What Does it Take to Be a Physical Therapist Aide?
Job Description & Duties Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
A Day in the Life of a Physical Therapist Aide
- Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
- Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
- Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, adjusting fit as needed.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Record treatment given and equipment used.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
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Physical Therapist Aide Needed Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Physical Therapist Aides say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Other Physical Therapist Aide Job Titles
- Clinical Rehabilitation Aide
- Outpatient Therapy Aide
- Rehabilitation Aide
- Physiotherapy Aide
- Restorative Aide (RA)
Job Opportunities for Physical Therapist Aides
There were about 52,000 jobs for Physical Therapist Aide in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,200 new jobs for Physical Therapist Aide by 2026. There will be an estimated 8,500 positions for Physical Therapist Aide per year.
The states with the most job growth for Physical Therapist Aide are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Physical Therapist Aide Salary
The typical yearly salary for Physical Therapist Aides is somewhere between $20,040 and $39,230.
Physical Therapist Aides who work in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Physical Therapist Aides in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $26,190 |
| Alaska | $46,230 |
| Arizona | $28,360 |
| Arkansas | $25,650 |
| California | $31,090 |
| Colorado | $32,240 |
| Connecticut | $30,980 |
| Delaware | $26,050 |
| District of Columbia | $30,520 |
| Florida | $27,160 |
| Georgia | $27,270 |
| Hawaii | $30,050 |
| Idaho | $39,120 |
| Illinois | $31,100 |
| Indiana | $29,450 |
| Iowa | $27,580 |
| Kansas | $27,490 |
| Kentucky | $26,320 |
| Louisiana | $27,620 |
| Maine | $30,690 |
| Maryland | $25,980 |
| Massachusetts | $33,740 |
| Michigan | $27,810 |
| Minnesota | $37,230 |
| Mississippi | $22,870 |
| Missouri | $28,940 |
| Montana | $28,320 |
| Nebraska | $28,000 |
| Nevada | $26,000 |
| New Hampshire | $32,820 |
| New Jersey | $27,480 |
| New Mexico | $28,210 |
| New York | $30,230 |
| North Carolina | $27,780 |
| North Dakota | $33,350 |
| Ohio | $28,210 |
| Oklahoma | $21,610 |
| Oregon | $30,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,450 |
| Rhode Island | $33,960 |
| South Carolina | $30,440 |
| South Dakota | $28,810 |
| Tennessee | $25,740 |
| Texas | $26,810 |
| Utah | $22,860 |
| Vermont | $33,900 |
| Virginia | $28,110 |
| Washington | $29,870 |
| West Virginia | $25,620 |
| Wisconsin | $30,460 |
| Wyoming | $26,080 |
What Tools & Technology do Physical Therapist Aides Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Physical Therapist Aides may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Patient record maintenance software
How to Become a Physical Therapist Aide
Individuals working as a Physical Therapist Aide have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Physical Therapist Aide?
Physical Therapist Aides Sector
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those thinking about becoming a Physical Therapist Aide might also be interested in the following careers:
Are you already one of the many Physical Therapist Aide in the United States? If you’re thinking about changing careers, these fields are worth exploring:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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