Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)

Career Overview

Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.

Education

A two or three year college degree in a physical therapist assistant program is needed to obtain these positions.

Future Outlook

Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 33 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of physical therapist aides is projected to grow 21 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

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.

Recommended High School Courses

Communication
Science - as much as possible, including biology and psychology!

Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Coordination - Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Instructing - Teaching others how to do something.
Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Persuasion - Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Service Orientation - Actively looking for ways to help people.
Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Writing - Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Fluency of Ideas - The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Perceptual Speed - The ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Written Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.

Engage patients in exercises or activities.
Document client health or progress.
Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
Record patient medical histories.
Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.
Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.
Prepare medical reports or documents.
Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
Move patients to or from treatment areas.
Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
Monitor medical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
Assist patients with daily activities.
Attend educational events to update medical knowledge.
Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
Fit patients for assistive devices.
Inventory medical supplies or equipment.
Perform clerical work in medical settings.

Schools

Alabama State University

Albion College

Alvernia University

Angelo State University

Arcadia University

Asbury University

Assumption College

Atlanta Technical College

Auburn University

Augustana University

Austin Community College...

Azusa Pacific University

Ball State University

Barry University

Baylor University

Belmont University

Bemidji State University

Birmingham Southern Colle...

Bismarck State College

Bob Jones University

Boston University

Bowling Green State Unive...

Bradley University

Brenau University

Carrington College- Boise...

Carrington College- Las V...

Carrington College- Mesa...

Carrington College- Pleas...

Carrington College- Tucso...

Carroll College

Centre College

Cerritos College

Clark State Community Col...

Coe College

College Of Central Florid...

College Of Dupage

Concordia University- Tex...

Cornell College

Delaware Technical And Co...

Eastern Florida State Col...

Evangel University

Everett Community College

Fairmont State University

Florida Agricultural And...

Franciscan Missionaries O...

Gateway Community College...

Herzing University- Minne...

Herzing University- Orlan...

Hope International Univer...

Indian Hills Community Co...

Jefferson State Community...

Kapiolani Community Colle...

Lake Washington Institute...

Lanier Technical College-...

Milwaukee Area Technical...

Nebraska Methodist Colleg...

New York University

Nicholls State University

North Central Texas Colle...

Northeast Wisconsin Techn...

Pearl River Community Col...

Pennsylvania State Univer...

Praxis Institute- Hialeah...

Praxis Institute- Miami C...

Ripon College

Roane State Community Col...

Rogers State University

Saint Mary's University O...

Sterling College

Suny Herkimer County Comm...

Suny Nassau Community Col...

Suny Onondaga Community C...

Suny Orange County Commun...

Suny Plattsburgh

William Jewell College

Anderson College Of He...

Brandon University

Campion College

Canadian College Of He...

Canadian Mennonite Uni...

Cdi College- Edmonton...

Cdi College- Winnipeg...

Fanshawe College- Lond...

Fleming College- Suthe...

Medicine Hat College

Mohawk College- Instit...

Nova Scotia Community...

St. Claire College- Ch...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$33,450.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$58,790.00 /yr

High End:

$80,840.00 /yr

Related Careers

Nursing Assistants and Orderlies

Fitness Trainers & Instructors

Medical Secretary

Radiologic Technologist

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.