PTA Feeling Stuck? Here's What Expansion Actually Looks Like

What if your Physical Therapist Assistant career didn’t stop at the clinic door? In this episode of PTA+, Katie sits down with Sara Conrad, PTA, ART to talk licensure boards, ethics, leadership, student mentorship, and how PTAs can build real influence beyond day-to-day patient care.

Sara shares how she went from a nonlinear start to serving on the Minnesota Board of Physical Therapy, volunteering with FSBPT, and developing elite clinical skills (including Active Release Technique). If you’ve ever felt stuck, invisible, or unsure where you fit—this one is your roadmap.

Chapters / Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome + why this episode matters
00:50 – Meet Sara Conrad (Twin Cities Orthopedics)
01:45 – Nonlinear path: journalism, athletics, nursing assistant work
05:45 – “I didn’t even know PTA was a thing” + choosing PTA school
10:20 – Licensure board vs. association work
15:30 – LIFE Conference + how FSBPT opportunities opened up
16:35 – Ethics & Legislation Committee work + why it matters
18:25 – The “half vote” era + big PTA progress in leadership
25:35 – ART certification + building clinical expertise
29:00 – Mentoring students + what great clinical instruction looks like
33:35 – First steps if boards/ethics/leadership feels intimidating
35:45 – Athlete perspective + relating to runners in rehab
39:10 – Paradis Sport feature + “clinic + beyond” identity
44:35 – Game: “Clinic or Beyond?” (speed round)
49:00 – New unified ethics document (effective Jan 1, 2026)
50:35 – The “plus point”: what’s actually possible for PTAs
54:40 – Wrap-up + encouragement to step forward