Who is responsible for all actions and duties of a PT student?

Who is responsible for all actions and duties of a PT student?

• A. PT clinical instructor is responsible for all actions and duties of the student
• B. PT may supervise both PT and PTA students
• C. PTA may supervise PTA students
• D. PTA may supervise PT students

Answer: (A)

The key idea is supervision and accountability in clinical education. A PT student is directly supervised by a licensed physical therapist designated as the clinical instructor. This clinician oversees the student’s patient care, ensures safety and adherence to professional standards, and is legally responsible for the student’s actions and duties during the clinical rotation. That makes the PT clinical instructor the person who bears ultimate responsibility for everything the student does while in that setting. The other options don’t fit because supervision of PT students isn’t attributed to a PTA or to a general PT in a non-designated role, and PTA-to-PT student supervision isn’t the standard arrangement for clinical accountability.

The key idea is supervision and accountability in clinical education. A PT student is directly supervised by a licensed physical therapist designated as the clinical instructor. This clinician oversees the student’s patient care, ensures safety and adherence to professional standards, and is legally responsible for the student’s actions and duties during the clinical rotation. That makes the PT clinical instructor the person who bears ultimate responsibility for everything the student does while in that setting.

The other options don’t fit because supervision of PT students isn’t attributed to a PTA or to a general PT in a non-designated role, and PTA-to-PT student supervision isn’t the standard arrangement for clinical accountability.