The Physical Therapist Assistant Education Summit Report: Prioritized Recommendations for the Future

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The APTA Academy of Education identified a need to assess the status of physical therapist assistant (PTA) education given changes in contemporary physical therapist practice and health care. In response, a task force was charged to plan a summit that would engage stakeholders in formulation of prioritized recommendations to advance PTA education. Method and Results: The Summit Planning Task Force formulated a 3-phase process: phase 1—surveys emailed to PTA education stakeholders; phase 2—four online modules that informed participants about trends in PTA education and solicited data on perceived strengths and weaknesses; and phase 3—a 2-day facilitated virtual meeting of 37 stakeholders who collaboratively developed the Summit outcomes. More than 2500 individuals contributed to data gathered from phases 1 and 2. Phase 3 participants formulated 3 comprehensive recommendations with associated goal statements, objectives, and strategies intendeds to drive future work in PTA education. Discussion and Conclusions: This report presents detailed methods by which the consensus-driven recommendations were achieved, supporting the Summit Task Force's “vision of the PTA as the educated extender that supports the future of physical therapist practice.” There was not consensus on any one direction that PTA education should take. Findings, however, support an array of flexible opportunities by which career goals of current and future PTAs may be achieved while enhancing patient care by the physical therapist/PTA team. Work to implement recommendations must be shared by all relevant stakeholders in order to move PTA education forward.