State of Maryland

A Physical Therapist I is the intermediate level of work providing physical therapy treatments to mentally ill, aged, physically ill, physically disabled or developmentally disabled clients in community-based programs in clinic, school or home settings.  The work of this classification includes responsibility for the assessment, planning and implementation of clients' physical therapy treatments.  Employees in this classification do not supervise professional therapy staff but may supervise therapy assistants and lower-level support staff.  

Employees in this classification receive moderate supervision from a Physical Therapist Supervisor or other licensed healthcare professional.  Employees may be assigned to day, evening, night or rotating shifts which may include holidays and weekends.  Employees may be subject to call-in and overtime based on staffing needs.  Employees are required to observe infection control precautions in order to prevent contamination and spread of disease.  Employees may be required to physically restrain clients displaying violent and aggressive behavior.  The work of the classification may require lifting and positioning non‑ambulatory clients and lifting wheelchairs and other heavy equipment.  The work may require long periods of standing, walking, bending and reaching.  

Positions in this classification are evaluated using the classification job evaluation methodology.  The use of this method involves comparing the assigned duties and responsibilities of a position to the job criteria found in the Nature of Work and Examples of Work sections of a class specification.  

The Physical Therapist I and the Physical Therapist II are differentiated on the basis of degree of supervisory control exercised by the supervisor over these employees.  The Physical Therapist I performs duties in a community-based program under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.  The Physical Therapist II performs the full range of duties and responsibilities in a State inpatient, residential or vocational rehabilitation treatment facility or community-based program under general supervision.  The Physical Therapist I is differentiated from the Physical Therapist Institutional in that the Physical Therapist Institutional performs duties in a State residential treatment facility under close supervision at times and under general supervision at other times depending on the complexity of the specific duty being performed.

Administers physical therapy treatment to clients in community-based programs;

Teaches home physical therapy programs to clients and their families and assists them in planning equipment for home use;

Studies, observes and records the reactions and progress of clients;

Evaluates assigned clients in order to determine appropriate treatment;

Develops and modifies physical therapy programs based upon the needs of clients;

Constructs and modifies adaptive devices;

Treats clients with a variety of physical therapy modalities, such as hydrotherapy, ultrasound, therapeutic heat, electrotherapy, and cryotherapy;

Fits, adapts and instructs clients in the use of orthotic and prosthetic devices;

Completes evaluation, progress and statistical reports concerning client progress;

Performs other related duties.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of physical therapy;

Knowledge of the use and care of physical therapy equipment;

Knowledge of human anatomy, physiology and kinesiology;

Knowledge of diseases and disabilities and their etiology, pathology, complications and prognosis;

Knowledge of medical, surgical, psychological and educational procedures used in the physical therapy treatment of clients;

Knowledge of medications and their side effects;

Skill in instructing clients in therapeutic modalities; Skill in recognizing changes in client progress;

Skill in adapting treatment to client needs;

Skill in motivating clients;

Skill in using and caring for physical therapy equipment;

Skill in fitting and adapting prosthetic and orthotic devices to the specific need of the client;

Ability to plan, organize and direct physical therapy treatments;

Ability to prepare and maintain reports;

Ability to communicate effectively with clients, staff and the public.

Education:   Determined by the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners under the licensing requirements for Physical Therapists.

Experience: None.

1. Candidates for positions in this classification must possess a current license as a Physical Therapist from the Maryland State Board of Physical Therapy Examiners, 4140 Patterson Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21215.

2. Employees in this classification may be required to successfully complete and maintain current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training.

3. Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

1. Employees in this classification will be required to provide the employer with a phone number where they can be reached.

2. Employees in this classification are subject to substance abuse testing in accordance with Code of Maryland Regulations 17.04.09, Testing for Illegal Use of Drugs.

Class specifications are broad descriptions covering groups of positions used by various State departments and agencies. Position descriptions maintained by the using department or agency specifically address the essential job functions of each position.

This is a Professional Service classification in the State Personnel Management System.  All positions in this classification are Professional Service positions.  Some positions in Professional Service classifications may be designated Special Appointment in accordance with the State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 6-405, Annotated Code of Maryland.  

This classification is assigned to Bargaining Unit E, Health Care Professional classes.  As provided by State Personnel and Pensions Article, Section 3-102, special appointment, temporary, contractual, supervisory, managerial and confidential employees are excluded from collective bargaining.  Additionally, certain executive branch agencies are exempt from collective bargaining and all positions in those agencies are excluded from collective bargaining.  

This classification is one level in a Non-Competitive Promotion (NCP) series.  NCP promotions are promotions by which employees may advance in grade and class level from trainee to full performance levels in a classification series.  In order to be non-competitively promoted to the next level in a NCP series an employee must:  1.) perform the main purpose of the class as defined in the Nature of Work section of the class specification; 2.)  receive the type of supervision defined in the class specification, and 3.) meet the minimum qualifications of the classification.