Physical Therapist Aides
Physical Therapist Aides is the O*NET name for people who under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. The skills rated most useful are active listening, service orientation, and monitoring. The job can ask you to clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment. The strongest interest signal is Social (6.0 of 7), then Realistic (4.7) and Conventional, which gives it the code SRC. Getting in usually takes a few months to a year of learning on the job, a level O*NET calls some preparation. If you want helping, teaching or caring for people, keep it on your list. If you need creative work with room for original expression, it may feel thin.
What they do
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.
Main tasks
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
Skills
- Active Listening
- Service Orientation
- Monitoring
- Social Perceptiveness
- Reading Comprehension
- Coordination
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You get energy from helping other people move forward.
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
- You are comfortable relying on active listening and service orientation.
May not suit you if
- You find a full day of dealing with people draining.
- You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.1 out of 7 here.
- You want a career built on years of advanced study.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code SRC takes the three highest, and Social comes first here.
Preparation
Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Physical Therapist Aide (PTA)
- Physical Therapy Aide (PTA)
- PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant)
- PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician)
- PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician)
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.