Healthcare support
Physical therapist assistant
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.
Median pay
$68,380
Growth to 2035
+23%
much faster than average
Openings a year
18,500
Time to qualify*
2 years
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Physical therapist assistant
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Associate's degree
- On-the-job training
- None
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Hazardous conditions
Exposure to disease
Physical therapist assistant: 0% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- 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.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
Also called: 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)
Outlook and AI
Physical therapist assistants held 114,100 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 140,400 by 2035 (+23%, much faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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