What Do Physical Therapy Technicians Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for physical therapy technicians?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what physical therapy technicians do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Physical Therapy Technicians Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about physical therapy technicians by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Physical Therapy Technicians assess, plan, or implement fitness programs that include exercise or physical activities such as those designed to improve cardiorespiratory function, body composition, muscular strength, muscular endurance, or flexibility.
Popular Job Titles For Physical Therapy Technicians
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Exercise Physiologists
- Exercise Specialists
- Clinical Exercise Physiologists
- Clinical Exercise Specialists
- Physical Therapy Technicians
- Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Interns
- Sports Medicine Assistants
- Physical Therapy Aides
- Cardiac Rehabilitation Interns
- Group Exercise Managers
- Exercise Coordinators
- Exercise Physiology Interns
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for physical therapy technicians can be found.
Best Industries for Physical Therapy Technicians
Physical Therapy Technicians Jobs By Industry
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 50.4%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 16.7%
- Offices of Physicians: 5.7%
- Education and Hospitals (Local Government): 5.4%
- Other Ambulatory Health Care Services: 5.1%
- Federal Government, Civilian: 3.6%
- Other: 13.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of physical therapy technicians can be found working in the General Medical and Surgical Hospitals sector. In 2023, about 50.4% of all jobs for physical therapy technicians were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Offices of Other Health Practitioners (16.7%), Offices of Physicians (5.7%), Education and Hospitals (Local Government) (5.4%), Other Ambulatory Health Care Services (5.1%) and Federal Government, Civilian (3.6%).
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Degree Options for Physical Therapy Technicians
The B.S. Exercise Science major provides a clear path to a rewarding career helping individuals realize their health and fitness goals. You’ll learn to evaluate fitness levels, design results-oriented exercise programs and apply coaching methodologies to help your clients reach their full potential.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
Certificates & Microcredentials for Physical Therapy Technicians
Learn to help diagnose and test for cardiovascular issues in this online, comprehensive program that prepares you for the Certified EKG Technician (CET) exam through the National Healthcareer Association (NHA).
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 2-3 months
- Cost: $2,000
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do Physical Therapy Technicians Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what physical therapy technicians do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work physical therapy technicians do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that physical therapy technicians tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for physical therapy technicians, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Physical Therapy Technicians
Based on 4,730 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Physical Therapy Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,531 | 75% |
| Exercise Science | 2,353 | 50% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,690 | 36% |
| Exercise Prescription | 1,346 | 28% |
| Kinesiology | 1,312 | 28% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Physical Therapy Technicians
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1,393 | 29% |
| Management | 910 | 19% |
| Research | 559 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 548 | 12% |
| Teaching | 514 | 11% |
Based on 4,730 job postings related to physical therapy technicians, exercise physiology was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 75% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for exercise science, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, exercise prescription, kinesiology and rehabilitation were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for physical therapy technicians, followed by management, research, customer service, teaching and planning.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiology | 3,531 | 75% |
| Exercise Science | 2,353 | 50% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation | 1,690 | 36% |
| Exercise Prescription | 1,346 | 28% |
| Kinesiology | 1,312 | 28% |
| Rehabilitation | 1,264 | 27% |
| Electrocardiography | 1,218 | 26% |
| Medical Prescription | 1,063 | 22% |
| Exercise Programs | 1,013 | 21% |
| Cardiac Stress Testing | 929 | 20% |
| Exercise Testing | 901 | 19% |
| Pulmonary Rehabilitation | 792 | 17% |
| Health Risk Assessments | 771 | 16% |
| Treatment Planning | 672 | 14% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 627 | 13% |
| Strength Training And Conditioning | 600 | 13% |
| Physiology | 559 | 12% |
| Blood Pressure | 519 | 11% |
| Cardiology | 497 | 11% |
| Physical Therapy | 488 | 10% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 1,393 | 29% |
| Management | 910 | 19% |
| Research | 559 | 12% |
| Customer Service | 548 | 12% |
| Teaching | 514 | 11% |
| Planning | 465 | 10% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 455 | 10% |
| Microsoft Excel | 422 | 9% |
| Leadership | 420 | 9% |
| Goal Setting | 398 | 8% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 393 | 8% |
| Microsoft Outlook | 391 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 384 | 8% |
| Operations | 382 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 377 | 8% |
| Writing | 335 | 7% |
| Professionalism | 319 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 317 | 7% |
| Critical Thinking | 291 | 6% |
| Presentations | 275 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Physical Therapy Technicians
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 6,606 | 57.5% |
| Exercise Specialists | 2,593 | 22.6% |
| Clinical Exercise Physiologists | 1,181 | 10.3% |
| Clinical Exercise Specialists | 265 | 2.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 137 | 1.2% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was exercise physiologists, with 2,450 unique job postings. Exercise specialists were second, with 289 postings, followed by clinical exercise physiologists, clinical exercise specialists and physical therapy technicians.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to physical therapy technicians.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Exercise Physiologists | 6,606 | 57.5% |
| Exercise Specialists | 2,593 | 22.6% |
| Clinical Exercise Physiologists | 1,181 | 10.3% |
| Clinical Exercise Specialists | 265 | 2.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 137 | 1.2% |
| Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Interns | 124 | 1.1% |
| Sports Medicine Assistants | 129 | 1.1% |
| Physical Therapy Aides | 65 | 0.6% |
| Cardiac Rehabilitation Interns | 57 | 0.5% |
| Group Exercise Managers | 61 | 0.5% |
| Exercise Coordinators | 32 | 0.3% |
| Exercise Physiology Interns | 26 | 0.2% |
| Exercise Science Interns | 39 | 0.3% |
| Training and Exercise Coordinators | 37 | 0.3% |
| Early Intervention Specialists | 19 | 0.2% |
| Exercise Technicians | 20 | 0.2% |
| Cardiopulmonary Managers | 24 | 0.2% |
| Cardiopulmonary Specialists | 23 | 0.2% |
| Exercise Specialist Interns | 18 | 0.2% |
| Non-Invasive Cardiologists | 23 | 0.2% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for physical therapy technicians? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical therapy technicians.
How much do physical therapy technicians make?
Physical Therapy Technicians: How do you become one?
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