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Physical Therapist Aides

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.

What you’d do

  • 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.
  • Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
  • Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.

Skills that matter

  • Active Listening
  • Monitoring
  • Service Orientation
  • Coordination
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Social Perceptiveness

How to get there

Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one

Also called

  • Physical Therapist Aide (PTA)
  • Physical Therapy Aide (PTA)
  • PT Tech (Physical Therapy Technician)
  • Rehabilitation Technician (Rehabilitation Tech)
  • PT Attendant (Physical Therapy Attendant)
  • PT Tech (Physical Therapist Technician)

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