What They Do: Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists.
Work Environment: Most physical therapist assistants and aides work in physical therapists’ offices or in hospitals. Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they set up equipment and help care for patients.
How to Become One: Physical therapist assistants entering the profession need an associate’s degree from an accredited program. All states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed or certified. Physical therapist aides usually have a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training.
Salary: The median annual wage for physical therapist aides is $29,200. The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants is $61,180.
Job Outlook: Overall employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is projected to grow 24 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Related Careers: Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of physical therapist assistants and aides with similar occupations.
Physical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain. Physical therapist assistants are involved in the direct care of patients. Physical therapist aides often do tasks that are indirectly related to patient care, such as cleaning and setting up the treatment area, moving patients, and performing clerical duties.
Physical therapist assistants typically do the following:
Physical therapist aides typically do the following:
Physical therapist assistants help physical therapists provide care to patients. Under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, they treat patients through exercise, massage, gait and balance training, and other therapeutic interventions. Physical therapist assistants record patients' progress and report the results of each treatment to the physical therapist.
Physical therapist aides work under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized, and preparing for each patient's therapy. They also help patients who need assistance moving to or from a treatment area. In addition, aides do a variety of clerical tasks, such as ordering supplies, scheduling treatment sessions, and filling out insurance forms. The types of tasks that physical therapist aides are allowed to perform vary by state. Contact your state licensing board for more information.
Physical therapist aides hold about 44,200 jobs. The largest employers of physical therapist aides are as follows:
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 61% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 20% |
| Offices of physicians | 11% |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 2% |
| Government | 2% |
Physical therapist assistants hold about 96,500 jobs. The largest employers of physical therapist assistants are as follows:
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | 44% |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | 24% |
| Home healthcare services | 11% |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | 8% |
| Offices of physicians | 5% |
Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they set up equipment and help and treat patients. Because they must often lift and move patients, they are vulnerable to back injuries. Assistants and aides can limit these risks by using proper techniques when they assist patients.
Most physical therapist assistants and aides work full time. Some night and weekend work may be required because many physical therapy offices and clinics have extended hours to accommodate patients' schedules.
Get the education you need: Find schools for Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides near you!
Physical therapist assistants entering the profession need an associate's degree from an accredited program. All states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed or certified. Physical therapist aides usually have a high school diploma and receive on-the-job training.
All states require physical therapist assistants to have an associate's degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. In 2017, nearly 350 associate's degree programs for physical therapist assistants were accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Programs typically last about 2 years. Classroom study includes courses in algebra, English, anatomy, physiology, and psychology. Assistants also gain hands-on experience during supervised clinical work. They may earn certifications in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), basic life support (BLS), and other first-aid skills.
Physical therapist aides typically have a high school diploma or the equivalent. They usually gain clinical experience through on-the-job training that can last from about a week to a month. Employers often prefer to hire applicants with computer skills.
All states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed or certified. Licensure typically requires graduation from an accredited physical therapist assistant program and passing the National Physical Therapy Exam for physical therapist assistants. The exam is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Some states require that applicants pass an exam on the state's laws regulating the practice of PTAs, undergo a criminal background check, and be at least 18 years old. Physical therapist assistants also may need to take continuing education courses to keep their license. Check with your state board for specific licensing requirements.
Physical therapist aides are not required to be licensed by state law.
Compassion. Physical therapist assistants and aides should enjoy helping people. They work with people who are in pain, and they must have empathy to help their patients.
Detail oriented. Like other healthcare professionals, physical therapist assistants and aides should be organized and have a keen eye for detail. They must keep accurate records and follow written and verbal instructions carefully to ensure quality care.
Dexterity. Physical therapist assistants should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises. Aides should also be comfortable working with their hands to set up equipment and prepare treatment areas.
Interpersonal skills. Physical therapist assistants and aides spend much of their time interacting with patients, their families, and other healthcare practitioners; therefore, they should be courteous and friendly.
Physical stamina. Physical therapist assistants and aides are frequently on their feet and moving as they work with their patients. They must often kneel, stoop, bend, and stand for long periods. They should enjoy physical activity.
The median annual wage for physical therapist aides is $29,200. The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $22,140, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $37,920.
The median annual wage for physical therapist assistants is $61,180. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $80,170.
The median annual wages for physical therapist aides in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | $37,090 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $30,230 |
| Offices of physicians | $29,960 |
| Government | $29,020 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $28,920 |
The median annual wages for physical therapist assistants in the top industries in which they work are as follows:
| Home healthcare services | $76,600 |
| Nursing care facilities (skilled nursing facilities) | $69,070 |
| Hospitals; state, local, and private | $61,280 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $59,720 |
| Offices of physicians | $58,190 |
Most physical therapist assistants and aides work full time. Some night and weekend work may be required because many physical therapy offices and clinics have extended hours to accommodate patients' schedules.
Employment of physical therapist assistants is projected to grow 24 percent over the next ten years, much faster than the average for all occupations.
About 25,500 openings for physical therapist assistants and aides are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Demand for physical therapy is expected to increase in response to the health needs of an aging population, particularly the large baby-boom generation. This group is staying more active later in life than previous generations did. However, many baby boomers also are entering the prime age for heart attacks, strokes, and mobility-related injuries, increasing the demand for physical therapy needed for rehabilitation.
In addition, more physical therapist assistants and aides will be needed to help patients maintain their mobility and manage the effects of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity. Moreover, medical and technological developments should permit an increased number of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating added demand for therapy and rehabilitative services.
Physical therapists are expected to rely on physical therapist assistants, particularly in long-term care environments, in order to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. After the physical therapist has evaluated a patient and designed a plan of care, the assistant provides many parts of the treatment, as directed by the therapist.
| Occupational Title | Employment, 2021 | Projected Employment, 2031 | Change, 2021-31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percent | Numeric | |||
| Physical therapist assistants and aides | 140,800 | 174,700 | 24 | 33,900 |
| Physical therapist assistants | 96,500 | 122,100 | 26 | 25,600 |
| Physical therapist aides | 44,200 | 52,600 | 19 | 8,300 |
For more information about physical therapist assistants, visit
American Physical Therapy Association
For a list of schools offering accredited programs, visit
Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
For more information about state licensing requirements and about the National Physical Therapy Exam, visit
A portion of the information on this page is used by permission of the U.S. Department of Labor.