Jobs / Healthcare / 31-2021.00
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.
- US jobs
- 112,430
- Median wage
- $68,380 a year
- Job family
- Healthcare
Can agents do the work of physical therapist assistants?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 23%Train others on health or medical topicsNot measured
- 8%Assist healthcare practitioners during medical proceduresNot measured
- 8%Confer with healthcare or other professionals about patient careNot measured
- 7%Administer therapeutic treatmentsNot measured
- 5%Clean tools, equipment, facilities, or work areasNot measured
- 5%Evaluate patient or client condition or treatment optionsNot measured
- 5%Prepare health or medical documentsNot measured
- 5%Assist individuals with special needsNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- 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.
- 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.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
- Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
- Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
- Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
- Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
Other job titles for this occupation (15)
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 · Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA) · Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) · Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) · Assistant · Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA) · Nursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant) · Physiotherapy Assistant · Rehabilitation Assistant (Rehab Assistant) · SNF PTA (Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant)