Own Your
Future
Choose APTA.
Choose to make a difference in your profession.
How To Own Your Future
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What is the APTA?
What is the Student Assembly?
What does APTA do for its members?
Student Membership
How to become a member
WHAT IS THE APTA?
What is the APTA?
APTA Defined
Member-Driven Organization
APTA’s Goal and Mission
APTA’s Vision 2020
 Elements of Vision 2020
 Core Values of Professionalism
 Components of the APTA
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APTA Defined
 Established by Mary
McMillan in 1921
 The principle membership
organization representing
and promoting the
profession of physical
therapy
 A national, professional
organization representing
more than 72,000 members
Member-Driven Organization
 Board of Directors  members who have been elected
to serve as representative leaders in the APTA
 Long-standing members  >5 years of membership
 New professionals  5 years of membership or less
 Students  students of both physical therapy and
physical therapy assistant programs
APTA’s Goal and Mission
 GOAL: “…to foster
advancements in physical
therapy practice, research,
and education.”
APTA’s Goal and Mission
 MISSION: “…to further
the profession’s role in
the prevention, diagnosis,
and treatment of
movement dysfunctions
enhancement of the
physical health and
functional abilities of
members of the public.”
APTA’s Vision 2020
 “By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists
who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers
and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice
to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of,
interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional
limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and
health.”
Elements of Vision 2020
 Autonomous practice
 Direct access
 Doctors of physical therapy
 Evidence-based practice
 Practitioners of choice
 Professionalism
Elements of Vision 2020
 7 CORE VALUES of Professionalism
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Accountability
Altruism
Compassion & Caring
Excellence
Integrity
Professional Duty
Social Responsibility
Components of the APTA
18 Special Interest Sections
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Acute Care
Aquatics
Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Clinical Electrophysiology and
Wound Management
Education
Federal
Geriatric
Hand Rehabilitation
Home Health
 Health Policy and
Administration
 Neurology
 Oncology
 Orthopedics
 Pediatrics
 Private Practice
 Research
 Sports
 Women’s Health
Components of the APTA
 State Chapters
 When you become a member of the APTA, you are
also automatically a member of your state chapter
 Student Assembly
 All student APTA members are also members of the
student assembly
 Special Interest Groups
 Groups created within state chapters or sections that
allow members to further focus on specific areas of
physical therapy practice
WHAT IS THE
STUDENT
ASSEMBLY?
What is the Student Assembly?
 Student Assembly Defined
 Purpose of the Student Assembly
 Governing Board
Student Assembly Defined
 A component of the APTA
 All physical therapy and
physical therapy assistant
students who are members
of the APTA are also
members of the student
assembly
Purpose of the Student Assembly
 To create a united group that focuses on advancing the
views and concerns of students
 To provide students a “voice” for the future of the physical
therapy profession
Governing Board
 Board of Directors
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President
Vice President
Secretary
Treasurer
SPT and SPTA Delegates
Director
 Nominating Committee
 1 chair
 2 members
Governing Board
Goals of the Student Assembly Board of Directors:
 Promote APTA to all PT and PTA students
 Increase opportunities for student involvement
within the APTA
 Represent the true voice of the student assembly
 Encourage student participation in the strive for
Vision 2020
Governing Board
Goals of the Student Assembly Nominating Committee:
 Increase awareness of the Student Assembly elected
positions
 Increase the number of PT and PTA students who
consent to serve
 Increase the number of students at National Student
Conclave to participate in elections
Governing Board
Elections for the SABOD and NomCom positions
 Takes place annually at National
Student Conclave
 Any member of the Student Assembly
in good standing may consent to serve
for office
 Positions are decided by majority vote
 New SABOD and NomCom serve 1 year
in their elected office
 exception: NomCom chair will be a 2
year position beginning in 2010
elections
MEMBER
BENEFITS
Member Benefits
 APTA promotes a uniform standard of practice
among its members
 APTA strengthens its members knowledge and
clinical skills
 APTA advances its members careers
 APTA protects its members futures
Uniform Standard of Practice
 Code of Ethics
 Elements of Vision 2020
 Core Values of Professionalism
Uniform Standard of Practice
Mentoring Programs:
Uniform Standard of Practice
Evidence based practice
 Open Door
 Hooked on Evidence
Knowledge and Clinical Skills
 Physical Therapy Journal
of the APTA
 PTmagazine
 PT Bulletin
Knowledge and Clinical Skills
 The Learning Center
 Continuing education
 Special Interest
Sections
Career Advancements
 Clinical residencies and
fellowships
 Transitional doctorates
 Specialist certification
Career Advancements
 Career management
 Career planning
 Professional
development
 Marketing services
 Managing finances
Protection
 Advocacy
 PT Political Action
Committee (PT-PAC)
 Federal legislation
 Federal Advocacy Forum
 State legislation
 The Advocacy Challenge
 Broadens and prevents the
restriction of the PT scope
of practice
STUDENT
MEMBERSHIP
Student membership
 Being a member saves you money as a student
 Being a member encourages and provides outlets for
professional development
 Being a member allows you to have up-to-date
physical therapy information
 Being a member provides the opportunity for
networking
Saves You Money
 SAVE 40% off non-member prices for all PT
resources
 Guide to Practice; student evaluation kit
 Conference and seminar fees
 PT journal (now online providing free
access to other journals/articles)
 Scholarship opportunities
Saves You Money
 Career starter dues for New Professionals
 Pay only 50% of your dues following graduation!
 High quality insurance plans and financial programs
 Great student health insurance programs
Professional Development
 Build leadership skills
 Professional duty
 Advocacy
 Future career development
 Info on jobs, résumé
writing, interview tips,
 Gives you an edge 
being a member shows
potential employers your
pride and dedication to
this profession
Professional Development
 Focus your interests
 Special interest sections
 Post-professional education
 Seminars and conferences
 Residencies and
fellowships
Stay Up-To-Date
Member’s only APTA website
PTJ and PTmagazine
PT Bulletin online
Student Assembly Pulse
Student e-news
Emerging PT practice
information
 Evidence based patient care
 Open Door
 Hooked on Evidence
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Networking
 Attending Conferences
 Developing relationships with future colleagues
 Discussing issues important to students
 Clinical rotation sites
 Share ideas between schools  fundraising, community
health projects, research, mission work, etc.
HOW TO BECOME A
MEMBER
How to become a member
1. Go to www.apta.org
2. Click on the Membership and Leadership link on
the left information side-bar
3. Click on the Join APTA (or Renew) link on the left
information side-bar
4. Under “Prospective Members”, click on the Join
APTA link
5. Follow the application instructions after selecting
New Membership
Take Ownership of Your Future…
Choose APTA!