the Certification of Professional Education from your school
At the same time with this application, you can also request a temporary permit.
The permit will allow you to work right after graduating, for up to 90 days.
You’ll need to submit an extra application and an extra fee of $50 for this permit.
The exam is offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).
You’ll register for the exam on the Federation’s website while waiting for your application to be processed.
Registering will cost an additional $400.
The exam is organized at the Prometric testing centers and you’ll reserve a spot by paying a nominal exam proctoring fee, of $70.
The NPTE has 200 questions that cover:
- Safety & Protection;
- Professional Responsibilities;
- Interventions
- Physical Therapy Data Collection
- Equipment & Devices;
- Diseases or Conditions that Impact Effective Treatment
- Research
- Therapeutic Modalities
Physical Therapist Assistant Employment and Salary Information
In 2015, the following companies were among the best employers of physical therapist assistants in New York:
- Mark’s World – New York City
- Safire Care – Tonawanda
- Rehab Resources – New Berlin
- We Step Ahead PT – Brooklyn
- Heritage/HealthPRO – Riverdale
- MacroHealth – New York City
- CareRite Centers – New York City
- Back to Health Physical Therapy – Brooklyn
- Preferred Therapy Solutions – Bronx
- Theradynamics – New York City
Location and experience will influence how much you earn.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| New York | $67,203 |
| Hempstead | $61,242 |
| Brookhaven | $60,908 |
| Islip | $61,020 |
| Oyster Bay | $63,812 |
| Buffalo | $53,423 |
| Babylon | $61,020 |
| Rochester | $55,069 |
| Huntington | $63,812 |
| Yonkers | $64,391 |
Regional Salary in New York
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY | 170 | $54,550 | $26.23 | $70,310 | $40,430 |
| Binghamton, NY | 80 | $55,050 | $26.46 | $77,070 | $38,740 |
| Buffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara Falls, NY | 330 | $54,560 | $26.23 | $70,970 | $38,570 |
| Kingston, NY | 30 | $56,880 | $27.35 | $72,800 | $34,920 |
| New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA | 3,720 | $69,340 | $33.34 | $82,840 | $54,310 |
| Rochester, NY | 220 | $55,570 | $26.72 | $67,150 | $45,040 |
| Syracuse, NY | 170 | $55,370 | $26.62 | $70,260 | $41,120 |
| Utica-Rome, NY | 80 | $52,950 | $25.46 | $66,890 | $40,110 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Physical Therapist Assistant License Renewal Information
In the State of New York, physical therapist assistants don’t need to renew their licenses.
Instead, they must register with the NYSED Office of the Professions every 3 years.
The Department will mail you the application of registration some 4 months before the deadline.
This application has a PIN code that you can use to register online.
However, during these 3 years, you’re expected to complete 36 hours of continuing education.
Those who just obtained their license are exempt.
Make sure to check the list of approved providers for these continuing education hours.
The list can be found on the NYS Education Department’s website.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistant Schools by State