About the Department

Erie County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and committed to workplace diversity.

Residence Requirements:

RESIDENCE REQUIREMENTS: THERE ARE NO RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR PARTICIPATION IN THIS EXAMINATION. Preference may be given to successful candidates who have been residents of the municipality or school district in which the appointment is to be made for one month preceding the date of the certification of the eligible list and who are residents of the municipality at the time of appointment. Non-residents may be required to become a resident of the appointing municipality if local law so states.

If you pass the examination, your name will appear on the continuous eligible list for one year. After one year, your name will be removed from the list. You may apply for retest at six month intervals.

The eligible list will be used to fill vacancies at the Erie County Medical Center ($45,705 - $55,579 annually) and Erie County School Districts. Salaries vary among the School Districts.

Position Duties

A Physical Therapist Assistant assists in administration of physical therapy treatments to patients as prescribed by a physician; 
Assists the physical therapist in carrying out complex procedures and programs; 
Performs treatment procedures in accordance with t he planned program; 
Assists with the administration of skilled treatment procedures including, cervical and lumbar traction, hydrotherapy, ultrasound, hot packs and electric stimulation; 
Administers massage, muscle training and coordination, corrective exercises, goniometry and gait training; 
Maintains patient records and observes patient responses for treatments; 
Supervision and modification of specific treatment procedures in accordance with changes in patient status; 
Trains and assists patients in use of supportive or assistive devices, prostheses and other ambulation aids and all exercise equipment; 
Maintains equipment and work areas in clean, orderly condition; 
Maintains documentation and communication of treatments within medical record. 
A medical examination may be required before appointment. 

Minimum Qualifications

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 
Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma, supplemented by completion of a two year college program for Physical Therapist Assistants recognized by the American Physical Therapy Association.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENT:
Certification as a Physical Therapist Assistant or eligibility for certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant in New York State.

Other Qualifications

Subjects of Examination:

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: The only subject of examination will be an evaluation of your training and experience. You are therefore, asked to include in your application a summary of all pertinent training and experience in sufficient detail so that your background may be evaluated against the duties of the position.

In your summary of training include all college course work, formal in-service training, and seminars you have attended. You must specify either the number of credits received or the number of contact hours and dates of attendance. Also include a copy of your professional license. Specify the date that your license was first issued.

In your summary of experience, you must specify the dates of your employment, the number of hours worked per week, your title, and the main duties for each. Be specific; vagueness and ambiguity will NOT be resolved in your favor. Candidates who submit incomplete applications or documentation may be disqualified.

Notes:

HOW TO APPLY: Either online by clicking "Apply" on the top right of the online exam announcement or by printing a paper application from erie.gov, Erie County Application for Examination or Appointment (Download PDF reader), or if you do not have internet access you may pick up an application form at the Erie County Personnel Department, 95 Franklin Street, Room 604, Buffalo, New York 14202. Forms are also available at Buffalo and Erie County Public Libraries and at Town, Village and School District administrative offices.

Completed forms should then be returned to the Erie County Personnel Department. In addition, candidates must request their colleges to send transcripts to the Erie County Personnel Department or attach transcripts to your application. No applications will be evaluated until all the above information, including transcripts, is received.

MILITARY STATUS: If you expect to enter military service, you may still compete in this examination and may be appointed or reinstated after you return home from active duty.

VERIFICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates may be investigated or called for an interview to determine whether they qualified for appointment. In addition to meeting specific requirements, candidates and appointees must be of good moral character and habits.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: Candidates may be subject to a thorough background investigation to determine suitability for appointment. Applicants may be required to authorize access to educational, employment, criminal history and other records check as part of such investigation. Criminal convictions or other offense are subject to evaluation and may result in disqualification. Applicant will be required to submit the necessary fees for the fingerprint processing, where required.

VETERANS: Disabled and non-disabled veterans as defined in Section 85, New York State Civil Service Law, will have 5 and 2.5 points, respectively, added to their earned scores if successful in the examination. You should claim these credits when you file application but you have an option to waive them any time prior to appointment. If you have already used these credits you may not claim them again. Children of firefighters or police officers killed in the line of duty may also be eligible for additional credit. Contact the Erie County Personnel Dept. for more information.

This examination is prepared by the New York State Department of Civil Service and held in compliance with the New York State Civil Service Law and the rules and regulations of the New York State Department of Civil Service.

**IMPORTANT APPLICATION FEE - READ CAREFULLY**

A $15.00 filing fee is required for this exam. If applying online the payment process will be outlined. When submitting by mail or hand delivering, the required fee must accompany your application. Send or bring check or money order made payable to Erie County Personnel Department and write the examination number(s) on your check or money order. Do not send or bring cash, as the County cannot be responsible for cash payment. As no refund will be made, you are urged to compare your qualifications carefully with the requirements for admission and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER: A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household. In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Public Assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families/Family Assistance or Safety Net Assistance) or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.

All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification. If you can verify eligibility for application fee waiver, complete a Request for Application Fee Waiver and Certification form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Application Deadline as listed on the Examination Announcement.