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Volunteering helps you make connections while making a difference.
Volunteering with APTA is a great way to learn, grow, and make a difference in your association.
Whether you’re looking for a short- or long-term volunteer opportunity, informal or formal, local or national, APTA has something for you. APTA and our components post volunteer opportunities for a variety of needs year-round.
Volunteering Starts Here
Explore the platforms where you can discover volunteer opportunities, share your interests, and apply for roles that match your goals and availability.
APTA Engage is your go-to spot for volunteer opportunities.
To start your volunteer journey, opt in and provide your volunteer interests on your APTA Community profile so we can notify you when opportunities become available. You can also browse available opportunities and apply for any that catch your interest. Each year, we will post the Call for Volunteer applications for Member Engagement Group leadership on this platform.
New opportunities are added throughout the year. Opportunities vary in duration, level of commitment, and area of interest.
APTA Achieve is APTA's application and review platform.
This is where you'll find volunteer opportunities that are longer in duration and involve more advanced work and responsibility. Current offerings on APTA Achieve are the Call for Volunteers applications for the Board-Appointed Groups, Association Leadership Scholars, and APTA Honors & Awards Program. These applications are open per their specific program application cycle dates.
Volunteer Pathways
Whether you’re looking to connect, lead, or lend your expertise, APTA has opportunities that match your interests, experience, and goals.
The APTA Community is your home for professional connection and growth. As a member, you have access to open forums where you can engage with others, share insights, and learn from your peers. If you hold a specific volunteer role, you can tap into dedicated volunteer communities, where you can learn, discuss relevant topics, and access valuable resources that will help you advance your work.
APTA Member Engagement Groups, or MEGs, include councils, networks, societies, and collaborations that offer members a more structured way to connect with one another, share information, and advance the profession. MEGs offer members opportunities to explore APTA and interact with our community.
Volunteer groups appointed by the APTA Board of Directors include committees, task forces, and technical advisory groups.
Committees help inform the Board's decision-making on strategies, priorities, and core functions. Task forces are established by the APTA Board of Directors to accomplish a specific objective or task for a limited time. Technical Advisory Groups are established by the APTA Board of Directors to offer subject-matter expertise and strategic insight into specific topics or areas of interest.
The Board typically seeks volunteers for these group types each summer for terms that begin the following year. It also recruits volunteers for task forces and technical advisory groups throughout the year, as needed.
Board-Appointed Standing Committees (3-year terms)
- Audit Committee
- Bylaws and House Documents Committee
- Elections Committee
- Ethics and Judicial Committee
- Finance Committee
- Magazine Editorial Committee
- Membership and Belonging Committee
- Public Policy and Advocacy Committee
- Reference Committee
- Scientific and Practice Affairs Committee
Honors & Awards Subcommittees (2-year terms)
- Subcommittee on Advocacy Awards
- Subcommittee on Catherine Worthingham Fellows
- Subcommittee on Education Awards
- Subcommittee on Lecture Awards
- Subcommittee on Practice and Service Awards
- Subcommittee on Publications Awards
- Subcommittee on Research Awards
- Subcommittee on Scholarship Awards
Task Forces (1+ year term) and Technical Advisory Groups (1-6 month term)
- Evolving Practice Models Technical Advisory Group
- Future of Meetings Task Force
- Payment Reform Task Force
- Public and Consumer Relations Task Force
- Use of Artificial and Augmented Technology in Physical Therapy Task Force
Other Board-Appointed Volunteer Opportunities
Helping Our Volunteers Thrive
APTA supports our volunteers throughout their leadership journey by fostering connection and empowering community.
APTA volunteers lead with purpose — giving back to the profession by sharing their knowledge, expertise, and time while making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond. Whether you’re new to volunteering or have years of experience, every contribution matters. Volunteers inspire others, challenge the status quo, and help move the profession forward in thoughtful, innovative ways.
Our culture is rooted in connection, inclusion, and growth. We value diverse perspectives, encourage volunteers to support and learn from one another, and create space for everyone to contribute at a level that fits their time and talents. In return, you’ll gain a sense of belonging, opportunities to grow as a leader, and the chance to help raise the bar for the profession.
If you have questions or want to learn more about volunteering with APTA, please contact us.