Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

The main role of a physical therapy assistant(PTA) is to provide support to physical therapists in the rehabilitation of patients. Currently, there are more than 114,400 PTAs working all across America. As per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in this profession is only going to rise in coming years with an annual growth rate of 45%. The salary of a physical therapist assistant is $37,710 annually.

When a patient visits the medical facility, he is first supervised by a physical therapist, who then prepares a treatment-plan for the patient. The treatment plan is specific for each patient and contains various treatment and procedures as per his requirement. The entire plan is conducted by the PTA under the supervision of physical therapist. The PTA is supposed to constantly report the progress made by the patient and, if needed, the therapist may change the treatment plan as per his understanding.

In order to become a physical therapist assistant, one needs to have an Associate's degree from a recognized school. Currently, there are more than 233 accredited schools all across America that offer this program. The duration of the course is two-years, which includes the summer training program. Various subjects like biology, anatomy, chemistry, and psychology are added in the curriculum. In the end of the summer training, students are evaluated as per their dedication. This evaluation report plays a great role in determining the employment prospects of an individual after graduation. Most of the PTAs are hired in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, and home-health service facilities. Some PTAs are also hired on contract basis by patients. The duration of the contract is usually a week or two during which they have to stay with the patients at their home.

The salary of an individual is determined by his skill and experience, as well as the job location. A physical therapist assistant with an experience of 20 years can earn an average salary of $42,000 to $65,000, whereas a fresh graduate has an income range from $30,000 to $40,000. The home-health service facilities pay the highest amount followed by nursing homes and hospitals. Schools and physician's office pay the least salary, comparatively. Texas and Virginia has highest average salary scale for physical therapist assistants whereas Pennsylvania and New york has the lowest.

This is a career for those ambitious individuals looking for careers that pay well but also allow for satisfaction. It is always a great feeling for physical therapist assistants to use their skills to make a difference in somebody's life.