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 ListeningSpeakingMonitoringSocial PerceptivenessService OrientationWritingCritical ThinkingActive Learning
Knowledge areas
Customer and Personal ServiceTherapy and CounselingEnglish LanguageEducation and TrainingPsychology
Technology & tools
Accounting softwareMedical softwareBilling and invoicing softwareData base user interface and query softwareElectronic mail software
Representative tasks
Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.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.Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.Prepare treatment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by physiotherapists.Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.Perform therapeutic wound care.
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
58 alternate job titles map to this occupation.
Medical Specialist Corps Officer (Army 65)Dental Assistant (Air Force 4Y0X1)Rehabilitation Assistant (Rehab Assistant)Physical Therapist, Special Warfare (Air Force 42B3Z)Physical Therapist (Air Force 42B1)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T3)Orthopedic Specialist (Army 68B)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T4)Home Care Physical Therapy AssistantOccupational Therapy Assistant (Navy 003055)Occupational Therapist (Navy 0874)Physiotherapy AssistantPhysical Therapist Assistant (PTA)Dental Assistant Helper (Air Force 4Y011)Health Services Management Superintendent (Air Force 4A091)Physical Therapist, Special Warfare (Air Force 42B4Z)Physical Therapist (Air Force 42B3)Health Services Management Craftsman, Health Information Technology (Air Force 4A071S)Physical Therapist, Special Warfare (Air Force 42B1Z)Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA)Nursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant)Dental Assistant Journeyman (Air Force 4Y051)Occupational Therapist (Air Force 42T1)Health Services Management Helper (Air Force 4A011)Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA)Health Services Management Journeyman (Air Force 4A051)Medical Administration Specialty (Coast Guard MED)Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)Occupational Therapy (Army 65A)Orthopedic Technician (Navy L26A)Dental Assistant Journeyman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y051H)Hospital Corpsman (Navy HM)Physical Therapist (Navy 0873)Health Services Management (Air Force 4A0X1)Dental Assistant Craftsman, Dental Hygienist (Air Force 4Y071H)Physical Therapist (Air Force 42BX)Health Services Technician (Coast Guard HS)Outpatient Physical Therapist AssistantOrthopedic Cast Room Technician (Navy 001265)Dental Assistant Apprentice (Air Force 4Y031)