A physical therapist aide works under the direct supervision or direction of a physicaltherapist or physical therapist assistant to support physical therapy treatment. Physicaltherapy treatment entails helping patients that may be accident victims or persons withdisabling conditions. Physical therapist aides perform a variety of functions that mayinclude:

  • Keeping physical therapy areas clean and organized
  • Preparing physical therapy areas for incoming patients
  • Preparing for each patients therapy
  • Assisting patients, who are mobility challenged, to or from treatment areas
  • Performing minor clerical tasks such as ordering supplies, answering the phone, and filling out paperwork

Job Characteristics

Physical therapist aides are entry level positions that do not require formal training.Most physical therapist aides receive on-the-job training and clinical training. Duringjob training the physical therapist aide will work with experienced employees from three monthsto a year. Basic requirements are typically a high school diploma and a desire to workwith people. Other skills that are helpful in pursuing a physical therapist aide positioninclude good organizational skills, keen listening skills, reading and writing skills,strong interpersonal skills, the ability to communicate effectively, a detailed orientationas well as a service orientation. While physical therapist assistants may requirelicensure, it is not required for physical therapist aides.

Approximately 72% of physical therapy aides and assistants work in physical therapy facilities orwithin hospitals according to The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. The remainder work in other areas such as nursing facilities, physiciansoffices, home health care services or outpatient care centers. Approximately 28% ofphysical therapist aides and assistants work part time and often physical therapyfacilities offer weekend and evening hours to accomodate the needs of their patients.

The physical therapist aide position requires some strength due to the responsibilitiesof the job. The need to assist and sometimes even lift patients requires the physicaltherapist aide to have moderate strength. In addition, the physical therapist job is aphysical one where the majority of the time is spent standing, stooping, bending, andkneeling.

Job Outlook

Employment opportunities in the physical therapy field are growing and at a faster ratethan that of many other occupations. However, given the large pool of qualified applicants forphysical therapy aide positions, persons pursuing this career may have greater competitionfor the jobs available. Forecasted growth for 2008-2018 decade, in physical therapy, is35%. This growth is projected based on a number of factors. First, the elderly populationis growing and will continue to do so as baby boomers age and are more likely to experienceailments that require physical therapy. Moreover, as technology advances and better medicaltreatments become available more trauma patients will survive increasing the need forphysical therapy services.

The income for physical therapist aides averaged between $19,910 and $28,670 annuallyin 2008 and the median annual income for this group was approximately $23,760. In addition, the highest 10 percent earned more than $33,540, while the lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,270. Nursingcare facilities provided the highest incomes for physical therapy aides in May of 2008. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of physical therapy aides in May 2008 were as follows:

  1. $26,530 - Nursing care facilities
  2. $24,780 - General medical and surgical hospitals
  3. $24,590 - Specialty (except psychiatric and substance abuse) hospitals
  4. $23,730 - Offices of physicians
  5. $22,550 - Offices of other health practitioners

The projected need for physical therapist aides in the 2008-2018 timeframe is expected to grow by an additional 16,700 employees.

Job advancement for physical therapist aides is often to become a physical therapistassistant. This may be achieved by gaining experience within an organization as well asby seeking further education.


Typical Physical Therapy Aides Programs May Include Courses in:

  • Body Mechanics
  • Common Physical Disorders
  • Geriatric Physical Therapy
  • Human Anatomy
  • Introduction to Medical Terminology
  • Introduction to Physical Therapy
  • Medical Ethics
  • Medical Records and Terminology
  • Musculoskeletal System
  • Patient Care
  • Patient Communication
  • Patient Positioning
  • Pediatric Physical Therapy
  • Physical Therapy Exercises
  • Physical Therapy Treatments
  • Wheelchairs and Assistive Devices


Job Tools

  • Clinical hydraulic ifts or accessories
  • Electronic Blood pressure units
  • Mercury Blood pressure units
  • Theraputic heating or cooling pads or compresses or packs
  • Vascular compression apparel or supports
  • Wheelchairs


Job Technologies

  • Calendar and scheduling software
  • Medical software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software


Resources for Physical Therapy Aides

Schools for Physical Therapist Aides are listed in the Browse Schools Section.

Physical Therapist Aides Skills

Below are the skills needed to be physical therapist aides according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Skill NameImportanceCompetence
Active Listening3.623.12
Social Perceptiveness3.383.5
Coordination3.123.12
Monitoring3.123.25
Service Orientation3.123

Physical Therapist Aides Abilities

Below are the abilities needed to be physical therapist aides according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Ability NameImportanceCompetence
Oral Comprehension3.253.75
Oral Expression3.253.12
Problem Sensitivity3.123
Speech Recognition3.123.12
Arm-Hand Steadiness32.88

Physical Therapist Aides Knowledge

Below are the knowledge areas needed to be physical therapist aides according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 7 being highest).

   
Knowledge AreaImportanceCompetence
Customer and Personal Service4.044.62
Therapy and Counseling3.983.87
Education and Training3.593.75
English Language3.513.31
Medicine and Dentistry3.193.15

Physical Therapist Aides Work activities

Below are the work activities involved in being physical therapist aides according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest) and competency level on a scale of 1 to 7 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work ActivityImportanceCompetence
Assisting and Caring for Others4.534.9
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.354
Performing General Physical Activities4.284.27
Getting Information4.182.96
Handling and Moving Objects4.145.32

Physical Therapist Aides Work styles

Below are the work styles involved in being physical therapist aides according to their importance on the scale of 1 to 5 (1 being lowest and 5 being highest).

   
Work StyleImportance
Dependability4.77
Cooperation4.68
Integrity4.59
Concern for Others4.47
Self Control4.43

Metro Areas Sorted by Total Employment for
Physical Therapist Aides

Listed below are the 10 largest metro areas based on the total number of people employed in Physical Therapist Aides jobs , as of 2019

   
Metro AreaTotal EmploymentAnnual Mean Salary
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim2,250$31,510
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington1,840$27,720
San Diego-Carlsbad1,070$28,330
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson980$26,250
San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward850$35,520
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach750$28,490
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn640$28,640
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin590$27,980
Pittsburgh550$28,750
Grand Rapids-Wyoming530$25,310

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Total employment and salary for professions similar to physical therapist aides

Source : 2019 Occupational Employment Statistics and 2018-28 Employment Projections, Bureau of Labor Statistics, BLS.gov; O*NET® 24.3 Database, O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, Employment & Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor, onetonline.org

We have some additional detailed pages at the state level for Physical Therapist Aides.

Numbers in parentheses are counts of relevant campus-based schools in the state; online schools may also be available.