The Loop represents a movement of students who are finding their interests, getting involved, and getting informed about the challenges and opportunities facing physical therapy.
Get Involved!
There are many ways to get more involved with APTA at the national or local level.
National Involvement
Join APTA
Why: Learn about and participate in the newest issues, efforts, and research. Meet new friends and make valuable contacts. Explore practice settings and focus areas. Save money (discounts on conferences and more!). Find the right job. Join the association that will support you throughout your career!
Who can join: Any student enrolled full time at an accredited PT/PTA program. National dues are $80 per year for student national dues, required chapter dues (cost varies by state), and optional dues for section membership.
How to get involved: Learn more about membership and join APTA!
Run for a Seat on APTA's Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD)
Why: All APTA student members make up the "Student Assembly," which is represented by the Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD). Learn firsthand how APTA functions, demonstrate your leadership potential, and work with the leaders of APTA staff and Board of Directors! Plus, it's FUN!
Who should run: Nominees should possess leadership skills, decision-making skills, perceptions of future development of physical therapy, and the ability to think and express self clearly. Nominees should also have past experience in leadership positions, which can include but is not exclusive of involvement within their program, at the state level, or within the Student Assembly (core ambassador, Project Committee, etc).
How to get involved: Elections are held annually at APTA's National Student Conclave. Contact your Student Assembly Nominating Committee chair, Danielle Barnes.
Join an SABoD Project Committees (PC)
Why: Be a national leader in an area of your interest, work to connect students with the most up-to-date resources, and work closely with the Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD). Composed of 1 student chair and 5-10 student members, Project Committees assist the SABoD in fulfilling their responsibilities for the Student Assembly.
Who should apply: PC chairs should have some knowledge of APTA and Student Assembly structure, strong past leadership experience, and the desire to lead a group of highly involved students. PC members may be new to the Student Assembly, but they should have a strong desire to further their involvement and create something special for their fellow students.
How to get involved: Applications for PC chairs are distributed each December. Contact a SABoD member to learn more about each project committee.
Be a Core Ambassador (CA)
Why: Core Ambassadors (CAs) are the primary link between all enrolled students in each state and the Student Assembly Board of Directors (SABoD). Be the leading student representative within your state and, working closely with the SABoD, be instrumental in connecting students within your state to national resources.
Who should apply: CAs should have the desire to get to know the DPT/PTA programs within their state, have some experience with APTA structure and events, and have strong communication skills. Review the Core Ambassador responsibilities (.pdf).
How to get involved: Terms begin at APTA's annual June conference and last for 1 year. For more information, contact your Student Assembly vice president, Leiselle Pilgrim.
Join an APTA Section
Why: APTA's 18 specialty sections give you the resources that you need to stay current in your area of expertise and connect with others sharing your specific interests. When you register for APTA, you will have the option to register for a section and pay the corresponding dues—you will be pleasantly surprised by the special student rates!
Who can join: Any student member of APTA. Dues rates are specific to each section.
How to get involved: Join a section when you join APTA, or learn more here.
Join Your State Chapter
Why: APTA has a chapter for every state. Chapters guide the advocacy activities for each state and provide you with the resources to maximize your learning experience.
Who can join: Any student member of APTA. Students whose primary residence is in a different state than their school may choose either location. Be aware that your chapter may be split into districts or regions, depending on the size of your state. Dues rates are specific to each chapter.
How to get involved: Join a chapter when you join APTA, or learn more here.
Serve as a Student Usher for APTA's June Conference
Why: Ushers are assigned to certain programming rooms to scan badges for CEU credit, monitor capacities, and direct people where to go. If you are new to conferences or APTA activities, this is an easy way to get involved! Make friends with other students, learn about how conferences are run, and get registration reimbursed in the process!
Who should apply: Anyone can be an usher—from the most experienced students to new conference attendees.
How to get involved: Look for e-mails from APTA about applications a few months before the conference, or check the APTA Conference webpage for more information.
Serve as a Student Usher for APTA's House of Delegates at APTA's June Conference
Why: Student ushers monitor entrances to the House of Delegates (House) and provide delegates with needed materials. During House sessions, ushers run messages and motions between delegates and the House officers. Get a first-hand look at APTA's chief policymaking body and learn from dedicated and experienced physical therapists as they set professional standards.
Who should apply: Student ushers should be quick, efficient, and attentive to be able to keep up!
How to get involved: Applications are accepted from late January to early March. To submit an application or request more information, send an e-mail to executive@apta.org.
Submit an Article to the Student Assembly Pulse Online Newsletter
Why: The Student Assembly Pulse is written for students, by students, and covers a variety of topics. Let your voice be heard! Here is your opportunity to write an article for all PT/PTA students across the nation! Share your ideas, let other students know about a special activity at your program, or raise your concerns about an important topic related to governance or student involvement.
Who should submit an article: Any student can submit an article for the Pulse!
How to get involved: Contact your Student Assembly director, Matt DeBole.
Intern at APTA
Why: APTA offers a variety of internship opportunities in the Communications, Government and Payment Advocacy, and Practice and Education Units. Each opportunity is unique and may be customized to incorporate your particular interests and skills. Get an all-access pass to the inner workings of APTA! Learn about an area of interest with the best and brightest minds on APTA staff.
Who should apply: For those who want to get more involved with APTA and work with staff daily, this is the perfect opportunity!
How to get involved: Access the Internship Opportunities resource on the APTA Jobs webpage, or contact APTA's human resources department.
National Conferences
Combined Sections Meeting (CSM)
Why: A collaborative effort between APTA and the 18 specialty sections, the Combined Sections Meeting (CSM), brings together more than 8,000 PTs, PTAs, and students for 3 days of section-designed programming each January or February. Attending CSM a great way for students to explore different areas of interest and network with the most well-known experts in different specialties from all over the nation. CSM also has an exhibit hall teeming with attendees who make or influence purchasing decisions in their practice settings.
Who should attend: Anyone!
How to get involved: Go to the CSM website for more information, and browse future conference dates and locations.
Federal Advocacy Forum (FAF)
Why: The Federal Advocacy Forum (FAF), held annually each spring, allows you to walk the halls of Congress and advocate for the profession of physical therapy and the patients it serves. At FAF, you will hear from decision-makers on Capitol Hill, learn to communicate effectively with your elected officials, receive updates on APTA's legislative and regulatory activities, and then take your message directly to your members of Congress. Most importantly, members of Congress LOVE hearing from students and actively listen!
Who should attend: Anyone!
How to get involved: Contact your state chapter or sections to see if they are sponsoring students to attend the forum. Go to the Federal Affairs Forum webpage for more information.
APTA Conference
Why: APTA Conference, held annually each June, offers more than 90 educational programs and 14 tracks over 3 days, including popular signature events like the McMillan and Maley Lectures, the Oxford Debate, and a keynote address. Join your peers in connecting with the most recognized experts in your area of interest! Develop your professional network while learning about the latest and greatest research, technology, and issues facing physical therapy.
Who should attend: Anyone!
How to get involved: Go to the APTA Conference website for more information, and browse future conference dates and locations. Want to attend Conference for free? See the student usher section earlier on this page.
National Student Conclave (NSC)
Why: National Student Conclave (NSC) is a student-only national conference that has relevant programming for every year in PT/PTA school as well as many activities for social interaction with your fellow students and mentors. Aside from it being an extraordinary amount of fun and the most applicable to student life, NSC provides students with the opportunity to explore different practice areas and career pathways, develop a network of future colleagues, find job opportunities, and view the latest technology!
Who should attend: Anyone!
How to get involved: Go to the NSC website for more information, and browse future conference dates and locations.
Section and Chapter Conferences
Many APTA sections and chapters host their own annual conferences. Contact your chapter and/or section leadership or view their websites for more information!
Student Initiatives
NSC Student Assembly Challenge
Why: Every year at National Student Conclave (NSC), PT and PTA programs from different regions compete to see which program has the highest percentage of student attendees at NSC. How well does your school represent? Participating programs are honored at NSC and mentioned in the Pulse. If that doesn't convince you, there also are special prizes for the winning school!
Who should participate: Each program needs 1 representative to report their program's total percentage of attendees. Poll your class, fill out the information form, and submit at the appropriate time!
How to get involved: Go to the NSC Student Assembly Challenge webpage for more information.
Reach100 Student Membership Challenge
Why: In the Reach100 challenge, all student programs compete to see if they can reach 100% APTA membership. Demonstrate your program's commitment to the profession of physical therapy by its membership percentage. Also, qualify to win a variety of prizes such as an iPad, an iPad Mini, or a $250 Amazon.com gift card!
Who should participate: Anyone!
How to get involved: Go to the Reach100 webpage and submit an application with a list of all the student members in your program. APTA will do the rest.
Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge
Why: The annual Pittsburgh-Marquette Challenge is a nationwide competition between PT and PTA programs to raise money for physical therapy research, coordinated and executed exclusively by DPT and PTA students across the country. Participants in competing programs raise money in a variety of ways, including bake sales, car washes, golf tournaments, and more. You are fundraising for physical therapy research! All money raised through the Challenge provides research grants, fellowships, and doctoral scholarships to support the physical therapy profession. In addition, schools participating in the Challenge receive recognition, and student representatives are eligible to win various prizes. Each year, the competition is renamed in honor of the previous year's winner.
Who should participate: Anyone!
How to get involved: Check with your program to see if you currently have a challenge coordinator (each program needs 1 coordinator). Then either become the coordinator or contribute to the fundraising! Learn more about the Challenge on the Foundation for Physical Therapy's website.
Log 'N Blog for Physical Therapy Research
Why: The Log 'N Blog is a new effort that enables students, faculty, and members of the community to collectively raise funds for physical therapy research. Built around the concept of training for a triathlon, physical therapy programs will form teams, and team members will log the number of miles they each swim, bike, and run on the Log 'N Blog website. You will be in great shape after running, swimming, and cycling all those miles! In addition, the top performing individuals in the swim, bike, run, and fundraising categories will receive swag bags and bragging rights. The top performing teams in the same categories will receive recognition for their efforts by the Foundation for Physical Therapy.
Who should participate: Anyone!
How to get involved: Check with your program to see if you have a team captain. Join the team (or become its captain) and start logging swimming, cycling, and running miles! Then recruit others to join: family, friends, coworkers, or other physical therapy supporters. Learn more at the Log 'N Blog or Foundation for Physical Therapy websites.
Advocacy
Advocate on Capitol Hill
See the Federal Advocacy Forum (FAF) listing under the National Conferences section above.
Send an e-mail to Congress
Why: Be part of the movement to make progress on issues important to our profession, such as student loan repayment, therapy caps, concussion management, and multiple payment procedure reduction (MPPR). Every e-mail helps!
Who should take action: Anyone! We need everyone's help if we hope to effectively advocate for our profession, and sending an e-mail takes 2 minutes, max!
How to get involved: Members should login to the Legislative Action Center, which allows you to select from a list of APTA's current issues and contact your members of Congress. Nonmembers and the public and take action via the Patient Legislative Action Center.
Join PTeam
Why: A grassroots program that fights for the profession of physical therapy on Capitol Hill, PTeam sends its members a newsletter, action alerts, and information bulletins regarding our progress on various legislative and regulatory initiatives. Be a part of the grassroots organization to effectively lobby congress on issues facing the physical therapy profession. This group is extremely informed, aware, and active!
Who should join: All APTA members are eligible to join PTeam for free. If you are interested in or passionate about advocacy, this is the right team for you!
How to get involved: Go to the PTeam webpage and sign up. All it takes is the click of a button!
Student Advocacy Challenge
Why: In the Student Advocacy Challenge, students from PT and PTA programs across the country compete by participating in advocacy activities, documenting their experiences, and submitting the records to APTA's grassroots advocacy department. Each year, the winning academic program is honored with the opportunity to select an individual from APTA staff or the APTA Board of Directors to speak at their school.
Who should participate: Anyone!
How to get involved: Go to the Student Advocacy Challenge webpage to learn how to get involved.
Become a PT-PAC Student Star!
Why: PT-PAC is the sole fundraising organization that allows the physical therapy profession to channel its financial and grassroots support to help elect candidates to Congress who are responsive to the physical therapy profession's goals and viewpoints. The Student Stars Club allows students to be recognized for their contributions to the PT-PAC. Make a statement to your classmates, professors, and clinical instructors! Show that you are aware and concerned about political issues that involve physical therapy and that you are willing to put in a little more effort to help that cause. You also will receive a Student Stars pin (which is great to wear during conferences), and your name will be published in APTA's PT in Motion magazine.
Who should participate: You must be an APTA member to donate to PT-PAC and become a Student Star.
How to get involved: Contribute at least $20 in a calendar year to PT-PAC. Go to the PT-PAC Student Stars Club webpage to learn more.
Get Informed
Learn more about the issues facing physical therapy, and act in support of the profession through legislative means by visiting APTA's Take Action webpage.
Get in The Loop!
Thank you for taking the time to read through our many opportunities! We look forward to seeing you involved and thank you for your service to APTA!
Are we missing anything? If so, please contact your Student Assembly secretary.