THERAPY AND REHABILITATION
Physical Therapist Assistant
To be a successful Physical Therapist Assistant you should...
enjoy working closely with people, including those who are sick or disabled; communicate effectively, including educating patients and their families; be competent in the physical and biological sciences; enjoy solving complex problems; desire to improve your community by helping individuals achieve their full physical potential; desire a career that values lifelong learning.
What will my job be like?
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) assist the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs, training patients in exercises and activities of daily living, conducting treatments, and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient’s responses.
Where could I work?
Physical Therapist Assistants’ work may occur in a hospital, in a school system, in an orthopedic or sports rehabilitation clinic, in the patient’s home through a home health agency, or in a hospital that specializes in rehabilitating patients after serious injury or disease. he hours and days that physical therapist assistants work vary, depending on the facility and whether they are full or part-time employees.
Other workplace settings:
- Physical Therapists' Office
- Nursing and Personal Care Facilities
- Outpatient Rehabilitation Centers
- Offices and Clinics of Physicians
- Sports Facilities
Average Annual Salary
$58,740 per year
What is the future of this career?
Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 27,500 openings for physical therapist assistants and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Type of Education/Training
Physical therapist assistants must complete a 2-year education program, typically offered through a community or junior college. Candidates receive an associate degree upon graduation. The course of study includes usually one year of general education and one year of technical courses on physical therapy procedures and clinical experience. The majority of PTA programs have specialized PTA courses across two years of study. There is a heavy emphasis on science courses.
Where could I get the education/training?
- CT State Naugatuck Valley
- CT State Norwalk
Licensing/Certification
Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisites: An approved Physical Therapy Assistant program or graduation from an approved US Physical Therapy school or 20 years of PTA employment prior to October 1, 1989.
More Information
American Physical Therapy Association
3030 Potomac Avenue, Suite 100
Alexandria, VA 22305
800-999-APTA
