Healthcare Support
Physical Therapist Assistants
Also called: Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant, Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)
US median pay
$68,380
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+23%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
18,500
114,100 employed
Typical entry education
Associate's degree
Preparation 3/5 · Medium preparation
What this job is
Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
What they do day to day
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
- Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
- Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
- Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Social Perceptiveness3.8/5
- Service Orientation3.2/5
- Judgment and Decision Making3.1/5
- Instructing3.1/5
- Coordination3.1/5
- Complex Problem Solving3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Persuasion3.0/5
Knowledge
- Customer and Personal Service4.5/5
- Therapy and Counseling4.2/5
- English Language4.2/5
- Education and Training3.9/5
- Psychology3.6/5
- Medicine and Dentistry3.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 3 of 5 — Medium preparation. Usually vocational training, an associate's degree or an apprenticeship.
Typical entry education (BLS): Associate's degree.
Highest education of people in this job:
- Associate's degree84%
- Bachelor's degree15%
Who this job suits
Mostly Social
Helping, teaching and caring for people
Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.