Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides

Summary

Physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides help patients recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgery regain movement and manage pain.

Quick Facts: Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
2010 Median Pay	$37,710 per year $18.13 per hour
Entry-Level Education	See How to Become One
Work Experience in a Related Occupation	None
On-the-job Training	See How to Become One
Number of Jobs, 2010	114,400
Job Outlook, 2010-20	45% (Much faster than average)
Employment Change, 2010-20	51,100

What Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides Do

Physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides work under the direction of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgeries regain movement and manage pain.

Work Environment

Most physical therapist assistants and aides work in physical therapists' offices or in hospitals. Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they set up equipment and help care for patients.

How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant or Aide

Most states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist program. Physical therapist aides generally have a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training.

Pay

The median annual wage of physical therapist assistants was $49,690 in May 2010. The median annual wage of physical therapist aides was $23,680 in May 2010.

Job Outlook

Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to increase 46 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of physical therapist aides is expected to increase 43 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. Demand for physical therapy services is expected to increase in response to the healthcare needs of a growing elderly population.

Similar Occupations

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physical therapist assistants and aides with similar occupations.

O*NET

O*NET provides comprehensive information on key characteristics of workers and occupations.

Contacts for More Information

Learn more about physical therapist assistants and aides by contacting these additional resources.

What Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides Do About this section

Most physical therapist assistants and aides work in offices of physical therapists, hospitals, and in a variety of settings that facilitate physical therapy.

Both physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides work under the direction of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries, illnesses, and surgery regain movement and manage pain. Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients. Physical therapist aides often do tasks that are indirectly related to patient care, such as cleaning and setting up the treatment area, moving patients, and clerical tasks.

Duties

Physical therapist assistants typically do the following:

• Observe patients before and during therapy, noting their status and reporting to a physical therapist
• Help patients do specific exercises
• Use a variety of techniques, such as massage and stretching, to treat patients
• Use devices and equipment, such as walkers, to help patients
• Educate a patient and family members about what to do after treatment

Physical therapist aides typically do the following:

• Clean treatment areas and set up therapy equipment
• Help patients move to or from a therapy area
• Do clerical tasks, such as answering phones or helping patients with insurance paperwork

Physical therapist assistants help physical therapists provide care to patients. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, they give therapy through exercise; therapeutic methods, such as electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasound; massage; and gait and balance training. Physical therapist assistants record patients’ responses to treatment and report the results of each treatment to the physical therapist.

Physical therapist aides help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized and for preparing for each patient's therapy. They also help patients who need assistance moving to or from a treatment area.

In states where physical therapist assistants must be licensed, aides are not licensed and so cannot do tasks involving direct patient care. The duties of aides include some clerical tasks, such as ordering depleted supplies and filling out insurance forms and other paperwork.

Work Environment About this section

Physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides help patients of all ages.

Physical therapist assistants held about 67,400 jobs in 2010. Physical therapist aides held about 47,000 jobs in 2010.

As shown below, more than half of all physical therapist assistants worked in ambulatory health care services in 2010:

As shown below, almost 25 percent of physical therapist aides worked in hospitals in 2010:

Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they set up equipment and help and treat patients.

Work Schedules

Most physical therapist assistants and aides work full time. About one in four worked part time in 2010. Many physical therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours to match patients' personal schedules.

How to Become a Physical Therapist Assistant or Aide About this section

Physical therapist assistants provide therapy through exercise; therapeutic methods like electrical stimulation, mechanical traction, and ultrasound; massage; and gait and balance training.

Most states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist program. Physical therapist aides usually have a high school diploma and get on-the-job training.

Education

Most states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapist program. In 2011, there were 280 associate's degree programs for physical therapist assistants accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.

Programs are divided into academic coursework and clinical experience. Academic courses include algebra, English, anatomy and physiology, and psychology. Clinical work includes certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid and hands-on experience in treatment centers. Many physical therapist assistants and aides continue their formal education to qualify for jobs in administration, management, and education.

Physical therapist aides typically have a high school diploma or equivalent. They commonly get clinical experience through on-the-job training. This training can last from a few weeks to several months.

Important Qualities

Compassion. Physical therapy is an important part of the recovery process for people who have been through surgeries, illnesses, and injuries. Physical therapist assistants and aides should enjoy helping people.

Detail oriented. Like other healthcare professionals, physical therapist assistants and aides should be organized and have a keen eye for detail. They must keep accurate records and follow written 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. Both physical therapist assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with clients. 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. They should enjoy physical activity.

Licenses

Most states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed. Licensure typically requires graduation from an accredited physical therapist assistant program and passing the Physical National Physical Therapy Exam. Some states require additional state-administered exams. In some states, physical therapist assistants also need to take continuing education courses. Check with your state licensing board.

Physical therapist aides are not required to be licensed.

Pay About this section

The median annual wage of physical therapist assistants was $49,690 in May 2010. The median annual wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $31,070, and the top 10 percent earned more than $68,820.

The median annual wage of physical therapist aides was $23,680 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,270, and the top 10 percent earned more than $34,670.

Most physical therapist assistants and aides work full time. About one in four worked part time in 2010. Many physical therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours to match patients' personal schedules.

Job Outlook About this section

Employment of physical therapist assistants is expected to increase 46 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment of physical therapist aides is expected to increase 43 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow faster than that of aides, as assistants deliver therapy services directly.

Demand for physical therapy services 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.

However, baby boomers also are entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. Older people are particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. These patients often need additional help in their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital.

Medical and technological developments should permit an increased percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating added demand for therapy and rehabilitative services.

Physical therapists are expected to increasingly use assistants and aides to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. Once the physical therapist has evaluated a patient and designed a treatment plan, the physical therapist assistant can provide many parts of the treatment, as directed by the therapist.

In addition, changes to restrictions on reimbursements for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and increase demand.

Job Prospects

Opportunities for physical therapist assistants are expected to be very good. With help from physical therapist assistants, physical therapists can manage more patients.

However, physical therapy aides may face keen competition from the large pool of qualified people.

Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas, as many physical therapists cluster in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

Contacts for More Information About this section

For more information about physical therapist assistants, including a list of schools offering accredited programs, visit

American Physical Therapy Association

Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy