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Physical Therapist Assistants
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.
Other titles employers use
Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA) · Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant · Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant · Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA) · Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant · Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant · Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA) · Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to helping, practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
Subjects to know
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Psychology
Useful strengths
- Oral Expression
- Oral Comprehension
- Speech Recognition
- Speech Clarity
- Written Comprehension
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 5.0 | Arm’s length or closer, most of the day |
| On your feet | 3.8 | Up and down through the day |
| Talking face to face | 4.9 | Continuous — the job is conversations |
| Working with your hands | 3.6 | Some of the day |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for an associate degree. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- A two-year degree 84%
- A four-year degree 15%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Medical software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Electronic mail software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Presentation software
- Operating system software
- Word processing software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 11,200
- Job openings each year
- 1,620
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 41.8%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 11,200 | 1,620 | 41.8% |
| Texas | 11,180 | 1,600 | 31.8% |
| Florida | 10,230 | 1,480 | 37.7% |
| Ohio | 7,170 | 1,010 | 18.5% |
| Pennsylvania | 6,280 | 890 | 25.9% |
| Illinois | 5,490 | 780 | 23.1% |
| New York | 5,470 | 120 | 28.4% |
| Georgia | 4,050 | 580 | 29.0% |
| Michigan | 4,020 | 570 | 21.1% |
| North Carolina | 3,730 | 540 | 35.1% |
| Tennessee | 3,680 | 530 | 39.4% |
| Virginia | 3,560 | 510 | 28.5% |
| Missouri | 3,240 | 460 | 28.6% |
| South Carolina | 2,910 | 420 | 37.9% |
| Kentucky | 2,840 | 400 | 24.6% |
| Alabama | 2,660 | 380 | 29.1% |
| Indiana | 2,570 | 360 | 23.6% |
| Maryland | 2,450 | 350 | 30.3% |
| New Jersey | 2,330 | 340 | 33.9% |
| Washington | 2,310 | 390 | 30.5% |
| Arizona | 2,180 | 320 | 47.3% |
| Wisconsin | 2,170 | 300 | 18.6% |
| Colorado | 2,120 | 310 | 35.9% |
| Oklahoma | 2,050 | 290 | 20.6% |
| Louisiana | 1,990 | 280 | 25.9% |
| Arkansas | 1,790 | 250 | 27.9% |
| Iowa | 1,720 | 250 | 36.5% |
| Minnesota | 1,640 | 230 | 24.2% |
| Nebraska | 1,450 | 210 | 29.5% |
| Mississippi | 1,420 | 200 | 25.7% |
| New Mexico | 1,310 | 190 | 47.2% |
| Kansas | 1,180 | 170 | 18.0% |
| Oregon | 1,160 | 170 | 38.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 1,100 | 160 | 39.2% |
| Utah | 1,090 | 160 | 67.7% |
| Connecticut | 1,050 | 150 | 23.5% |
| West Virginia | 1,020 | 150 | 27.5% |
| Massachusetts | 1,010 | 140 | 29.5% |
| Nevada | 860 | 120 | 34.4% |
| Idaho | 760 | 110 | 40.7% |
| Maine | 570 | 80 | 14.0% |
| New Hampshire | 480 | 70 | 29.7% |
| Rhode Island | 480 | 70 | 26.3% |
| South Dakota | 450 | 60 | 32.4% |
| Montana | 420 | 60 | 40.0% |
| Delaware | 410 | 60 | 36.7% |
| Wyoming | 240 | 30 | 33.3% |
| North Dakota | 190 | 30 | 26.7% |
| Vermont | 170 | 20 | 21.4% |
| Alaska | 110 | 20 | 10.0% |
| District of Columbia | 80 | 10 | 14.3% |
| Virgin Islands | 20 | 0 | — |
Career to college
Build a path toward this work.
Start with a related major, then compare colleges where students complete that field.
Where to study
Colleges with strong activity in these fields.
Start with program size, admission, and likely cost. Open a college for the full picture.
Ohio State University-Main Campus
- Degrees each year
- 436
- Admit rate
- 51%
- Annual cost after aid
- $10,000
University of Connecticut
- Degrees each year
- 199
- Admit rate
- 54%
- Annual cost after aid
- $21,000
Nova Southeastern University
- Degrees each year
- 34
- Admit rate
- 73%
- Annual cost after aid
- $30,000
St. Joseph's University-New York
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 71%
- Annual cost after aid
- $17,000
Cedarville University
- Degrees each year
- 25
- Admit rate
- 63%
- Annual cost after aid
- $20,000
Widener University
- Degrees each year
- 4
- Admit rate
- 84%
- Annual cost after aid
- $23,000
University of Connecticut-Stamford
- Degrees each year
- 1
- Admit rate
- 80%
- Annual cost after aid
- $16,000
Compare every college offering allied health and medical assisting services