Under the supervision of a licensed Occupational/Physical Therapist, or Physician, assists in evaluation, design and implementation of therapy services and treatments to patients with multiple or acute diagnoses; may instruct and evaluate/supervise Therapy Aides, students and/or volunteers.

Completes data collection procedures such as interviews and evaluations with clients, review of records, general observations, and behavioral checklist; communicates data to the licensed Occupational or Physical Therapist; evaluates and assesses need for licensed Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist evaluation;

Performs treatments for patients with multiple or acute problems in the areas of daily living, sensory motor, cognitive and psychosocial skills; encourages patient independence; maintains progress notes and reports;

Tracks need for reassessment and reports changes in client status that might warrant reassessment of referral; recognizes and reports to Occupational/Physical Therapist factors that warrant discontinuance of intervention treatments;

Assists in evaluation and assessment of patient's potential to return to independent living by conducting visits to home and work site with an occupational/physical therapist/physician;
Participates in clinical program development and quality assurance projects;

Serves as leader in planning and implementing occupational/physical therapy groups; monitors non-occupational/physical therapy personnel in the implementation of tasks designed to enhance intervention with the client;

Orients, instructs, and supervises therapy aides, volunteers, and students;

Physical Therapy Assistants may operate whirlpools, myostimulator, weights, pulleys, restorator, T.E.N.S., Orthrotron, perform low and high galvanic stimulation, use hot packs, paraffin baths, egonometer, crutches, and bicycle and other exercise equipment; fabricate and adapt complex orthotic and prosthetic assistive equipment/devices as directed;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: techniques and procedures used in the care and treatment of patients with multiple or acute diagnoses.

Ability to: work as a member of an interdisciplinary treatment team; assist with the development of patient care programs; treat and care for patients; follow written and oral directions; maintain records and reports.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

Depending on the specialty:

• Certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant by the American Occupational Therapy Association and licensed by the State of Washington as an Occupational Therapy Assistant.

 OR

• Completion of an Associate Degree program as a Physical Therapy Assistant from an approved school or graduation from an approved school of Physical Therapy and eligible for licensure as a Physical Therapist.

New class: 9-11-92
New class code: (formerly 57150) effective July 1, 2007

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.