Physical Therapist Assistants

What Physical Therapist Assistants Do

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.

Career Outlook

National employment outlook, 2024–2034.

Related work experience

None

On-the-job training

None

Self-employed

0.7%

Source: BLS Employment Projections — 2024-2034.

Key Knowledge Areas

Subject-matter areas this occupation draws on most, per O*NET.

• Customer and Personal Serviceimportance 4.5/5
• Therapy and Counselingimportance 4.2/5
• English Languageimportance 4.2/5
• Education and Trainingimportance 3.9/5
• Psychologyimportance 3.6/5
• Medicine and Dentistryimportance 3.5/5
• Computers and Electronicsimportance 3.4/5
• Biologyimportance 3.4/5

Work Environment

What the day-to-day work setting is like, per O*NET.

• Physical Proximity5.0/5
• Contact With Others5.0/5
• Indoors, Environmentally Controlled4.9/5
• Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.9/5
• Frequency of Decision Making4.9/5
• Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team4.6/5

Related Careers

• Physical Therapist Aides
• Occupational Therapy Assistants
• Occupational Therapy Aides
• Psychiatric Technicians
• Respiratory Therapists
• Recreational Therapists
• Radiation Therapists
• Psychiatric Aides

Careers With Similar Skills

Occupations whose Transferable Skills profile most closely matches this one — a mathematical comparison, not observed data about people actually moving between these careers.

• Physical Therapist Aides95% skill match
• Phlebotomists94% skill match
• Medical Assistants94% skill match
• Occupational Therapy Aides94% skill match
• Dental Hygienists94% skill match
• Forensic Science Technicians94% skill match
• Registered Nurses93% skill match
• Psychiatric Technicians93% skill match

Transferable Skills

Cross-functional skills this occupation draws on most, per O*NET — the kind that carry over to other careers.

• Social Perceptivenessimportance 3.8/5
• Service Orientationimportance 3.3/5
• Coordinationimportance 3.1/5
• Instructingimportance 3.1/5
• Complex Problem Solvingimportance 3.1/5
• Judgment and Decision Makingimportance 3.1/5
• Persuasionimportance 3.0/5
• Time Managementimportance 3.0/5

Software & Technologies

Tools and software used in this occupation, per O*NET.

Work Style

Personal work characteristics that matter most for this occupation, per O*NET.

• Cooperation
• Dependability
• Empathy
• Attention to Detail
• Social Orientation
• Integrity
• Optimism

Career Interests

This occupation’s RIASEC interest profile, per O*NET — how strongly it fits each of the six Holland interest types.

• SocialHigh
• RealisticMedium
• ConventionalMedium
• InvestigativeMedium
• ArtisticLow
• EnterprisingLow

Where This Career Is Most Concentrated

Metro areas where physical therapist assistants make up the largest share of local employment, relative to the national average (BLS location quotient).

1. 1Gadsden, AL6.78× national avg
2. 2Homosassa Springs, FL5.80× national avg
3. 3Bay City, MI4.30× national avg
4. 4Jonesboro, AR3.97× national avg
5. 5Youngstown-Warren, OH3.28× national avg

Possible Career Moves

A computed starting point, not observed job-change data — see the full list for why each one might fit.

• Psychiatric TechniciansCareer Change
• Occupational Therapy AidesLateral Move
• Medical AssistantsLateral Move
• Physical Therapist AidesLateral Move

See the full career path from Physical Therapist Assistants →

Related Education Programs

Schools that offer related fields of study, based on the NCES CIP-SOC crosswalk — not a guarantee that graduates enter this specific career.