Physical Therapist Assistants

Also Called: Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)

What Physical Therapist Assistants 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.

  • 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.
Industry Areas:

Health Care

Training Program Areas:

OCT-Only Health Care • Rehabilitation Technician

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Work Context

  • Contact With Others
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
  • Physical Proximity
  • Face-to-Face Discussions
  • Frequency of Decision Making

Tools

  • Walkers or rollators
  • Patient care beds or accessories for specialty care
  • Therapeutic balls or accessories
  • Lower extremity prosthetic devices
  • Patient lifts or accessories

Technology

Medical software
Medical condition coding software
Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
FileMaker Pro
Microsoft Access

The Education & Training You Need

Skills

  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Social Perceptiveness
  • Speaking
  • Active Learning

Knowledge

Business
customer service
Health
therapy and counseling
medicine and dentistry
Arts and Humanities
English language
Education and Training
teaching and course design

Education

  • 84% Associate's degree
  • 15% Bachelor's degree
  • 1% Professional degree

Experience

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

What are your training options on the pathway to this occupation?

Are You a Good Fit?

Occupation Traits

  • Investigative (Thinker)
  • Realistic (Doer)
  • Social (Helper)

Work Styles

  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Cooperation
  • Self Control
  • Concern for Others
  • Attention to Detail

Values

  • Relationships
  • Support
  • Working Conditions

Abilities

  • Verbal
  • Ideas and Logic
  • Attention
  • Hand and Finger Use

This is what Physical Therapist Assistants across the country typically make.

$20.24 / hour
$42,110 /year

Entry Level

$30.81 / hour
$64,080 /year

Median Level

$42.71 / hour
$88,830 /year

Experienced Level

Income information reflects a regional average.
Income information reflects a national average.

This career’s National Job Outlook is

Bright

Please be sure to verify the outlook of this occupation with your instructor.

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