Physical Therapy Assistants

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) help to restore physical function in people with injury, congenital anomalies, or disease. They assist physical therapists with a variety of techniques, such as exercise, massage, heat, and water therapy.

Physical therapy assistants work directly under the supervision of physical therapists. They teach and help patients improve functional activities required in their daily lives, such as walking, climbing, and moving from one place to another. The assistants observe patients during treatments, record the patients' responses and progress, and report these to the physical therapist, either orally or in writing. They fit patients for and teach them to use braces, artificial limbs, crutches, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and other devices. They may make physical measurements to assess the effects of treatments or to evaluate patients' range of motion, length and girth of body parts, and vital signs. Physical therapy assistants act as members of a team and regularly confer with other members of the physical therapy staff. There are approximately 108,500 physical therapy assistants employed in the United States.

Salary Range

$25,000 to $100,000+

Minimum Education Level

Associate's Degree

Certification/License

Required

Outlook

Much Faster than the Average

Personality Traits

Hands On

Helpful

Outgoing

Career Ladder

Supervisor

Physical Therapist

Physical Therapy Assistant

Part-Time Physical Therapy Assistant

Physical Therapy Aide