MINNESOTA CHAPTER
AMERICAN PHYSICAL THERAPY ASSOCIATION

MN APTA Physical Therapist Assistant Special Interest Group
(PTA SIG)

We want to hear from you!  Please contact the MN APTA chapter office or anyone at right with questions, comments, and suggestions.

TO APPLY FOR MINNESOTA LICENSURE

This is a very exciting year for all PTAs in the state of Minnesota.  As you know, Governor Pawlenty signed PTA licensure into law this past year.  A PTA licensure application packet is available under the Licensure portion of the Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy website, which consists of the PTA Application Form, PTA Instructions, and MN PT Practice Act.

The Minnesota Board of PT has provided a document with general PTA licensure information (‘PTA Instructions’), to help PTAs with the licensure process.  There is a one-time application fee of $100 and an annual licensing fee of $60.  Be sure to read everything carefully in order to provide the Minnesota Board of PT with everything needed to process your application.  Please also be aware of the dates that licensure takes effect: ALL PTAs IN MINNESOTA MUST BE LICENSED BY JULY 1, 2008.  There are no exceptions to this rule, and the application process takes time—start now!  Waiting until the month before will be too late to start your application.

• Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy Website
• PTA Application Form
• PTA Instructions

2004-2006 PTA SIG Goals:

1. ASIG will appoint a new co-chair, RBNA, nominating committee member, and secretary/treasurer in the spring election.
2. The new affiliate member (to be voted on by the membership) will be appointed to the MN APTA Board of Directors to actively promote PTA perspective and to facilitate communication of information to ASIG membership.
3. Attain full voting rights for the affiliate member in general elections.
4. Promote discussion on the possibility of PTA licensure in MN.
5. Increase PTA and SPTA membership in the APTA by 3%.
6. Visit each PTA educational program in MN to promote the benefits of belonging to the APTA.
7. Ensure that all committees within the MN Chapter have at least one PTA member.

PTA PROGRAMS IN MINNESOTA

Anoka Ramsey Community College
11200 Mississippi Blvd. NW
Coon Rapids, MN 55433
(763) 427-2600
Program Director: Lisa Lentner
www.an.cc.mn.us

The College of St. Catherine
601 25th Ave. S
Minneapolis, MN 55454
(651) 690-7826
Program Director: Susan Nelson
www.stkate.edu/pta

Lake Superior College
2101 Trinity Road
Duluth, MN 55811
(218) 733-5920
Program Director: Jane Worley
www.lsc.cc.mn.us

PTA NEWS

Jan Haley, PTA wins APTA 2005 Outstanding PTA Award
Jan has always been highly thought of and respected within APTA and amongst her peers and coworkers. Jan inspires patients, students and co-workers to achieve their optimal potential either as a patient or a professional. Please join us in congratulating Jan on this award. She was honored at the APTA National Conference in Boston on June 5, 2005.

Congratulations to the Minnesota recipients of the Advanced Proficiency for the PTA!
Jessica Solberg, PTA and Kelly Wittnebel, PTA, BS will be honored at the PTA Recognition reception on June 28, 2007 for receiving Advanced Proficiency for the Physical Therapist Assistant in Neuromuscular Physical Therapy. They join Kristine Sicora, PTA (2006), Melissa Wever, PTA (2006), Jan Haley, PTA (2005) and Julie McDonald, PTA (2005), who have each also recieved Advanced Proficiency in the Neuromuscular Area.

Benefits for the physical therapist assistants who complete all of the eligibility requirements for recognition include increased confidence in the provision of patient care, external recognition from APTA, reinforcement of lifelong learning, and distinction that assists with career advancement.

Please congratulate all six Minnesota recipients of the Advanced Proficiency. For more information on how to obtain YOUR Recognition of Advanced Proficiency in Musculoskeletal, Neuromuscular, Cardiovascular/Pulmonary, or Integumentary Physical Therapy visit www.apta.org/communities and click on “PTAs.” Deadlines for application are February 1, 2007 and August 1, 2007.

Meetings and Activities:
ASIG meetings are held once a month on the third Monday of each month at 6:30.  Meetings are held at the Chapter office in Roseville.  All members are invited to attend.  ASIG also meets at the MN APTA Spring and Fall Conferences.  ASIG meeting times are listed in the conference brochure.  All members and non-members are invited to attend these meetings.  Agenda items for all meetings include discussion of PTA “hot issues”. Please refer to the Chapter's calendar of Events/Meetings.

PTA Continuing Education courses offered through MN APTA – There are generally one-two courses offered each year that are specifically designed for the Physical Therapist Assistant.  For listing of continuing education courses, go to calendar of Events/Meetings.  Also note, the MN APTA encourages Physical Therapist Assistants to attend other continuing education courses offered by the chapter.  Course brochures are mailed to PTs and PTAs.  Please call the chapter office if you have a question related to continuing education courses.

Organizational Structure: Affiliate Special Interest Group (ASIG)
The ASIG (soon to be PTA SIG) is the MN APTA organization for Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs). All PTAs and PTA students who are members of the APTA and MN APTA, are automatically members of the ASIG.

Officers, Terms and Duties
Chairperson: two-year term; conducts meetings, is spokesperson for ASIG, is secondary liaison to MN APTA BoD; establishes agendas for meetings with Vice chairperson

Vice Chairperson: two-year term; assumes duties of chair in his/her absence; assists chairperson with establishing agendas for meetings.

Secretary/Treasurer: two-year term; record and distribute minutes of meetings, maintain membership list, records ASIG budget and other financial proceedings.

RBNA Representative: two-year term; spokesperson for MN ASIG at NA, liaison to MN APTA BoD.

The ASIG is the collective "voice" of the PTA at the MN APTA chapter (state) level. Currently, twenty-two APTA chapters have established an ASIG.

National Assembly (NA)
"As of June 2005, the RBNAs (Representative Body to the National Assembly) and the House of Delegates voted to dissolve the current structure known as the National Assembly. In its place, a PTA Caucus was developed. Each state will continue to send one PTA representative to meet at CSM and the National Conference. In addition the number of non-voting PTA delegates at the House of Delegates was increased from 2 to 5, several advisory committees already in existance (for example education) that report to the National Board of Directors created a slot to be filled only by a PTA, and a special advisory committee was created filled only by PTAs--representing and promoting the interest of PTAs throughout the country. These changes were made to imporve the effectiveness of communication between PTAs and PTs on the National level."

NA Activities:
RACE Campaign (Read, Attend, Contribute, Educate), directed at increasing PTA knowledge of NA and APTA activities, increasing PTA participation and membership.

Compilation of data regarding regulation of PTAs in each state- to assist with legislative efforts regarding PTA licensure.

Resource to chapters on PTA issues.

Representative Body of the National Assembly (RBNA)
The term RBNA is being replaced with the term PTA Delegate. Every state will elect a PTA Delegate to represent that state at the PTA Caucus. The PTA Delegate is the voting body for the Physical Therapists Assistants in the APTA.

MN APTA Chapter Committees
Opportunities for involvement:
PTAs are invited and encouraged to join any committee of the MN APTA. Please contact an officer in ASIG or staff at the chapter office for more information.

MN Regulations:
The Physical Therapist Assistant is defined in Physical Therapy rules (MN 5601.0100 Subp. 3): "Physical Therapist Assistant" means a skilled technical worker who is a graduate of a Physical Therapist Assistant educational program accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association or a comparable accrediting agency. The Physical Therapist Assistant performs selected Physical Therapy treatments and related duties as delegated by the Physical Therapist to assist the Physical Therapist in patient-, client-, and resident-related activities. Please refer to the Minnesota State Statues and Rules, found at www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/arule/5601/ and www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/148""

The Physical Therapist Assistant is not licensed, registered or certified in the state of MN.

Resources:
ASIG Bylaws - available free to any member.

National Assembly Bulletin Board - any APTA member can join. Join by going to APTA's we site (www.apta.org) and click on "Chapters, Sections and Assemblies", then click on "Bulletin Boards", then click on "Bulletin Board for National Assembly Members".

Minnesota Chapter American Physical Therapy Association (MN APTA)
970 Raymond Avenue | Suite G-40 | Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: 651-635-0902 | Fax: 651-635-0903 | E-mail: info@mnapta.org | Online: www.mnapta.org

All contents © 2008 Minnesota Chapter American Physical Therapy Association. All Rights Reserved.
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