APTA CSM Student Volunteer Signup Coming Soon

APTA CSM will be held Feb. 4-6, 2027, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia. APTA will select 150 student volunteers and 75 waitlist volunteers to help make this event a success. Serving as a student volunteer is a meaningful way to get more involved at APTA CSM, support the attendee experience, and still take part in the education and networking opportunities that make the conference valuable.

If you're interested in getting involved, mark your calendars. The student volunteer sign-up portal will open on Sept. 23 and will close Oct. 21, or once all positions are filled. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this experience!

Volunteers will be chosen by way of a random lottery system. You will either be selected as a volunteer or placed on the waitlist. This new process helps remove barriers from the signup experience and gives every eligible student a fair chance to participate, making volunteer selection more equitable and accessible.

Volunteer Responsibilities

• Using Discord for volunteer communications
• Assisting attendees with RFID badge scanning and the APTA CSM app
• Monitoring session rooms and room capacity
• Providing wayfinding assistance
• Supporting registration and poster check-in
• Assisting APTA staff as needed

Student Volunteer Coordinators

(3 positions)

• Student Volunteer Coordinators support volunteer communication, fill open shifts, assist with venue operations, and help distribute volunteer shirts

Waitlist Volunteers

• Are prepared to replace a volunteer if needed, sometimes with limited notice
• Attend the required training session
• Serve for the full conference if activated

Time Commitment

• Attend the required virtual training session on Jan. 27, 2027, at 7 p.m. ET
• Volunteers must be able to volunteer Feb. 4-6, 2027. Volunteer shifts will primarily occur between 7:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Feb. 4-6, with some assignments potentially available on Feb. 3
• Volunteers must sign up for at least two session shifts per day and should only select shifts they can fully attend

Volunteer Benefits

• Up to $210 reimbursement of the early-bird registration fee after the conference
• Official APTA CSM volunteer T-shirt
• Networking opportunities with more than 16,000 physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students
• Valuable experience supporting APTA's largest conference

Eligibility

• Must be an active APTA student member
• Must be registered for APTA CSM before submitting a volunteer application.
• Must provide a registration confirmation number during sign-up.

Application Process

• Review volunteer responsibilities above
• Register for APTA CSM
• Complete the volunteer sign-up process beginning Sept. 23, 2026
• Watch for notification of volunteer or waitlist status by Oct. 26, 2026

Key Dates

• 23: Student volunteer signup portal open
• 21: Student volunteer signup portal closes (or earlier if capacity is reached)
• 26: Status notifications sent
• 4: APTA CSM early-bird registration deadline
• 27, 2027: Volunteer training
• 4-6, 2027: APTA CSM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania