What Does it Take to Be a Physical Therapist Aide?
Example of Physical Therapist Aide Job 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.
Physical Therapist Aide Responsibilities
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
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What Every Physical Therapist Aide Should Know
Physical Therapist Aides state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Types of Physical Therapist Aide
- Physical Therapist Aide (PTA)
- Physical Therapy Technician
- Rehabilitation Attendant
- Restorative Care Technician
- Physical Therapy Attendant
Are There Job Opportunities for Physical Therapist Aides?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 52,000 jobs in the United States for Physical Therapist Aide. 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.
Average Physical Therapist Aides Salary
Physical Therapist Aides make between $20,040 and $39,230 a year.
Physical Therapist Aides who work in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
How much do Physical Therapist Aides make in each U.S. state?
| 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 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 do I Become a Physical Therapist Aide?
Are there Physical Therapist Aides education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Physical Therapist Aide?
Where do Physical Therapist Aides Work?
Below are examples of industries where Physical Therapist Aides work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Physical Therapist Aide may also be interested in:
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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