What is the Salary for a Physical Therapist Assistant?

Physical therapy, or physiotherapy, is the physical medicine of rehabilitating a patient's mechanical movement and force. It targets muscles and joints with the aim of restoring mobility and function through repeated examination, prognosis, and physical activities.

Anyone who has undergone some form of trauma that affects joints and muscles could benefit from physiotherapy. This include people recovering from surgery, bedridden patients or someone recovering from physical trauma to joints, bone, or muscles. Let's take a look at the education, responsibilities, and salary of a physical therapist assistant.

Who Handles Physical Therapy

In most cases, the patient will need a physical therapist and a physical therapist assistant. The physical therapist makes the diagnosis and determines what form of physical intervention will cure or alleviate the problem.

It is the work of the physical therapist assistant to implement the suggested physical procedures. In some cases, the physiotherapist might handle everything but busy experts will need a qualified assistant to see the diagnosis to completion.

What Does the Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) Do?

As a physical therapist assistant, you will have to implement the treatment plan by maneuvering the patient’s body, doing a series of massages, supervising stretches, and other procedures to counter the damage caused by the injury or disease.

The therapist assistant might also explain ‘takeaway’ exercises the patient could do on their own to keep the healing process going even after leaving the hospital.

While the majority of the work is done by hand, you might also have to operate a variety of equipment and machines that help with the physical therapy.

Expected Work Environment

Naturally, a PTA will work as an aide to the physical therapist. This could be in an office or at the hospital.

You should expect to move around a lot since some patients will want to take the therapy while at work or from home. As the PTA, you should be ready to move about, set up equipment at different places and assess therapy effect on the patient so that you can report it back to the physiotherapist.

How to Become a PTA

You will need an associate’s degree in physical therapist assisting to practice. The better the training institution the higher your chances of landing a job with a reputable organization upon graduating.

The curriculum will take you through a series of theory and practical classes. You will have to study basic medical sciences and undertake other general education courses to fit in. Since PTAs are always hands-on, you will need to do some clinical internship before graduating.

Finally, a great deal of the states will need you to take a state examination and fulfill a minimum number of fieldwork hours as an intern before giving you the license.

Is it The Right Career for You?

With physical therapists assistants interacting with patients on a daily basis, you have to be of the right temperament to make it in this career.

You have to be patient, gentle and great at making new friends. This will come in handy when creating a rapport with your patients or when going through slow and repeated procedures with your patients.

PTA Career Outlook and Expected Salary

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 40% growth in demand for physical therapist assistants between 2014 and 2024. This is much faster than the expected average for all other occupations making it one of the most lucrative career paths so far.

This is thanks to the increased demand for therapy services to the senior population and people suffering from chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis. The demand is also bound to increase as people understand and embrace the true benefits of physiotherapy, general fineness and exercising regularly.

With the median pay standing at $42,980 per year, being a PTA could be both financially and socially rewarding. It is a great career for anyone who likes helping people realize their full potential and doesn’t mind moving around a lot.

Do you see yourself as a physical therapist assistant? If you want to work in a healing environment, helping others recover from accident, injury, or illness, consider ECPI University's Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapist Assisting. With year-round classes and accelerated scheduling, you could earn your degree sooner and start working faster. Contact an admissions representative today to take the first step in your journey to your new career!

It could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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Gainful Employment Information – Physical Therapy Assisting - Associate’s

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