Education:
84%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
15%
Bachelor's Degree
Physical Therapist Assistants
This is a sub-career of
Physical Therapist Assistant or Aide
More sub-careers
Select a specialized sub-career for more details.
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Job Outlook:
Much faster than average
Education:
Associate's degree
Salary
High:
$85,230.00
Average:
$64,510.00
Hourly
Average:
$31.01
What they do:
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
On the job, you would:
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
Important Qualities
Compassion. Physical therapist assistants and aides should enjoy helping people. They work with people who are in pain and must have empathy to help their patients.
Detail oriented. Physical therapist assistants and aides should be organized, keep accurate records, and follow written and verbal instructions carefully to ensure quality care.
Dexterity. Physical therapist assistants should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises. Aides should also be comfortable working with their hands to set up equipment and prepare treatment areas.
Interpersonal skills. Physical therapist assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients, their families, and other healthcare practitioners; therefore, they should be courteous and friendly.
Physical stamina. Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they work with their patients. They must often kneel, stoop, bend, and stand for long periods.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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95% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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95% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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91% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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90% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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88% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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86% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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84% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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81% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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80% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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79% | Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job. | |
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77% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. | |
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69% | Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems. | |
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68% | Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems. | |
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65% | Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction. | |
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65% | Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles. | |
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65% | Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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95% | Social - Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities. | |
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72% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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95% | Relationships - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to provide service to others and work with co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment. Corresponding needs are Co-workers, Moral Values and Social Service. | |
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67% | Working Conditions - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions. | |
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67% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. | |
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61% | Achievement - Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement. | |
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61% | Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. | |
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75% | Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. | |
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72% | Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you. | |
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72% | Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person. | |
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69% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. | |
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69% | Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing. | |
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69% | Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer). | |
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56% | Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted. | |
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56% | Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand. | |
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56% | Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense. | |
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56% | Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events). | |
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53% | Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects. | |
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53% | Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position. | |
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53% | Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations). |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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57% | Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. | |
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55% | Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively. | |
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55% | Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents. | |
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55% | Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action. | |
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55% | Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems. | |
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54% | Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do. | |
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54% | Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Prepare medical reports or documents.
Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.
Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Attend educational events to update medical knowledge.
Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
Engage patients in exercises or activities.
Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Fit patients for assistive devices.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
Monitor medical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.
Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Document client health or progress.
Record patient medical histories.
Engage patients in exercises or activities.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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99% | Physical Proximity - To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks in close physical proximity to other people? | |
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99% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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99% | Indoors, Environmentally Controlled - How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions? | |
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98% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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98% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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91% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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90% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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87% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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83% | Exposed to Disease or Infections - How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections? | |
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82% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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78% | Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job? | |
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77% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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73% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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71% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
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71% | Spend Time Standing - How much does this job require standing? | |
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65% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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65% | Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body? | |
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64% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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64% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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63% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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59% | Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements? | |
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59% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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57% | Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running? | |
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56% | Frequency of Conflict Situations - How often are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job? | |
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55% | Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job? | |
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55% | Letters and Memos - How often does the job require written letters and memos? |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients. | |
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98% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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95% | Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form. | |
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92% | Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials. | |
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91% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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91% | Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships - Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time. | |
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87% | Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests. | |
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82% | Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job. | |
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81% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. | |
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80% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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78% | Working with Computers - Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information. | |
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77% | Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems. | |
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68% | Developing and Building Teams - Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members. | |
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67% | Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things. | |
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67% | Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work. | |
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65% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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64% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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63% | Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used. | |
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63% | Thinking Creatively - Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions. | |
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63% | Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data. | |
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62% | Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people. | |
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60% | Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others. | |
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56% | Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail. | |
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56% | Coaching and Developing Others - Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills. | |
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54% | Analyzing Data or Information - Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts. | |
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54% | Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others - Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks. | |
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54% | Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others. | |
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53% | Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them. |
What Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides Do
Physical therapist assistants help patients do specific exercises as part of the plan of care.
Physical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses to regain movement and manage pain.
Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients.
Physical therapist aides often have tasks that are indirectly related to patient care, such as cleaning and setting up the treatment area, moving patients, and doing clerical duties.
Duties
Physical therapist assistants typically do the following:
- Observe patients before, during, and after therapy, noting the patient’s status and reporting it to a physical therapist
- Help patients do specific exercises as part of the plan of care
- Treat patients using a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching
- Use devices and equipment, such as walkers, to help patients
- Educate patients and family members about what to do after treatment
Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants treat patients through exercise, massage, gait and balance training, and other therapeutic interventions. They record patients’ progress and report the results of each treatment to the physical therapist.
Physical therapist aides typically do the following:
- Clean treatment areas and set up therapy equipment
- Wash linens
- Help patients move to or from a therapy area
- Do clerical tasks, such as answering phones and scheduling patients
Physical therapist aides are supervised by physical therapists or physical therapist assistants. The tasks that physical therapist aides are allowed to do vary by state. They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized, preparing for each patient’s therapy, and helping patients as needed in moving to or from a treatment area. In addition, aides do a variety of clerical tasks, such as ordering supplies, scheduling treatment sessions, and completing insurance forms.
Work Environment
Physical therapist aides held about 44,500 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of physical therapist aides were as follows:
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 64% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 18 |
| Offices of physicians | 10 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 2 |
| Government | 2 |
Physical therapist assistants held about 100,700 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of physical therapist assistants were as follows:
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 45% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 22 |
| Home healthcare services | 12 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 9 |
| Offices of physicians | 5 |
Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they set up equipment and help and treat patients. Because they must often lift and move patients, they are vulnerable to back injuries. Assistants and aides can limit these risks by using proper techniques when they work with patients.
Work Schedules
Most physical therapist assistants and aides work full time, although part time work is common. Some work nights and weekends because many physical therapy offices and clinics have extended hours to accommodate patients’ schedules.
Getting Started
How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant or Aide
Physical therapist assistants gain hands-on experience during supervised clinical work.
Physical therapist assistants entering the occupation typically need an associate’s degree from an accredited program and a license or certification. Physical therapist aides usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training.
Education and Training
All states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. Programs typically last about 2 years and include coursework in subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. Assistants also gain hands-on experience during supervised clinical work.
Physical therapist aides typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. They also usually need on-the-job training that can last from about one week to one month.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed or certified. Licensure typically requires graduation from an accredited physical therapist assistant program and passing the National Physical Therapy Exam for physical therapist assistants. The exam is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Some states require that applicants pass an exam on the state’s laws regulating the practice of physical therapy assistants, undergo a criminal background check, and be at least 18 years old. Physical therapist assistants also may need to take continuing education courses to keep their license. Check with your state board for specific licensing requirements.
Additionally, physical therapy assistants may earn certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), or other first-aid skills.
States do not require physical therapist aides to be licensed.
Job Outlook
Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 19 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 24,300 openings for physical therapist assistants and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Demand for physical therapy is expected to increase in response to the health needs of an aging population, particularly the large baby-boom generation. This group is staying more active later in life than previous generations did. However, many baby boomers also are entering the prime age for heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries, increasing the demand for physical therapy in rehabilitation.
In addition, more physical therapist assistants and aides will be needed to help patients maintain their mobility and manage the effects of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity.
Physical therapists are expected to rely on physical therapist assistants, particularly in long-term care environments, in order to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. This should contribute to employment growth of physical therapist assistants. However, restrictions in insurance reimbursement for services provided by physical therapist aides may constrain demand for this occupation.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about physical therapist assistants, visit
American Physical Therapy Association
For a list of schools offering accredited programs, visit
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
For more information about state licensing requirements and about the National Physical Therapy Exam, visit
Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of physical therapist assistants and aides.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Medical Assistants |
Medical assistants complete administrative and clinical tasks, such as scheduling appointments and taking patients’ vital signs. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $38,270 |
|
Nursing Assistants and Orderlies |
Nursing assistants provide basic care and help patients with activities of daily living. Orderlies transport patients and clean treatment areas. |
See How to Become One | $35,740 |
|
Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides |
Occupational therapy assistants and aides help patients develop, recover, improve, as well as maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. |
See How to Become One | $63,450 |
|
Pharmacy Technicians |
Pharmacy technicians help pharmacists dispense prescription medication to customers or health professionals. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $37,790 |
|
Physical Therapists |
Physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain. |
Doctoral or professional degree | $97,720 |
|
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides |
Psychiatric technicians and aides care for people who have mental conditions or developmental disabilities. |
See How to Become One | $37,330 |
|
Dental Assistants |
Dental assistants provide patient care, take x rays, keep records, and schedule appointments. |
Postsecondary nondegree award | $44,820 |