Physical Therapist Assistants

Overview

Physical Therapist Assistants has a national median salary of $68,380 per year, with +23% projected job growth from 2025–2035. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation.

Description

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.

Work Values

• Relationships
• Support
• Working Conditions

Work Styles

Responsibilities

Tasks

• 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.
• Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
• Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

Work Activities

• Assisting and Caring for Others
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships
• Performing for or Working Directly with the Public
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
• Getting Information

Detailed Work Activities

• Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Performing general physical activities includes doing 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.
• Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

T-A-S-K

Technology, Abilities, Skills & Knowledge

Education

Education Levels of Current Workers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists an associate's degree as the typical education needed to enter this occupation. The chart below shows the highest level of education held by people already working in this field, ages 25 and older. It includes workers who earned more education than the job requires and workers who entered the field under earlier requirements, so the largest bar is not the entry requirement. For example, if someone finished a bachelor's degree and then started working in this field, they are counted under “Bachelor's degree” here, but the job itself typically asks for an associate's degree.

Certificates

Certifications applicable to Physical Therapist Assistants:

Video Resources