Physical Therapist Assistants Needed in Healthcare
Date: August 4, 2022
Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs) work under the supervision of licensed Physical Therapists to help patients regain movement and manage pain after surgery, traumatic brain injury (TBI), injury, disability, or illness. The rehabilitative and therapeutic modalities used include soft tissue mobilization/massage techniques, stretching, exercises, manual therapy interventions, range of movement motions, electrotherapies, and more.1
Physical Therapist Assistants obtain data and collaborate with Physical Therapists to modify care. Physical Therapist Assistants endeavor to help patients improve and increase range and function, regain or maintain independence and lead healthier, more active, and quality-improved lives. These professionals facilitate communication with patients and their families to ensure positive, long-term physical outcomes.1
While one often considers this industry restorative, Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants also work with healthy people, directing preventative care, providing performance enhancement options, and setting fitness goals within their scope of practice.
How Does One Become a Physical Therapist Assistant?
To be eligible for this profession, Physical Therapist Assistants must complete a two-year Associate of Science Degree program. A good Physical Therapist Assistant program strives to equip future assistants with the necessary skills to enter the workforce as competent, thinking, respectful, and compassionate individuals who provide ethical care within their scope of practice. The program includes classwork, laboratory training, and clinical experience correlating with the practice’s theoretical education. In addition, technical courses incorporate the Standards of Ethical Conduct for Physical Therapist Assistants as developed by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).2
Ultimately, Physical Therapist Assistants must understand anatomy and physiology. Additionally, the PTA field requires considerable soft skills alongside basic science skills. All our candidates must have college-level anatomy and physiology with a lab. Some soft skills include compassion and communication abilities. Another soft skill is organization. Organizational abilities are a plus for documenting and maintaining patient records while adhering to established or evolving patient-care treatment plans.
According to the APTA, licensure is managed by individual state regulatory boards.2 To work as a Physical Therapist Assistant in the US, one must graduate from a CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education) accredited program and successfully pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). The NPTE Exam is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).3
In California, graduates must also pass the California Law Examination (CLE).4 One may register for both exams and seek licensure from the FSBPT, while exams are administered through the Prometric Testing Centers.5
Job Satisfaction
Year after year, Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants rank in the top 20 of the best healthcare jobs.6 Considering vocational indicators including unemployment rates, 10-year growth volumes, 10-year growth percentages, future job prospects, stress levels, and work-life balances, Physical Therapist Assistants as a profession ranked No. 1 in Best Health Care Support Jobs. The role was number 13 in 100 Best Jobs, with an overall scorecard of 7.2 out of 10 in US News “Best Jobs for 2021.”7, 8
Further, many of these professionals report altruistic and humanitarian benefits to the field. In the article “Should I Become a PTA?” Chief Editor of the website Physical Therapist Assistants Guide, Steve Johnson, lists some non-salary reasons to go into the profession. Johnson reports these include hands-on clinical experiences, flexible schedules, travel opportunities, teamwork, a wide variety of work settings, and—helping and serving others. Johnson says,
“It allows you to work closely with patients who can use the help. Individuals might be going to Physical Therapy because they must deal with the after-effects of a severe and traumatic car accident. In cases like this, the Physical Therapist Assistant can make a big difference in an individual’s life. The Physical Therapist Assistant can help a person regain motion in a badly broken leg or injured hip. This allows the Physical Therapist Assistant to watch the patient’s life dramatically improve”.6 “Many individuals leave a physical therapy session knowing they have regained some [functions] that are vital to their life—you will be the one who helps them recover.”6
How Much Does a Professional Physical Therapist Assistant Earn?
According to the 2021 State of California Detail Occupational Guide, the median wage in 2020 for PTAs in California was $71,713.9 However, it’s important to remember that salaries can vary depending on experience, geographic location, workplaces, and more. Ultimately, one should review salary data within their geographic area.
Outlook for the Physical Therapy Assistant
According to the 2021 State of California Detail Occupational Guide, the number of Physical Therapy Assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average growth rate for all occupations.9 The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 32.6 percent employment growth for Physical Therapist Assistants between 2019–2029. In that period, an estimated 32,200 jobs should open. Additionally, the vocation has a mere unemployment rate of 1.3 percent.7
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*The salaries provided are based on reported data. Individual experiences can vary depending on certification, years of experience, geographical areas, and other factors.
Citations:
1^a, b “31-2021.00–Physical Therapist Assistants.” O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development. (Accessed July 21, 2022.)
2^a, b “APTA.” American Physical Therapy Association. 2019. (Accessed June 18, 2021.)
3 “Promoting Safety and Competence.” Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. 2002. (Accessed June 23, 2021.)
4 n.d. “Exam Registration and Information.” The state of California, Department of Consumer Affairs. (Accessed June 24, 2021.)
5 “Prometric.” Prometric.com. 2019. Www.prometric.com. (Accessed July 21, 2022.)
6^a, b, c Johnson, Steve. “Should I Become a Physical Therapy Assistant?”PTA Guide. March 24, 2019. (Accessed June 18, 2021.)
7 ^a, b Bratcher, Emily. “How Much Can a Physical Therapist Assistant Expect to Get Paid?” US News and World Report. 2017. (Accessed June 18, 2021.)
8 “100 Best Jobs of 2019.” Usnews.com. US News and World Report. 2019. (Accessed July 21, 2022.)
9^a, b Detail Occupational Guide. The State of California Employment Development Department. 2020. (Accessed June 18, 2021.)
