What Do Physical Therapy Assistants Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for physical therapy assistants?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what physical therapy assistants 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 Assistants Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about physical therapy assistants by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Physical Therapy 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.
Popular Job Titles For Physical Therapy Assistants
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants
- Home Health Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Technicians
- Licensed Therapists
- Outpatient Physical Therapists
- Travel Physical Therapist Assistants
- Administrative Assistants
- Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapists
- Travel Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapists
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for physical therapy assistants can be found.
Best Industries for Physical Therapy Assistants
Physical Therapy Assistants Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 46.4%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 14.8%
- Home Health Care Services: 12%
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 9.1%
- Offices of Physicians: 4.9%
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals: 3.4%
- Other: 9.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of physical therapy assistants can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2022, about 46.4% of all jobs for physical therapy assistants were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (14.8%), Home Health Care Services (12%), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (9.1%), Offices of Physicians (4.9%) and Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (3.4%).
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Certificates & Microcredentials for Physical Therapy Assistants
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Do Physical Therapy Assistants Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what physical therapy assistants 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 assistants 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 assistants tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Physical Therapy Assistants
Top 5 Common Skills for Physical Therapy Assistants
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 14,461 | 23% |
| Writing | 6,737 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,155 | 8% |
| English Language | 5,039 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 4,958 | 8% |
For common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for physical therapy assistants, followed by writing, computer literacy, english language, customer service and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 14,461 | 23% |
| Writing | 6,737 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,155 | 8% |
| English Language | 5,039 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 4,958 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 4,886 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 4,303 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,296 | 7% |
| Lifting Ability | 3,912 | 6% |
| Management | 3,748 | 6% |
| Planning | 3,732 | 6% |
| Compassion | 3,238 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,152 | 5% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,053 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,879 | 5% |
| Leadership | 2,835 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,819 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,787 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 2,504 | 4% |
| Operations | 2,468 | 4% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Physical Therapy Assistants
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 120,581 | 56.3% |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 53,892 | 25.2% |
| Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants | 6,702 | 3.1% |
| Home Health Physical Therapists | 6,959 | 3.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 4,950 | 2.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2021 and August 2022, the top job sought by employers was physical therapist assistants, with 23,311 unique job postings. Physical therapy assistants were second, with 2,011 postings, followed by home health physical therapy assistants, home health physical therapists and physical therapy technicians.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to physical therapy assistants.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 120,581 | 56.3% |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 53,892 | 25.2% |
| Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants | 6,702 | 3.1% |
| Home Health Physical Therapists | 6,959 | 3.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 4,950 | 2.3% |
| Licensed Therapists | 2,460 | 1.1% |
| Outpatient Physical Therapists | 3,061 | 1.4% |
| Travel Physical Therapist Assistants | 1,515 | 0.7% |
| Administrative Assistants | 1,575 | 0.7% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapists | 1,580 | 0.7% |
| Travel Physical Therapists | 1,881 | 0.9% |
| Physical Therapists | 2,079 | 1% |
| Warehouse Packagers | 764 | 0.4% |
| Private Practice Therapists | 1,105 | 0.5% |
| Kennel Assistants | 531 | 0.2% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants | 899 | 0.4% |
| PTA Presidents | 1,128 | 0.5% |
| Activities Assistants | 694 | 0.3% |
| Directors of Rehabilitation | 994 | 0.5% |
| Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Assistants | 650 | 0.3% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for physical therapy assistants? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical therapy assistants.
How much do physical therapy assistants make?
Physical Therapy Assistants: How do you become one?
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