Information Provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Physical Therapist Assistants
Employment is projected to increase much faster than average; physical therapist aides may face keen competition from the large pool of qualified applicants. Physical therapist assistants generally have an associate degree, but physical therapist aides usually learn skills on the job. About 60 percent of jobs are in hospitals or offices of physical therapists.
On average, Physical Therapist Assistants earn $ 41,360 per year.
Job Opportunities for Health Care Careers are
expected to:
Increase faster than average.
Physical Therapist Assistant
Nursing Aides, Orderlies, and Attendants
Physical therapist assistants and aides help physical therapists to provide treatment that improves patient mobility, relieves pain, and prevents or lessens physical disabilities of patients. A physical therapist might ask an assistant to help patients exercise or learn to use crutches, for example, or an aide to gather and prepare therapy equipment. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as lower-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Most physical therapist aides are trained on the job, but most physical therapist assistants earn an associate degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. Some States require licensing for physical therapist assistants.
Physical therapist assistants and aides held about 107,000 jobs in 2006. Physical therapist assistants held about 60,000 jobs; physical therapist aides, approximately 46,000. Both work with physical therapists in a variety of settings. About 71 percent of jobs were in offices of physical therapists or in hospitals. Others worked primarily in nursing care facilities, offices of physicians, home health care services, and outpatient care centers.
