Physical Therapist Assistant salary
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What a physical therapist assistant does
Physical therapist assistants deliver treatment plans designed by physical therapists — helping people recover movement after injury, surgery or illness.
Day-to-day duties
- Deliver prescribed exercise and treatment programmes
- Apply modalities such as heat, ice and ultrasound
- Assist patients with mobility and gait training
- Record patient progress
- Educate patients on home exercises
Skills employers look for
- Motivating people through difficult recovery
- Physical strength for supporting patients
- Careful observation of progress
- Clear instruction
Requirements Licence required
- Associate degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA programme (2 years)
- National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs
- State licence in nearly every state
- CPR certification
How to get started
- 1 Complete an accredited PTA programme
- 2 Pass the national PTA examination
- 3 Obtain your state licence
- 4 Specialise — orthopaedic, geriatric or paediatric
Job outlook: An ageing population and a shift toward outpatient rehabilitation keep demand strong across most regions.
Common questions about physical therapist assistants
What does a physical therapist assistant do?
Physical therapist assistants deliver treatment plans designed by physical therapists — helping people recover movement after injury, surgery or illness. Day to day, that means deliver prescribed exercise and treatment programmes, apply modalities such as heat, ice and ultrasound, assist patients with mobility and gait training and record patient progress.
How do you become a physical therapist assistant?
The usual route is: (1) complete an accredited PTA programme, (2) pass the national PTA examination, (3) obtain your state licence, (4) specialise — orthopaedic, geriatric or paediatric. Employers typically look for associate degree from a CAPTE-accredited PTA programme (2 years), national Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs and state licence in nearly every state.
Do you need a certification to work as a physical therapist assistant?
Yes. Working as a physical therapist assistant requires formal certification or licensing — specifically state licence in nearly every state and CPR certification. Requirements are set at state level in most cases, so check your own state's rules before committing to a programme.
Are physical therapist assistants in demand?
An ageing population and a shift toward outpatient rehabilitation keep demand strong across most regions.
Where are physical therapist assistants most in demand?
See the metro and rural areas with the highest concentration of this work, ranked from Bureau of Labor Statistics employment data.
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Pay figures are estimates for guidance only, not an offer or guarantee. Advertised ranges come from job postings on LocalWork; government figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Actual pay depends on experience, certifications, shift and employer.