Which of the following actions is not authorized for a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)?

Interpreting physician referrals is an action that is not authorized for a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA). The role of a PTA is to work under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist and to assist in implementing treatment plans established by the therapist. This typically includes providing hands-on care and participating in established treatment protocols.

While PTAs are well-trained and capable of performing many tasks—including documenting patient progress, assisting during physical evaluations, and applying therapeutic modalities—they do not have the authority to interpret referrals from physicians. This is because interpreting medical referrals involves making clinical judgments about the patient’s condition, which is a responsibility that falls exclusively to licensed physical therapists. By restricting this function to physical therapists, the scope of practice is maintained, ensuring that patient care decisions are made by those with the requisite comprehensive training and licensure in clinical assessment and evaluation.