Special Offer 

Jumpstart your hiring with a $75 credit to sponsor your first job.*

Sponsored Jobs posted directly on Indeed with Urgently Hiring make a hire 5 days faster than non-sponsored jobs.**
  • Visibility for hard-to-fill roles through branding and urgently hiring
  • Instantly source candidates through matching to expedite your hiring
  • Access skilled candidates to cut down on mismatched hires

Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description: Top Duties and Qualifications

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
8 min read

A Physical Therapy Assistant, or Physical Therapy Aide, supports Physical Therapists in helping patients who are recovering from injuries manage pain and regain their mobility. Their main duties include preparing therapy equipment for appointments, massaging and stretching patients’ muscles and sanitizing therapy areas.

Physical Therapy Assistant duties and responsibilities

Physical Therapy Assistants work closely with Physical Therapists and other PTAs to provide rehabilitative care to patients. In most physical therapy clinics the duties and responsibilities of a Physical Therapy Assistant may include the following:

  • Counsel patients and their families on what to do following treatment.
  • Observe the patients they are working with before, during and after therapy and report notes to the Physical Therapist.
  • Assign specific exercises for the patient and help the patients do these exercises.
  • Use devices, such as walkers, and other equipment to help patients regain movement and reduce pain.
  • Use a variety of techniques, including stretching exercises and massage, to treat patients.
  • Assist patients when moving to and from the therapy area.

Hire your next Physical Therapy Assistant today.

Build a job description

Hire your next Physical Therapy Assistant today.

Build a job description
Close

Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description Examples

Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines
Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
Get the Guide

What does a Physical Therapy Assistant do?

Physical Therapy Assistants are healthcare professionals who directly assist Physical Therapists in recovery treatments. They observe patients before, during and after undergoing therapy sessions and take consistent notes of their progress and health status for the Physical Therapist to review.

When a Physical Therapist examines, diagnoses and builds a treatment plan for a patient, the Physical Therapy Assistant helps patients perform the exercises and mobility techniques as instructed by the Physical Therapist. They also complete clerical duties like scheduling appointments, answering phone calls and emails and sanitizing the therapy rooms after sessions.

Physical Therapy Assistant skills and qualifications

Physical Therapy Assistants use a variety of skills to provide the most comprehensive care to their patients. The specific skill set required for a Physical Therapy Assistant can vary from employer to employer but typically include the following: 

  • Compassion and empathy
  • Attention to detail
  • Organizational skills
  • Manual dexterity
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Physical stamina

Physical Therapy Assistant salary expectations  

A Physical Therapy Assistant makes an average of $53,143 per year. Pay rate may depend on the applicant’s level of experience, education and geographic location.

Physical Therapy Assistant education and training requirements

Each state requires a Physical Therapy Assistant to receive an associate degree from an accredited Physical Therapy Assistant program. Programs usually take around two years to complete and include classroom study in psychology, physiology, anatomy, English and algebra. PTA students also receive practical experience while completing supervised clinical work. During this time they will likely receive certifications in basic life support (BLS), cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other skills in first aid.

Physical Therapy Assistant experience requirements

Each state requires Physical Therapy Assistants to be certified or licensed. This generally includes graduating from an accredited Physical Therapy Assistant program and successfully completing the National Physical Therapy Exam for Physical Therapy Assistants. The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy administers this exam.

Some states also require that Physical Therapy Assistants be at least 18 years old, complete a criminal background check and pass an exam on state laws regulating the practice of PTAs. Physical Therapy Assistants typically need to complete continuing education courses to maintain their licensure.

Job description samples for similar positions

If this job description for a Physical Therapy Assistant isn’t quite what you’re looking for, consider these similar positions: 

Job Description Best Practices
Optimize your new and existing job descriptions to reach more candidates
Get the Guide

Frequently asked questions about Physical Therapy Assistants

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Physical Therapy Assistant today.

Build a job description

Job Description Examples

Need help writing a job description for a specific role? Use these job description examples to create your next great job posting. Or if you’re ready to hire, post your job on Indeed.

No search results found