Median annual earnings of physical therapist assistants were $36,080 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $30,260 and $42,780. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $23,530, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $48,910. Median annual earnings of physical therapist assistants in 2002 were $35,870 in general medical and surgical hospitals and $35,750 in offices of other health practitioners.
Median annual earnings of physical therapist aides were $20,670 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,430 and $24,560. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $15,290, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $29,990. Median annual earnings of physical therapist aides in 2002 were $20,690 in general medical and surgical hospitals and $19,840 in offices of other health practitioners.
Physical therapist assistants and aides perform components of physical therapy procedures and related tasks selected by a supervising physical therapist. These workers assist physical therapists in providing services that help improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Physical therapist assistants perform a variety of tasks. Components of treatment procedures performed by these workers, under the direction and supervision of physical therapists, involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. Physical therapist assistants record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
Physical therapist aides help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant. They usually are responsible for keeping the treatment area clean and organized and for preparing for each patient’s therapy. When patients need assistance moving to or from a treatment area, aides push them in a wheelchair or provide them with a shoulder to lean on. Because they are not licensed, aides do not perform the clinical tasks of a physical therapist assistant.
The duties of aides include some clerical tasks, such as ordering depleted supplies, answering the phone, and filling out insurance forms and other paperwork. The extent to which an aide or an assistant performs clerical tasks depends on the size and location of the facility.
Employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is expected to grow much faster than the average through the year 2012. The impact of proposed Federal legislation imposing limits on reimbursement for therapy services may adversely affect the short-term job outlook for physical therapist assistants and aides. However, over the long run, demand for physical therapist assistants and aides will continue to rise, in accordance with growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function. The growing elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. These patients often need additional assistance in their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital. The large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. In addition, future medical developments should permit an increased percentage of trauma victims to survive, creating added demand for therapy services.
physical therapists are expected to increasingly utilize assistants to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. Once a patient is evaluated and a treatment plan is designed by the physical therapist, the physical therapist assistant can provide many aspects of treatment, as prescribed by the therapist.
Physical therapist aides are trained on the job, but physical therapist assistants typically earn an associate degree from an accredited physical therapist assistant program. Not all States require licensure or registration in order for the physical therapist assistant to practice. The States that require licensure stipulate specific educational and examination criteria. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from the State licensing boards. Additional requirements may include certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and other first aid and a minimum number of hours of clinical experience.
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were 245 accredited physical therapist assistant programs in the United States as of 2003. Accredited physical therapist assistant programs are designed to last 2 years, or 4 semesters, and culminate in an associate degree. Programs are divided into academic study and hands-on clinical experience. Academic course work includes algebra, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and psychology. Many programs require that students complete a semester of anatomy and physiology and have certifications in CPR and other first aid even before they begin their clinical field experience. Both educators and prospective employers view clinical experience as integral to ensuring that students understand the responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant.
Employers typically require physical therapist aides to have a high school diploma, strong interpersonal skills, and a desire to assist people in need. Most employers provide clinical on-the-job training.
Physical therapist assistants and aides work under the supervision of physical therapists. Other workers in the healthcare field who work under similar supervision include dental assistants, medical assistants, occupational therapist assistants and aides, pharmacy aides, and pharmacy technicians.
Career information on physical therapist assistants and a list of schools offering accredited programs can be obtained from:
Physical therapy assistants and aides work towards these objectives by administering rehabilitation plans that are developed by a licensed physical therapist. Physical therapy assistants instruct patients in a wide variety of treatments that may encompass manual exercises on a treadmill, stationary bike, or weight lifting equipment. Other forms of treatment administered by the physical therapy assistant involve massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot/cold packs and traction. Working Conditions The hours and days that physical therapy assistants and aides work vary depending on the facility and whether they are full-time or part- time employees. In some cases assistants may need to help lift patients, therefore physical therapy programs strongly recommend against anyone prone to back problems becoming a physical therapy assistant.
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Physical therapist assistants generally have an associate's degree, but physical therapist aides usually learn skills on the job. Almost three-fourths of all jobs were in hospitals or offices of physical therapists. Nature of the Work Physical therapist assistants and aides perform components of physical therapy procedures and related tasks selected by a supervising physical therapist. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries and cerebral palsy. Physical therapist assistants record the patient's responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist.
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Nature of the Work Physical therapist assistants and aides perform physical therapy procedures and related tasks selected and delegated by a supervising physical therapist. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Treatment procedures delegated to physical therapist assistants may involve exercises, massages, electrical stimulation, paraffin baths, hot/cold packs, traction, and ultrasound. When patients need assistance to, or from the treatment area, aides may push them in a wheelchair, or provide them with a shoulder to lean on. Working Conditions The hours and days that physical therapist assistants and aides work vary depending on the facility, and whether they are full or part-time employees.
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These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem. Job Training Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. Job Zone Examples These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others.
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And physical therapy aides, in turn, are the people that physical therapists look to to help them with this task. Instead, the bulk of their time is spent either in preparation for a patient's office visit or doing clerical work. Most employers require at least a high school diploma or GED. Learn more about Career and Technical Education. OUTLOOK In recent years, job opportunities for physical therapy aides were severely hurt by changes in funding practices.
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Physical therapist assistants generally have an associate degree, but physical therapist aides usually learn skills on the job. Almost three-fourths of all jobs were in hospitals or offices of physical therapists. Patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy. Physical therapist assistants record the patient’s responses to treatment and report the outcome of each treatment to the physical therapist. Physical therapist aides help make therapy sessions productive, under the direct supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapist assistant.
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They perform routine tasks delegated by the therapist or assistant. Are you in danger of debt problems.
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They help provide services that improve patients' mobility and reduce their pain. Before working with patients, they confer with a physical therapist about the treatment plan for that patient. Under the direction of therapists, assistants provide many different types of treatment. Aides help make therapy sessions productive by keeping the treatment areas clean and organized. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment.
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Log In now, or create a new account. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area. Want to see more. Hundreds of sample resumes and cover letters. JIST Publishing, Inc.
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