Employment Percentage
39.9814184
SOC ID
31-2021
SOC Title
Physical Therapist Assistants
ONET ID
31-2021.00
ONET Concat ID
31202100
Median Salary
76148.88
EMSI Interest Area Term
Ed Level High School
0
Ed Level Certificate
0
Ed Level Some College
0
Ed Level Associates
84.160004
Ed Level Bachelors
14.88
Ed Level Masters
0.97
Ed Level Doctors
0
Typical Ed Level
an Associate degree
Career Description
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.
Core Tasks
- Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes.
- Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise.
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements.
- Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans.
- Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment.
- Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations.
- Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices.
- Monitor operation of equipment and record use of equipment and administration of treatment.
- Attend or conduct continuing education courses, seminars, or in-service activities.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
- Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
- Perform postural drainage, percussions, or vibrations or teach deep breathing exercises to treat respiratory conditions.
- Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
Start Annual Earnings
58678.94
Top Annual Earnings
95027.69
EMSI Career Title Slug
physical-therapist-assistant