Physical Therapy Technician Technical Standards

All individuals, including persons with disabilities, who wish to participate in the physical therapy technician program, must be able to perform specific technical functions with or without reasonable accommodation.


In order to meet the requirements for admission, perform the skills/duties of a physical therapy technician, and assume the responsibilities of a direct care provider, the student must:

  • Be at least 18 years old.
  • Successfully complete prerequisite courses such as, but not limited to, HIPAA Training, Healthcare Job Market Preparation, and Healthcare Provider CPR.
  • Indicate willingness to practice direct care skills in a laboratory setting by role-playing both the physical therapy technician and the patient/client.
  • Recognize the potential for exposure to bloodborne pathogens and potentially hazardous materials.

Any individual who is unable to meet the following technical standards will be unable to participate in the program.

  • Visual—Able to observe, monitor, and/or assess patient/client, and read fine print on monitors, devices, and gauges.
    1. Read written instructions.
    2. Acquire information from documents such as charts, computer images, and other modes of delivery.
    3. See and discriminate between varieties of visual equipment alarms.
    4. Observe demonstrations and patients/clients close up and at a distance of up to 30 feet away to learn skills and gather patient/client data such as, but not limited to, observing a patient/client’s facial expressions, gait, appearance, posture, and other non-verbal cues.
  • Hearing—Able to hear and understand faculty, staff, peers, patients/clients, families, and healthcare workers; interpret conversations; and assess/monitor patients/clients.
    2. Follow verbal instructions.
    3. Detect and discriminate between sounds of normal conversation.
    4. Hear sounds of a variety of equipment alarms including, but not limited to, bed/chair alarms and signaling devices (call bells).
  • Smell—Able to tolerate unpleasant odors related to human waste, secretions, infections, etc.
  • Mobility—Possess the mobility and strength to support and move patients/clients.
    1. Move quickly from place to place and perform direct care.
    2. Support and transfer patients/clients safely from bed to stretcher, bed to wheelchair, and modify patient/client position in bed and on exercise tables.
    3. Lift and/or carry 50 lbs. to waist level unassisted.
    4. Move objects in excess of 100 lbs. without restriction.
    5. Stand/sit in an upright position for approximately 6 hours a day and walk long distances.
    6. Reach above shoulder height to manipulate equipment.
    7. Reach below waist level to manipulate equipment.
  • Motor Skills (fine and gross)—Perform multiple motor tasks simultaneously. Possess fine and gross motor skills sufficient to handle equipment and provide safe and effective patient/client care; keen sense of touch; awareness of self in relationship to surroundings, steady arm and hand movements while manipulating objects or assisting patients/clients.
    1. Perform CPR and other basic life support functions.
    2. Operate and manipulate equipment such as, but not limited to treadmills, exercise bikes, wheelchairs, and stretchers.
    3. Push/pull beds; transport patients/clients.
    4. Lift and move patients/clients safely.
    5. Chart/write in medical records and record patient/client data.
  • Tactile—Possess a keen sense of touch and the ability to interpret tactile sensations to perceive information such as, but not limited to texture, mobility, firmness, strength, and temperature.
    1. Distinguish pulse rate, rhythm, and strength by palpation.
    2. Detect changes in skin temperature and integrity.
    1. Speak English in a clear and easily understood manner.
    2. Write in a manner that is legible.
    3. Use correct grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
    5. Observe non-verbal communication.
    1. Interpret, problem solve, and demonstrate critical thinking.
    2. Convert numerical data from one measurement system to another.
    4. Possess the ability to self-evaluate.
  • Behavioral and Social Attributes—Possess the emotional health required to use intellectual abilities fully such as exercising good judgment, promptly completing all responsibilities associated with patient/client care, and developing mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with faculty, staff, peers, patients/clients, families, and healthcare workers.
    1. Tolerate physically taxing workloads and function effectively under stress.
    6. Accept constructive criticism and respond appropriately by modifying behavior.