Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of licensed physical therapy assistants about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for licensed physical therapy assistants to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of licensed physical therapy assistants expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for licensed physical therapy assistants.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants?
Do licensed physical therapy assistants need a degree? What kind of experience do licensed physical therapy assistants typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for licensed physical therapy assistants to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
Jobs Postings for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants By Education
- No Education Listed: 45,944 (77%)
- High School or GED: 8,868 (15%)
- Bachelor's degree: 2,746 (5%)
- Master's degree: 1,019 (2%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 946 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of licensed physical therapy assistants. According to job data, no education was required for 77% of positions. In 15% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 5% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
Jobs Postings for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 10,686 (65%)
- 2-3 Years: 5,347 (32%)
- 4-6 Years: 334 (2%)
- 7-9 Years: 15 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 97 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for licensed physical therapy assistants. In 65% of job postings for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 2% of job postings for licensed physical therapy assistants.
What Kind of Degree Do Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for licensed physical therapy assistants, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective licensed physical therapy assistants, and in 2023 a total of 13,825 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective licensed physical therapy assistants.
Top Degree Programs for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
Top 5 Degree Programs for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy Assistant. | 5,882 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 4,121 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 3,822 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Certificates & Microcredentials for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Skills Do Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by licensed physical therapy assistants to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for licensed physical therapy assistants, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
Based on 74,256 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | 56,898 | 77% |
| Rehabilitation | 21,547 | 29% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,053 | 22% |
| Home Health Care | 9,941 | 13% |
| Patient Treatment | 9,400 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 17,481 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 8,564 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 6,651 | 9% |
| Writing | 5,747 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 5,413 | 7% |
Based on 74,256 job postings related to licensed physical therapy assistants, physical therapy was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 77% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for rehabilitation, treatment planning, home health care, patient treatment and billing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for licensed physical therapy assistants, followed by customer service, scheduling, writing, multitasking and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | 56,898 | 77% |
| Rehabilitation | 21,547 | 29% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,053 | 22% |
| Home Health Care | 9,941 | 13% |
| Patient Treatment | 9,400 | 13% |
| Billing | 5,828 | 8% |
| Exercise Therapy | 5,616 | 8% |
| Infection Control | 5,388 | 7% |
| Patient Assistance | 5,109 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 4,939 | 7% |
| Orthopedics | 4,627 | 6% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 4,224 | 6% |
| Geriatrics | 4,109 | 6% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 4,080 | 5% |
| Case Management | 3,589 | 5% |
| Manual Therapy | 3,248 | 4% |
| Nursing | 3,169 | 4% |
| Patient Preparation | 3,023 | 4% |
| Quality Improvement | 2,924 | 4% |
| Clinical Documentation | 2,725 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 17,481 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 8,564 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 6,651 | 9% |
| Writing | 5,747 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 5,413 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 5,375 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 5,172 | 7% |
| English Language | 5,036 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 4,824 | 6% |
| Organizational Skills | 4,527 | 6% |
| Compassion | 3,990 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 3,682 | 5% |
| Planning | 3,647 | 5% |
| Management | 3,331 | 4% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,218 | 4% |
| Professionalism | 3,144 | 4% |
| Mentorship | 3,142 | 4% |
| Lifting Ability | 2,844 | 4% |
| Operations | 2,842 | 4% |
| Problem Solving | 2,552 | 3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about licensed physical therapy assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for licensed physical therapy assistants.
What do licensed physical therapy assistants do?
How much do licensed physical therapy assistants make?
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