Physical Therapy Aide Career Prospects

Looking for a career but simply don't have the time to dedicate to an educational program? Individuals that want to work inside the physical therapy industry can gain training today by working directly alongside professionals. Students can train to become a physical therapy aide by working on the job to gain practical work experience.

The appeal of becoming a physical therapy aide is that students don't have to officially work through an educational program. Functions that are learned through on the job experience include:

• Keeping physical therapy areas clean
• Prepping areas for patient use
• Providing help by preparing the work station for a patients therapy
• Helping patients move to different treatment areas and safely maneuver their wheelchairs
• Conducting clerical tasks such as ordering supplies and answering the offices phone

Students that pursue this type of career are not able to assist the physical therapist in clinical tasks. Assistants, not aides complete clinical tasks like mechanical traction and electrical stimulation. Students need to complete formal education if they want to be assistants and work with patients in a clinical way. Students that want to learn more about physical therapy and the human body can enter individual courses. Areas covered in courses may include learning how to help move patients without causing harm and how to prepare a room for different types of therapy sessions. Formal education is not required so educational opportunities outside of on the job training are rare. Students that wish to learn some basic areas prior to stepping into a job can find basic courses through online training.

A career as an aide requires a reasonable amount of physical strength due to helping patients in and out of wheelchairs and therapy beds. Most clinics have aides working part time and many have hours on the weekend and in the evening. Depending on the size and location of a clinic, aides may work longer hours and see more patients on a daily basis. The prospect of job availability as a physical therapy aide is expected to grow more than 30 percent over the next eight years according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The bureau attributed this increase in physical therapy services to the increasing elderly population and individuals suffering from incapacitating injuries. Opportunities to work are expanding as a result of the increased need and students can work in clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Many students that receive on the job training work for a few years then transition into becoming a physical therapy assistant. The process of transitioning usually takes two years because in order to become licensed assistants have to complete an associate's degree. Completing a formal education prepares students to perform clinical tasks. A degree is the best way to move up in the field and earn an increased salary and more job responsibility. If formal education is not possible at this time, students that want to work in the physical therapy field should find an office willing to train an aide on the job. Learning on the job provides individuals with work experience and the option to enhance their career later with formal education.

By enrolling in an accredited physical therapy aide program, students can gain the best quality education available to them. Fully accredited schools and colleges are approved by agencies like the American Occupational Therapy Association ( http://www.aota.org/ ) to provide students with the education that will help them enter into the profession of their dreams. Students can start by enrolling today.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERIC OUTLINE and may or may not depict precise methods, courses and/or focuses related to ANY ONE specific school(s) that may or may not be advertised at PETAP.org.

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