All About Physical Therapist Aides
Physical Therapist Aide Example Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
Daily Life Of a Physical Therapist Aide
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- Administer traction to relieve neck or back pain, using intermittent or static traction equipment.
- Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists’ schedules.
- Measure patient’s range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Physical Therapist Aide?
Below is a list of the skills most Physical Therapist Aides say are important on the job.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Service Orientation: Actively looking for ways to help people.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Other Physical Therapist Aide Job Titles
- Physical Therapy Aide (PTA)
- Physiotherapy Aide
- Therapy Aide
- Rehabilitation Attendant
- Physical Therapist Technician (Physical Therapy Tech)
Job Outlook for Physical Therapist Aides
There were about 52,000 jobs for Physical Therapist Aide in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 29.2% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 15,200 new jobs for Physical Therapist Aide by 2026. The BLS estimates 8,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Physical Therapist Aide are Arizona, Utah, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in Rhode Island, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Physical Therapist Aide Salary
The salary for Physical Therapist Aides ranges between about $20,040 and $39,230 a year.
Physical Therapist Aides who work in Alaska, Minnesota, or Vermont, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Physical Therapist Aides in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $26,190 |
| Alaska | $46,230 |
| Arizona | $28,360 |
| Arkansas | $25,650 |
| California | $31,090 |
| Colorado | $32,240 |
| Connecticut | $30,980 |
| Delaware | $26,050 |
| District of Columbia | $30,520 |
| Florida | $27,160 |
| Georgia | $27,270 |
| Hawaii | $30,050 |
| Idaho | $39,120 |
| Illinois | $31,100 |
| Indiana | $29,450 |
| Iowa | $27,580 |
| Kansas | $27,490 |
| Kentucky | $26,320 |
| Louisiana | $27,620 |
| Maine | $30,690 |
| Maryland | $25,980 |
| Massachusetts | $33,740 |
| Michigan | $27,810 |
| Minnesota | $37,230 |
| Mississippi | $22,870 |
| Missouri | $28,940 |
| Montana | $28,320 |
| Nebraska | $28,000 |
| Nevada | $26,000 |
| New Hampshire | $32,820 |
| New Jersey | $27,480 |
| New Mexico | $28,210 |
| New York | $30,230 |
| North Carolina | $27,780 |
| North Dakota | $33,350 |
| Ohio | $28,210 |
| Oklahoma | $21,610 |
| Oregon | $30,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $29,450 |
| Rhode Island | $33,960 |
| South Carolina | $30,440 |
| South Dakota | $28,810 |
| Tennessee | $25,740 |
| Texas | $26,810 |
| Utah | $22,860 |
| Vermont | $33,900 |
| Virginia | $28,110 |
| Washington | $29,870 |
| West Virginia | $25,620 |
| Wisconsin | $30,460 |
| Wyoming | $26,080 |
What Tools & Technology do Physical Therapist Aides Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Physical Therapist Aides:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- Word processing software
- MEDITECH software
- Scheduling software
- Medical procedure coding software
- Epic Systems
- Patient record maintenance software
Becoming a Physical Therapist Aide
Individuals working as a Physical Therapist Aide have obtained the following education levels:
How Long Does it Take to Become a Physical Therapist Aide?
Physical Therapist Aides Sector
Below are examples of industries where Physical Therapist Aides work:
You May Also Be Interested In…
Those interested in being a Physical Therapist Aide may also be interested in:
Those who work as a Physical Therapist Aide sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
References:
Image Credit: Sgt. Courtney Richardson, 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs via Public domain
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