licensed PT in Sweden, want to work as PTA in US

hi there. i am an american who has lived in sweden the last 10 years and am a licensed PT here in sweden. i would like to move back to the states, but am actually not all that interested in doing all that would be required to get licensed as a PT, but getting licensed as a PTA sounds very interesting. do i only need to get my studies accredited as i would to get PT license? but then instead of applying for PT license apply for PTA license? my degree is a bachelosrs degree and i have plenty of clinical experience from clinical internships during education and some work experience, so i would think that should be at least equivalent to a 2 year associates degree. i have been trying to undestand what i would need to do step for step, but this is all very confusing.

thanks for any help anyone could provide.

I believe you can take the PTA Exam. I am a foreign PT graduate and I recently passed the NPTAE. Based from my experience I did the evaluation of my credentials by EIRF and submitted my application to state board of my choice which is California then the state board will issue you the Authority to Test after you paid all the fees and completed the application. Not all states allow foreign educated PT to down grade their degree to PTA.

paul in Örebro, Sweden said: hi there. i am an american who has lived in sweden the last 10 years and am a licensed PT here in sweden. i would like to move back to the states...]

Just curious: could you email me about your perspectives on Sweden? I am A PTA with over 15 years experience as well and I'm preparing to move back to California and HOPEFULLY attend LOMA LINDA. There, I can get my BS and decide if I want to go to medical school, in Sweden, or go for nursing, OT or PT. It's a PHD required for PT in Cali now, though you're grandfathered in if your degree was before the decree.

I have A LOT of questions, if you're willing to give em a shot, but mostly, do they have Physiatrists or Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation doctors there in sweden? I've seen them in Denmark, and Finland but not Sweden.

Also, what is the reality of the socialist system there? Is it really better with no "ghetto's"? And what is the reality of healthcare there? Does their universal healthcare work well? Were you ever licensed here as a PT?

Sorry, it's just my husband and I have been planning this now for quite a while. I'm part Scandinavian and he's getting his BS in Geomatic Engineering. Apparently, Sweden is one of the 2 places in the world where he can get the best education according to the Engineering community. Plus you can't beat the cost with a living wage!

I also recommend California. There are SO MANY good places to work and enjoy your job overall there, and some you wouldn't want to send your dog to. But more of the good ones in California than NC, TN, KY, OH, IL, IA, NY... the places I've been. I've heard Texas is a good place to work too.
Jadee

paul in Örebro, Sweden said: hi there. i am an american who has lived in sweden the last 10 years and am a licensed PT here in sweden. i would like to move back to the states, but am actually not all that interested in doing all that would be required to get licensed as a PT, but getting licensed as a PTA sounds very interesting. do i only need to get my studies accredited as i would to get PT license? but then instead of applying for PT license apply for PTA license? my degree is a bachelosrs degree and i have plenty of clinical experience from clinical internships during education and some work experience, so i would think that should be at least equivalent to a 2 year associates degree. i have been trying to undestand what i would need to do step for step, but this is all very confusing.

thanks for any help anyone could provide.

Dear

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osman in Dubai, United Arab Emirates said: Dear

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Thanx

I can work as a PTA in Sweden, or in the Royal Palace? BTW, to be more concise, I would check out the California PT board- google it- then you can start reading. There is a "CLE" (California Law Exam, not difficult), test that all PT's and PTA's must take for Lic in Cali. It's a 90 page download, but it delineates the steps needed and the options available to virtually every PT/PTA candidate including foreign trained.

What area do you like to work in? Hospital? ARU? LTC? Ped's? etc...

Cheers! Jadee.

paul in Örebro, Sweden said: hi there. i am an american who has lived in sweden the last 10 years and am a licensed PT here in sweden. i would like to move back to the states, but am actually not all that interested in doing all that would be required to get licensed as a PT, but getting licensed as a PTA sounds very interesting. do i only need to get my studies accredited as i would to get PT license? but then instead of applying for PT license apply for PTA license? my degree is a bachelosrs degree and i have plenty of clinical experience from clinical internships during education and some work experience, so i would think that should be at least equivalent to a 2 year associates degree. i have been trying to undestand what i would need to do step for step, but this is all very confusing.

thanks for any help anyone could provide.

I know one Philippine-educated PT who recently passed her licensing exam for Michigan and moved there. Each state has different rules. Since the US population has such a large interest in the medical fields, years and years have been added to reduce supply and increase demand, a form of job protection. In many countries, medical fields still only require a Bachelor's degree. In Australia and New Zealand, a doctor still receives a bachelor of surgery, medicine, or dentistry.

Jadee in Winston Salem, North Carolina said:

I'd love to hear about your travels as a PTA, such as which companies are good, which are ones to look out for, what questions do you ask in the interview.

I've worked with some PTs and PTAs that attended Loma Linda. They said the PTA program was one of the best in the nation, so maybe the PT program is also. I'm somewhat skeptical because they require religious courses. There are pluses and minuses to that. There is another school for PTAs transitioning to PTs in Ohio that is offered on the weekends.

Fran in Jordan, Montana said: I'd love to hear about your travels as a PTA, such as which companies are good, which are ones to look out for, what questions do you ask in the interview.

I've worked with some PTs and PTAs that attended Loma Linda. They said the PTA program was one of the best in the nation, so maybe the PT program is also. I'm somewhat skeptical because they require religious courses. There are pluses and minuses to that. There is another school for PTAs transitioning to PTs in Ohio that is offered on the weekends.

Well, great! I'd be happy to share a little. I just got another travel job in Cali today. 13 week travel with possibility of FT after. Not quite official but at the end of the interview, I asked, "So should I start packing?", and he said, "start packing, I'll call ur company tomorrow."

Home Health and hospitals in Cali are generally do-able depending on what kind of environment you like. I like to feel like I'm making a difference and doing my job with less politics and games; the less the better. LTC in Cali can be HORRIBLE and make you face that delima, "Is this something I should report to the state?" and I have.

In general, there are good LTC facilities in the San Bernardino area and 12 years ago, 3 I would not send my dog to. So I would say in fairness, try for hospitals in San Bernardino, be prepared for a stimulating environment and people helping you get used to the system and lots of learning.

Then sign up for like 4 or so hours registry, (yes, we have Therapy registries like the nurses do all over the country where companies call for days off and sick days. REHABABILITIES in RANCHO CUCAMONGA is who I plan to sign up with for extra hours once in a while.

Orange County mostly uses registry, lower paying and hard to get travel jobs but decent wages despite the median cost of living for California. LOTS of GREAT hospitals there and LTC is pretty decent to work in. (cont)

(cont'd) San CLemente to Mission Viejo have excellent to decent hospitals and then from UCI to North LA all the way to the inland empire, San Bernardino are great opportunities.

IDk about Ohio, but Loma Linda is a 7 th day Adventist college. No one should be afraid of religious studies no matter what your beliefs are. I've found 7th day people to be very healthy, positive, knowledgeable and open minded. The ones I've met listen and share their thoughts, usually giving you something profound to think about. I don't find them pushy but forward thinking...

They are also near the experts on Wellness being some of the first vegetarians in the country, possibly the world. It's worth looking into, and they don't discriminate; I'm Catholic for example and they have students from all over the world, all faiths... I'm looking forward to it.

I've been a PTA for 18 years now and I started in Cali. I went to school in NY., (just not for me, though I love to visit), traveled to Kentucky, TN, and the midwest as a traveler and moved here to NC where my HS friend from Cali had settled down as a nurse, then she left me and went back to Cali, 9 years ago. But we stayed and now we're going home for further education, and hopefully, eventually, overseas.... (hint, hint, Paul :)

I like Cali the best to work in because it's generally a forward moving, thinking state and now that I've decided to move forward, I want to be there. It's home game there and I feel I can excell best there. So if just depends on what you like. My experience in Ky was negative. Nsg home with no desires to improve Pt care and not open to suggesions.

East TN positive and negative, 50/50, darn good, suppportive therapists. But there was an underlying vibe of just meeting the status quo, don't think too much and don't contradict the DON whether she's wrong or not.

West TN, and around the hopital-Vanderbilt. GOOD REP and Pretty "darn" good medicine.

(cont'd)
Vanderbilt, I would have loved to work at. Really, sincere and just like Cali, wanting to expand and move forward with their focus on Pt care, not profit.

As for the mid west, not enough time there, maybe i didn't work anywhere long enough to find out how arrogant doctors can be, how badly medicine can be delivered when the healthcare field in these little counties in NC refuse to adhere to HIPPA, OSHA, and Pt's Bill or Rights... and the state does nothing... and some of the nicest, sincere and good doctors and people you could ever meet. Just, to me an oppressed state with a lot of secrets and corruption.

Anyway, for me, I'm happy to be going home. I'm really not good at completing and writing my thoughts down in an organized manner, but hopefully, this gives some insight.

There's a website I like for travel and most of these companies do temp to perm. click on this link and choose "Travel Nurses & Therapists". I'm not sure if you have to sign up just to read and search the message boards or not, but if you do, it's free and worth it. Been on for almost 4 years. Mostly nurses but they're all really helpful and welcome us too.

Well good luck. thanks for letting me celebrate my new job and the transition we are about to embark on and why. Cheers, Jadee.

OOps! Here's the web site:

forums.delphiforums.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=index&webtag=delphicomz&query=travel+nurses+&Go.x=12&Go.y=5&Go=Search

rezede in Jacksonville Beach, Florida said: I believe you can take the PTA Exam. I am a foreign PT graduate and I recently passed the NPTAE. Based from my experience I did the evaluation of my credentials by EIRF and submitted my application to state board of my choice which is California then the state board will issue you the Authority to Test after you paid all the fees and completed the application. Not all states allow foreign educated PT to down grade their degree to PTA.[/QUOT

Desperate for advice!! I realy like to know if the PTA boared exam is as challenging as PT board? (IF a PT wants to take it)

If you had worked as PT before or a fresh graduate I would say PTA exam will be much easier for you. In my case, I was away from the practice for quite a long time. I reviewed on my own and had very limited references before taking the exam. I did not pass NPTE which opted me to give NPTAE a try. I suggest you try NPTE if everything is still fresh in your memory and give time and focus on your review. If you have the choice not to work while preparing for the exam, it would be better. In terms of difficulty of the exam, I will give NPTE a 10 and NPTAE a 7 based on my experience.

Thank you very much for your response. mazyou

Hi, I'm sorry I didn't pay attention to the point of your question. When I prepared for the California Board as a PTA License Applicant, I took a 1 day course that was like 100 or 200 old test questions from previous tests. The test is the best way to study. Make flash cards of the test ?'s and study the areas you miss. I think that would be the best way for you to gauge how well you might do on the test.

Best o luck!
Jadee

Thanks alot for your helpful comment. However, if you don't mind, I have /One more question: does PTA exam concentrate more or less on certain section as compare to PT board?
mazyou

No worries; I took the PTA exam in California in 1991. I just remember it pretty much covering all areas of pathological diagnoses and asking mostly clinical questions, as well as A & P, etc... I know that sounds broad, but I would just get a skills check sheet from a recuruiter or online somewhere and gauge yourself from there. Ask yourself if you're familliar with this "new" thing, or that one... Usually a quick google on a new term ends up being something renamed or something you can figure out with basic PT knowledge.

Luck!
:) Jadee

In addition, try to check on FSBPT website as well and read on the 2009 NPTE Candidate Handbook. The content of the exam for both PT and PTA was outlined there. You may compare them side by side to somehow see the difference between the two examinations. They are on page 20 and 31 respectively. Here's the web site:

www.fsbpt.org then click on download the candidate handbook.

Hello,

I am going to process my paperworks this october/novemeber to FSBPT. Im a bachelor of PT foreign graduate last year of 2001 and because its been a while i havent practice for years because Im a full time mom now and a housewife. Now im thinking to process my credential and take the NPTAE instead and wait to get approve. Its getting harder to get in and pass the NPTA (the people that I know told me all their sad/frustrating story about NPTE. what do you think it the best review material avaialable for PTA exam? and what subject I need to focus on studying. Im struggling to remember everything after 8years without clinical practice. I feel my brain is soooo drain and foggy because I never read any more of my books. I dont even know how and where to start. please suggest anything to help me. thank you

Hi in Corpus Christi. I took my exam in 1991, so I don't know how the new exams are, but I would find one of those one day "exam courses" that give you a sample exam of questions from actual exams, that cover all areas of PTA. When you complete the day and take home your exam, make index cards out of the questions with the multiple choice answers on the front, and the actual answers on the back. The cards you answer wrong, study all 4 choices and review that subject, (ie. developmental disabilities newborn reflexes, etc...) Then do a more general review of the other areas; e-stim and modalities; geriatrics; ortho; neuro; developmental; hydro, etc... I would ask other PTA's who have passed how much Anat/Phys, Bio, Pathology etc to brush up on. Current concepts seem to have shifted some and, I'm not sure if I'm rusty, or a lot of practitioners no longer focus on the systems of the body and how they work in relation to a positive outcome for a PT plan of care; ie; I had a Bilat. AKA patient with no treatment plan for therex; the Pt said the Pt was independent with hip exercises and saw no need for trunk/core strengthening to increase sitting stability and the other benefits of such exercise. So Idk, hope this helps.
btw, where were you trained? I want to go abroad for a new degree and am interested in foreign programs.
Well, good luck
Jadee

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