Occupation · SOC 31-2021
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.
Median wage
$65,510
$46,020–$87,630
Projected growth
+22.0%
Faster than average
Annual openings
2,450
per year
Employed (US)
108,010
Job Zone 3
Typical preparation
Medium preparation
Stackable credential programs
106 mapped
Core skills
Active ListeningSpeakingSocial PerceptivenessMonitoringWritingService OrientationReading ComprehensionCritical ThinkingActive LearningJudgment and Decision MakingInstructingCoordinationComplex Problem SolvingTime ManagementPersuasionLearning StrategiesSystems EvaluationSystems AnalysisOperations MonitoringQuality Control AnalysisManagement of Personnel ResourcesScienceNegotiationMathematicsTroubleshootingOperation and ControlEquipment SelectionTechnology DesignOperations AnalysisManagement of Material ResourcesManagement of Financial ResourcesProgrammingEquipment MaintenanceRepairingInstallation
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychologyMedicine and DentistryComputers and ElectronicsBiologyAdministrativePublic Safety and SecurityAdministration and ManagementLaw and GovernmentSociology and AnthropologyMathematicsPhysicsPersonnel and Human ResourcesChemistryEconomics and AccountingCommunications and MediaGeographySales and MarketingPhilosophy and TheologyForeign LanguageMechanicalEngineering and TechnologyDesignBuilding and ConstructionProduction and ProcessingTelecommunicationsTransportationHistory and ArcheologyFood ProductionFine Arts
Technology & tools
Accounting softwareArena Health Systems Phys-XBeaver Creek Software The THERAPISTBilling softwareBioEx Systems Exercise ProBookkeeping softwareClient caseload management softwareEazy Application Systems QuickEMREmail softwareFileMaker ProKnees Software PT DocToolsLaboratory information system LISMedical condition coding softwareMicrosoft AccessMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft OutlookMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft WindowsMicrosoft WordPhysioTools Tools RGRehab Documentation Company ReDoc SuiteScheduling softwareSpectraSoft AppointmentsPROSpectraSoft DocuPROSpreadsheet softwareSummit Software CarePointTherAssistVideo game softwareVirtual reality game softwareWord processing softwaredBASEeClinicalWorks EHR software
Representative tasks
Assisting and Caring for OthersCommunicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesDocumenting/Recording InformationPerforming General Physical ActivitiesIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsEstablishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsPerforming for or Working Directly with the PublicUpdating and Using Relevant KnowledgeEvaluating Information to Determine Compliance with StandardsGetting InformationWorking with ComputersMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsDeveloping and Building TeamsHandling and Moving ObjectsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsInspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialsThinking CreativelyInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersProcessing InformationJudging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or PeopleTraining and Teaching OthersCommunicating with People Outside the OrganizationCoaching and Developing OthersAnalyzing Data or InformationScheduling Work and ActivitiesCoordinating the Work and Activities of OthersDeveloping Objectives and StrategiesRepairing and Maintaining Electronic EquipmentProviding Consultation and Advice to OthersResolving Conflicts and Negotiating with OthersGuiding, Directing, and Motivating SubordinatesEstimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or InformationControlling Machines and ProcessesPerforming Administrative ActivitiesDrafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and EquipmentRepairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentSelling or Influencing OthersOperating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or EquipmentMonitoring and Controlling Resources
Competency framework
Skill expectations by proficiency level.
emerging
Patient safety protocols — follow under direct supervision when securing patients onto therapy equipment in a clinical rehabilitation setting.Therapeutic exercises — assist patients in performing prescribed routines under the guidance of a licensed physical therapist in an outpatient clinic.Patient progress notes — document basic session observations using approved templates under physical therapist review in an acute care environment.Body mechanics instruction — reinforce verbal cues provided by the supervising therapist when guiding patients through introductory mobility activities.Manual therapeutic techniques — observe and assist a licensed physical therapist administering passive range-of-motion exercises during supervised clinical rotations.Patient transfers — perform assisted lifts and transport patients to treatment areas following established positioning protocols under close supervision.Electronic health record software — enter session data and basic patient information into medical software with guidance from senior clinical staff.Patient responses — record observable reactions during heat, light, or electrical modality treatments and report findings immediately to the supervising therapist.Active listening skills — apply during initial patient interactions to gather accurate information about comfort levels and functional limitations in a clinical setting.Treatment team communication — participate in supervised team briefings to relay patient status updates to physical therapy staff in a structured rehabilitation unit.
developing
Prescribed exercise programs — instruct and motivate patients through established therapeutic exercise routines with reduced therapist oversight in an outpatient rehabilitation clinic.Progress documentation — compile and submit accurate session notes and functional outcome data using medical software in a timely manner across a routine patient caseload.Therapeutic modalities — administer ultrasound, electrical stimulation, and therapeutic massage according to the physical therapist's plan of care in a skilled nursing facility.Functional mobility training — guide patients through aquatic exercise and gait training activities, adapting verbal cues to individual learning needs in a pool therapy environment.Patient data evaluation — observe treatment responses, identify patterns of improvement or regression, and relay structured progress reports to the supervising physical therapist.Equipment operation — independently secure and position patients on therapy tables, parallel bars, and mechanical devices following facility safety standards.Interdisciplinary conferencing — contribute relevant patient observations during care coordination meetings with physical therapy and nursing staff in a hospital rehabilitation unit.Time management — schedule and prioritize a daily patient load of routine cases to maintain productivity targets in a high-volume outpatient setting.Body mechanics education — instruct patients in ergonomic posture and movement strategies to support safe daily functioning in home and work environments.Billing and invoicing software — accurately code completed treatment procedures and submit documentation to support reimbursement workflows under administrative oversight.
proficient
Complex patient programs — autonomously implement and modify multi-phase therapeutic exercise plans for patients with varied diagnoses across inpatient and outpatient settings.Non-routine clinical judgment — identify unexpected changes in patient condition during modality treatments and determine appropriate immediate responses without direct therapist prompting.Comprehensive progress reporting — synthesize multi-session observational data into detailed written reports that inform treatment plan revisions by the supervising physical therapist.Advanced manual techniques — proficiently administer therapeutic massage, joint mobilization support, and aquatic physical therapy across a full scope of assigned patient cases.Patient transfer expertise — execute complex lifts and positional transfers for bariatric or medically fragile patients using adaptive equipment and evidence-based positioning techniques.Treatment coordination — collaborate with physical therapists, occupational therapists, and case managers to modify integrated care plans based on ongoing patient progress data.Patient and family education — design and deliver individualized home exercise program instruction, ensuring comprehension and safe independent practice after discharge.Clinical problem solving — apply critical thinking to resolve functional mobility challenges encountered during treatment sessions in inpatient rehabilitation and long-term care settings.Outcome data management — utilize electronic health record and database software to track patient outcome measures and contribute to departmental quality improvement initiatives.Mentorship of new staff — provide structured guidance to newly hired assistants and clinical students performing routine patient care tasks in the rehabilitation department.
advanced
Clinical practice standards — establish and refine department-wide protocols for patient safety, therapeutic modality use, and documentation quality across multiple care settings.Staff development programs — design and lead competency training curricula for physical therapist assistant staff and supervised clinical students in a rehabilitation organization.Quality improvement leadership — direct data collection, analysis, and reporting initiatives to evaluate treatment outcomes and drive evidence-based practice changes at the organizational level.Interdisciplinary team leadership — coordinate and facilitate cross-functional care conferences involving physicians, therapists, case managers, and social workers to optimize patient rehabilitation pathways.Complex case oversight — provide expert consultation on high-acuity or diagnostically complex patient cases, advising supervising therapists on treatment approach adaptations.Regulatory compliance management — ensure departmental adherence to state practice acts, accreditation standards, and payer documentation requirements across the full scope of clinical operations.Technology integration — evaluate and implement medical software, electronic health record systems, and therapy management platforms to improve clinical efficiency and documentation accuracy.Community and patient advocacy — represent the interests of rehabilitation patients and the physical therapist assistant profession in institutional policy discussions and community health initiatives.Workforce culture development — model and promote professional values including empathy, integrity, and cooperation as a behavioral standard across the rehabilitation team.Strategic program planning — partner with physical therapy leadership to develop new service lines, aquatic therapy programs, or specialty rehabilitation offerings aligned with organizational goals.
Also known as
15 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
AssistantCertified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA)Home Care Physical Therapy AssistantHome Health Physical Therapist AssistantHome Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA)Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)Licensed Physical Therapy AssistantNursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant)Outpatient Physical Therapist AssistantPer Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA)Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)Physiotherapy AssistantRehabilitation Assistant (Rehab Assistant)SNF PTA (Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant)