Working as PTA with a CNA

[fruition]

Do you guys know anyone who works as a PTA with only a CNA certification?

[nlitened]

No. Physical Therapy Assistants go to school for their training...much more training than what a CNA gets. Personally, I have never seen this. You can look up a school in your area to see the requirements needed for the PTA and see it is much more than what you took in school for CNA. Plus, you have to be licensed. Working as a PTA with a CNA could get you in a lot of hot water if something was to go wrong...beyond your scope of practice.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

PTA is a specific credential and educational profile. I've seen CNA's work as rehab techs or assistants. But they cannot use a title they are onto legally entitled to hold. Many areas it's an associates level program. (PT is a doctorate level/graduate educational level)

[fruition]

Wow my mom worked at mental health hospital as an RN, about a year ago. This facility was also like a prison but the patients still were able to walk around the staff(they weren't in cells). She said that there were CNAs who worked as PTAs there. Their tasks were mostly recording data for patients. May be the facility was understaffed because this was an exurban area. Instead of physical therapist assistants may be they were working as psychiatric technician assistants. Either way why do they have to take a three semester course? The duties seem to fall into place with CNAs scope of practice and the responsibility; however not lesser, is less physical than that of a CNA. I think a CNA can handle PTAs scope of practice. If you disagree it know better, please prove me wrong.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Psych tech assistant is not a PTA. PTA is physical therapy assistant, OTA is occupational therapy assistant.

So in your case a CNA can likely work as a psychiatric tech assistant.

Psych tech in California requires a 3-4 semester educational program approved by the BVNPT. They must pass a PT licensing exam and receive a license from BVNPT. A CNA cannot use the title of psych tech in CA unless licensed as such as per the BVNPT regulations. Just like a CNA cannot work as a LVN unless licensed. & educated as one.

[JustBeachyNurse, LPN]

Here you go a PTA is a physical therapy assistant that works under the supervision and delegation of a licensed physical therapist:

http://www.apta.org/PTACareers/Overview/

According to this in CA a psych tech assistant can be a CNA or psych tech student:

http://www.dsh.ca.gov/jobs/docs/Exams-Continuous/Psychiatric_Technician_Assistant_Safety.pdf

So yes, a CNA can work as a psychiatric technician assistant but not as a PTA ( physical therapy assistant).

[nlitened]

PTA= Physical Therapy Assistant...a CNA can not hold this position

In my area the position you are referring to is called a Mental Health Tech. Mental Health Tech's require their own training and certification. Check your area for specifics.