question regarding california PTA license

I passed my PTA exam and the California Law exam recently and wonder if anyone in this forum would know how long should one wait for the PTA license?

hello maria!

hey...im looking into becoming a PTA/PT and live in SD as well....i would REALLY like to chat with you about your educational process (where you went to school), your experiences before, during and after the process, where you are now (got work?), you know.....all the DETAILS!!

if you would be so kind and generous to share your experience with me i would greatly appreciate it! you can post it here....or take it private via email...

terrydean1@cox.net

td

td in El Cajon, California said: hello maria!

hey...im looking into becoming a PTA/PT and live in SD as well....i would REALLY like to chat with you about your educational process (where you went to school), your experiences before, during and after the process, where you are now (got work?), you know.....all the DETAILS!!

if you would be so kind and generous to share your experience with me i would greatly appreciate it! you can post it here....or take it private via email...

terrydean1@cox.net

td

I also would like to get some information about your experience, exam and so one. My mail: kasiastal@hotmail.com
Thanks.

kasia....see your inbox! :)

td

Hello, just want to know how can i apply for a PTA exam while I am working here in Dubai U.A.E. I am a graduate of Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. Is there any chances for me to take an exam?? if there is what are the procedures or process that I need to know, Hope you can help me with these matter. Thanks!!

Hi!! Like Glen I am also a PT graduate staying in UAE and would love to take a PTA exam.. Please share the information to me as well... Thanks!!

maria in San Diego, California said: I passed my PTA exam and the California Law exam recently and wonder if anyone in this forum would know how long should one wait for the PTA license?

Hi Maria, I am in Del Mar/Carmel Valley San Diego, feeling overwhelmed by all the study info for the Licensing Exam. Please, let me know how you prepared to succesfully pass. Any details will be very appreciated! Thank you!

maria in San Diego, California said: I passed my PTA exam and the California Law exam recently and wonder if anyone in this forum would know how long should one wait for the PTA license?

Sorry, forgot to leave my e-mail: nikoolina@yahoo.com Thank you!

Hi Nikolina! I just bought the reviewer of PT assistant from IER (international educational resources) which has a site in the internet- www.therapyed.com. I studied for 2 months. A week or so before i take the exam i test myself my taking the online exam PEAT for PT assistant. Just make sure your ready when you take the exam. I hope this help.

Maria

A B.S. degree in physical therapy does not qualify you to take the PTA exam. Frankly, if you have earned your B.S.P.T. since entry level went to a masters: you don't have the clinical skills to be a PTA. The A.A.S. degree for a PTA is set completely different than a PT program. In a PTA program you learn all the same manual/ treatment skills in two years that a MSPT or DPT does in their degree program. The main difference is the evaluation skills and clinical research. SORRY PT's: At entry level we all have the same skill set, and have had the same internship experience. I realized this a few years ago, and now I staff two PT's and 4 PTA's on any given day. Patient's get the same treatment, and I can afford to give my whole staff a better benefit package with the amount of money I save in straight payroll.

I am not surprised that PT salaries have become stagnant, but the PTA salary is quickly on the rise!

hi anybody there who can give me input for taking the PTA exam ? thanks

It's not as hard as you think!!! If you got good grades in school, you should have no problem!

Perry in Coldwater, Michigan said: It's not as hard as you think!!! If you got good grades in school, you should have no problem!

thanks for comment that really help

Hi Nicolina and Maria,

I just noticed that you guys are from San Diego. I moved here back in July and I just passed my NPTAE but I still need to pass the California Law. Since this was a while ago I assume you both passed. I was wondering...How hard was the law exam? Based o the material it doens't seem too bad but I would like your input.

I also wanted to ask some questions about the job market here...
Are you working? how was the job-hunting process? any tips?
I really had no luck finding a job with my PTALA status, will it be easier once I get my license?

I'm happy to report that I just recently passed the NPTAE. It was brutal! I practiced with the scorebuilders exams. I found it to be pretty similar in format to the actual exam. I struggled with these exams but I studied what I got wrong on them. The good news is that they prepare you to think clinically. A lot of the exam is clinial scenarios. Go through EVERYTHING before you take the exam. Also, have a friend quiz you with one of the exams you haven't taken in a while. It helps you to think more analytically. Hope this helps

ho="Susie in San Diego, California"]Hi Nicolina and Maria,

I just noticed that you guys are from San Diego. I moved here back in July and I just passed my NPTAE but I still need to pass the California Law. Since this was a while ago I assume you both passed. I was wondering...How hard was the law exam? Based o the material it doens't seem too bad but I would like your input.

I also wanted to ask some questions about the job market here...
Are you working? how was the job-hunting process? any tips?
I really had no luck finding a job with my PTALA status, will it be easier once I get my license?

Susie,

The CA Law exam is not hard. Just read the CA law and regulation which you could download from PTBC website. It about 96 pages. I suggest read it atleast 3 times then take the exam. The exam is 50 items for 1 hour.
As for the job hunting, there are lots of job out there just look at the indeed.com. And try to find out whats the starting rate for a PTA before you begin negotiating or interviewing with potential employer. Per hour rate is different depending on where you want to work (out-patient, skilled nursing facility-SNF or hospital). I hope thing turn out well for you.

Maria

hi can anybody help me out abt how to prepare for PTA licensure exam

From my experience with boards: I know there are potentially slightly different tests for every candidate, but forget about the minute little things that your instructors drilled into your head as extremely important for your exam. By this I mean: muscle origins and insertions, all the different variations of hepatitis and how to contract/pass them...you know, all that stuff you spent so much time memorizing. Just remember the basics: muscle actions, nerve roots, distributions and plexuses, tests for peripheral nerve function, burns, wound care, safety, transfers, et cetera. If you can swing 70 dollars, go to Scorebuilders.com. Their book is comprehensive, and their practice tests are way harder than the real deal. There is a cd-rom with 3 or 4 mock exams on it. The highest I scored on any of them was a 120/150 (80%) nationwide pass rate on the real exam is 600/800 raw score (75% scale based on difficulty of your particular exam). I scored 792/800 on the real exam, first attempt three weeks after graduation.

hi there,

I noticed you just recently passed your CLE.I just need to know what to focus, and study on the CLE exam. Do I have to memorize each law and all fees? Please, for those who already took the CLE recently, I need your advise what specific topic on the CLE I need to focus on and concentrate.

Thank you very much!

Susie in San Diego, California said: Hi Nicolina and Maria,

I just noticed that you guys are from San Diego. I moved here back in July and I just passed my NPTAE but I still need to pass the California Law. Since this was a while ago I assume you both passed. I was wondering...How hard was the law exam? Based o the material it doens't seem too bad but I would like your input.

I also wanted to ask some questions about the job market here...
Are you working? how was the job-hunting process? any tips?
I really had no luck finding a job with my PTALA status, will it be easier once I get my license?

maria in San Diego, California said: I passed my PTA exam and the California Law exam recently and wonder if anyone in this forum would know how long should one wait for the PTA license?

hai,can u please tell me what all books r needed for exam.is this exam is easier than pt exam?i am a pt in india,after i came here,i need to take 30 extra units to take pt exam.so,as i am a mother of 2 kids i dont want to waste time.i now decided to take pta exam,but dont have any books.please let me know what all books i have to refer.thank you.

You need to take an english proficiency exam and then apply for the PTA exam in combination with whichever state you are looking to work in. You also need to have your education credentials reviewed to be sure you have the required schooling and clinical experience to sit for the PTA board exam. I assume you already have a visa in order?

heleena in Fairfield, California said: hai,can u please tell me what all books r needed for exam.is this exam is easier than pt exam?i am a pt in india,after i came here,i need to take 30 extra units to take pt exam.so,as i am a mother of 2 kids i dont want to waste time.i now decided to take pta exam,but dont have any books.please let me know what all books i have to refer.thank you.

i have applied for credentials already.thankx for sending me informations.please tell me which books should i follow for pta exam?

The PTAexam study guide from Scorebuilders.com is great. Though if you have already practiced as a PT, you should be able to pass the PTA exam. It is extremely similar to the PT board exam, just not as long...I have taken and passed both.

thank you sooooooooo much for ur help.i will definetly go thru it.if you know that i should need to study some other books,please dont forget to tell me.and one more thing,after my credentials is done,i can sit for exam?how many times i can write exams if i fail?

If you fail twice you have to take classes and ask permission from the State board to test again (and wait a year). You have to request in writing, and prove that you are more prepared to take the exam. If they agree, you can take it one more time. After that you have to go through a complete PTA program again (2 years).

maria in San Diego, California said: ho="Susie in San Diego, California"]Hi Nicolina and Maria,

I just noticed that you guys are from San Diego. I moved here back in July and I just passed my NPTAE but I still need to pass the California Law. Since this was a while ago I assume you both passed. I was wondering...How hard was the law exam? Based o the material it doens't seem too bad but I would like your input.

I also wanted to ask some questions about the job market here...
Are you working? how was the job-hunting process? any tips?
I really had no luck finding a job with my PTALA status, will it be easier once I get my license?

Susie,

The CA Law exam is not hard. Just read the CA law and regulation which you could download from PTBC website. It about 96 pages. I suggest read it atleast 3 times then take the exam. The exam is 50 items for 1 hour.
As for the job hunting, there are lots of job out there just look at the indeed.com. And try to find out whats the starting rate for a PTA before you begin negotiating or interviewing with potential employer. Per hour rate is different depending on where you want to work (out-patient, skilled nursing facility-SNF or hospital). I hope thing turn out well for you.

Maria

Hi maria, I am just wondering that can we tahe law exam before NPTE?.

hey can anone tell that we can give law exam before NPTE or not?

hai friends,i am a foreign graduated pt,here with my husband and kids.i am in the process of doing my credentials,but to work as a pt here,i heard that i have to take another 30 units from a college.so i called the credentials and asked them can i do the credentials for pta with my pt degree,so that i can go for license exam directly?they said we will do!is there anyone like me who have done their pt in foreign country and now working as a pta here.and one more thing i heard that the license exams are very tough and there are only 2 chances to pass.is that true?because i am going to do this after 10 years,even though i have a pt degree with me,i almost forgot all my studies,i am very much confused now,i should go for this or go to some other field?can anyone please give some sugesstions?thank you all.

Maybe you should pick a different field if, "i almost forgot all my studies," after practicing 10 years.
You still have to apply for and have your credentials approved to be considered to sit for PTA liscencing boards.

Hi, I am in a pickle, in need of some help. I need to interview a PTA for my intro into PTA class. Today is Saturday and I have to turn in this interview Monday morning. No I am not a slacker we were given the assignment on Monday which gave us only 4 days to contact a PTA, I have left messages with several offices but have had no replies. Anyone out there willing to help a future PTA out, Email me at squandt50@yahoo.com. Thank you!!

Hi everyone,
Can anyone tell me where i can look up practice questions for the cle exam in california. I have looked everywhere without any luck at all. Please any advice would be really helpfull.

chaz

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? i know this thread is about california, but it must be somewhat similar for all states i hope. this is all very confusing.

thanks for any help anyone could provide.

There is no acceptable level of international study for a PTA license. It is strictly an Associate of Applied Science to be completed in the US. If you are licensed as a PT in Sweden, you should have no problem passing the boards in the US. Why be a PTA if you have the degree to be a PT...Allegedly!

thanks for the response, Steven!

it's not allegedly, i AM licensed. ;-) just thought it sounded like it would go faster to get PTA license, but sounds like this is not the case after your response and having looked around some. thanks again.

Hi
Just wondering if anybody could give any pointers on the CLE! Not sure what exactly to study I have read over the laws & regulations twice!

Does anyone have an insight on how much a starting PTA can get per hour in the San Diego area. ALSO, are PTA's treated badly since they are "assistants" as opposed to PT's? I've heard some pretty bad stories. Any help would be great!

Hi There,
I can't tell you the starting wage for a PTA in CA, but I can offer some insight to your other question. The patients don't care if you are a PT or a PTA. Like any other professional (Therapist or otherwise), the moment you prove you are competent in what you do: it doesn't matter who you are. I have worked in a lot of facilities in just about all settings (LTC, Acute, OP/ Ortho). The only people who care that I am a PTA have been a few short-sighted PT's!
Hope this helps

Has anyone here completed the PTA program at LaGuardia Community College in NYC? What was your experience like? Were you able to get a job? What was or is your salary? How much should I expect after graduation?

Does snyone know if the test I took to be licensed in Maine in 1996 is the National Test?