What Does a Physical Therapist Assistant Do?
On the parallel bars, a patient recovering from a stroke practices walking again while a physical therapist assistant (PTA) holds the gait belt. PTAs carry out the plan a physical therapist designs, from guided exercise and walking practice to heat, ice or electrical stimulation, in outpatient clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and patients' homes.
Also known as: Physical Therapy Assistant
Physical Therapist Assistant Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant include:
- Guide patients through therapeutic exercises set out in the physical therapist's plan of care.
- Teach safe walking with crutches, walkers or canes and practice stairs and transfers.
- Apply heat, ice, ultrasound or electrical stimulation as the treatment plan directs.
- Perform manual techniques such as soft tissue work and assisted stretching within scope.
- Measure strength, range of motion and pain levels and record progress each visit.
- Report changes in a patient's condition to the supervising physical therapist promptly.
- Adjust exercises within the plan when a patient struggles or progresses faster.
- Write daily treatment notes in the clinic's documentation system for billing.
- Show patients and caregivers home exercise programs using clear handouts.
- Prepare treatment areas and clean equipment between patients.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as a physical therapist assistant, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- State PTA license or certification
- National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) for PTAs
- Therapeutic exercise and gait training
- CPR certification
- Documentation software such as WebPT
- Physical stamina for lifting and guarding patients
- Encouragement that keeps patients doing their exercises
- Close observation of pain and fatigue
Education and Training
To become a physical therapist assistant, in almost every state you will need a degree from an accredited PTA program and a passing score on the national exam to qualify to practice. Programs include clinical rotations. With experience, you could specialize in areas such as sports, neurology or geriatrics, or move into clinic coordination.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $59,820 - $78,680 per year, with a median of $68,380.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Physical Therapist Assistants.
BLS projects employment of physical therapist assistants to grow about 23 percent from 2025 to 2035. That strong growth should mean roughly 18,500 openings a year. Demand will rise for several reasons, including an aging population; chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, that limit mobility; and the push to treat patients outside the hospital, as clinics use assistants to see more people.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Physical therapist assistants.