APTA Learning Center

Your Access to Trusted Continuing Education

Uncle Sam Wants You! Physical Therapist Careers in Uniform and as a Civilian with the Military and Public Health Service

  • Register
    • Non-Member - $99
    • PT Member - $49
    • PTA Member - $49
    • Student - $49
    • Post-Professional Student - $49
    • Staff - Free!
    • *Further discounts may apply once you log in.

This one- hour class sponsored by APTA North Carolina will introduce physical therapists (PT), physical therapist assistants (PTA), and PT/PTA students  to career opportunities in the military and the Public Health Service, both in uniform and out of uniform.  The class will introduce a brief history of Army physical therapy and its meaning for our profession at large.  In addition, the class will explain PTA and PT career opportunities, scope of practice between uniformed PT services and their civilian counterpart, different types of uniformed settings, and the options for serving uniformed patients as a civilian who works in a uniformed setting.  Learn if you’re a good fit!

Learning Objectives: At the end of this one-hour presentation, attendees will be able to:

  1. Describe the intertwined history of Army PT services and the physical therapy profession at large.
  2. Differentiate the variety of types of uniformed services where PTs and PTAs can serve.
  3. Understand the scope of practice of PTs in uniform and civilian PTs who work with the military as it sometimes differs from state scopes of practice.
  4. Weigh the pros and cons of uniformed service for PTs and PTAs.
  5. Find more information and resources about PT and PTA careers in uniform and as a civilian working with uniformed personnel.

Dr. Mary C. (Mary Kay) Hannah

Assistant Professor, Elon University DPTE

Dr. Mary C. (Mary Kay) Hannah graduated from the US Army-Baylor University Graduate Program with a Masters in PT in 2001 and later earned the DPT through Baylor University.  She practiced as an Army PT at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Womack Army Medical Center at Fort Bragg, and with the 82nd Airborne Division in Afghanistan.  After 23 years, Mary Kay retired from the Army and went on to practice orthopedic and sports in a non-insurance setting in North Carolina.  Dr. Hannah is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Sports Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Physical Therapy.  She has been teaching in the musculoskeletal curriculum at the Elon University DPT program since 2017.  In addition, Mary Kay teaches CEU courses on dry needling with Double E Education LLC; served 11 years as a Delegate to the APTA's House of Delegates; and is currently in her second term as President of APTA North Carolina.

Course Instructions

  1. Click on the Contents tab to watch the course recording.
  2. Click the Take Quiz button to complete the assessment. Learners will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer at least 70% of questions correctly.
  3. Click Fill Out Survey under the Evaluation listing to provide valuable course feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
  4. Click the View/Print Your Certificate button under the Certificate listing. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the APTA Learning Center and clicking the CEU Certificate/Transcript link on the left-hand side of the page. 

Need Assistance?

For assistance logging in, accessing activities, claiming credit, or for other questions or concerns, please e-mail learningcenter@apta.org. 

Key:

Complete
Failed
Available
Locked
Video
Open to view video.  |  55 minutes
Open to view video.  |  55 minutes
Assessment
11 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  8/11 points to pass
11 Questions  |  3 attempts  |  8/11 points to pass Please complete the Assessment with a score of 70% or better. You have three attempts to obtain a passing score.
Evaluation
12 Questions
12 Questions Your comments are important to us! Submit your feedback about the course through this evaluation.
Certificate
Up to 0.10 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
Up to 0.10 contact hours available  |  Certificate available
;