Physical Therapist Assistants

Want help with your hiring? It's easy. Enter your information below, and we'll quickly reach out to discuss your hiring needs.

Recruiter.com helps professionals in physical therapist assistant careers find better opportunities across all specialties and locations. Sign up in our career community today!

Also known as:
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, LPTA, Physical Therapy Assistant, Physical Therapy Technician, Physiotherapy Assistant

See all Health Science Careers.

ABOUT PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT CAREERS

Video transcript

Helping people help themselves is the main goal of physical therapy. Working under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist, assistants play an important part in the rehabilitation of accident victims, patients with disabilities, and employees injured on the job. To be successful, an assistant must follow a therapist's orders precisely. Any variance from the therapist's instructions could hurt the patient's chance for recovery.

Because of the humanitarian nature of this job, a genuine interest in caring for others is crucial. An assistant must be capable of encouraging a patient to work hard physically, while providing moral support to lift the patient's spirits emotionally. If you are interested in this position you should be in good physical condition, in order to handle kneeling and standing for long periods of time.

Physical therapy assistants get to work in a variety of settings, ranging from hospitals and outpatient clinics, to sporting events and swimming pools. Wherever the job takes them, it's an emotionally satisfying experience, providing the chance to share in the reward of helping people get better.

SNAPSHOT

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.

Leadership	HIGH
Critical decision making	HIGH
Level of responsibilities	LOW
Job challenge and pressure to meet deadlines	LOW
Dealing and handling conflict	MED

Competition for this position	MED
Communication with others	HIGH
Work closely with team members, clients etc.	HIGH
Comfort of the work setting	HIGH
Exposure to extreme environmental conditions	LOW
Exposure to job hazards	LOW
Physical demands	LOW

Daily tasks

Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.

Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.

Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.

Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.

Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.

Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.

Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.

Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.

Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.

Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.

Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Assisting and Caring for Others	Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates	Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Documenting/Recording Information	Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

Performing General Physical Activities	Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.

Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events	Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships	Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.

Performing for or Working Directly with the Public	Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.

Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge	Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.

AREAS OF KNOWLEDGE

Customer and Personal Service	Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
Therapy and Counseling	Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
English Language	Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Education and Training	Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Psychology	Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

Medicine and Dentistry	Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.

Computers and Electronics	Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Biology	Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

TOP SKILLS

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.
Monitoring	Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking	Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Social Perceptiveness	Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Reading Comprehension	Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.

Service Orientation	Actively looking for ways to help people.

Writing	Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

Active Learning	Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.