Physical Therapist Assistants
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.
Also called: Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA) · Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant · Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant · Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA) · Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant · Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant
What the numbers say
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing
- Critical Thinking
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
- Mathematics
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
- Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- 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.
Tools & technology
- eClinicalWorks EHR software
- Microsoft Windows
- Arena Health Systems Phys-X
- Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST
- Billing software
- BioEx Systems Exercise Pro
- Bookkeeping software
- Client caseload management software
- dBASE
- Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR
- FileMaker Pro
- Knees Software PT DocTools
- Laboratory information system LIS
- Medical condition coding software
- PhysioTools Tools RG
- Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite
Knowledge areas
- Customer and Personal Service
- Therapy and Counseling
- English Language
- Education and Training
- Psychology
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Computers and Electronics
- Biology