How to become a Physical Therapist Assistant
Official title: Physical Therapist Assistants
Also called: Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA), Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant, Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant, Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA), Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant, Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant, Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA), Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
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.
Main tasks
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities.
- Document patient information, such as notes on their progress.
- 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.
How to become one
Physical therapist assistants entering the occupation typically need an associate's degree from an accredited program and a license or certification. Physical therapist aides usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training.
Typical education to start: Associate's degree
Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Ways in
- Apprenticeship: Physical Therapist Assistant (Nof).
- Certificate or associate's degree: Associate's degree. Programs such as Physical Therapy Assistant
- Licence: A licence is required in 46 states.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $68,380 a year The middle half earn $59,820 to $78,680.
- About 114,100 people work in this job now, and about 140,400 are projected by 2035. (+23%)
- People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Physical Therapist Assistant?
Physical therapist assistants entering the occupation typically need an associate's degree from an accredited program and a license or certification. Physical therapist aides usually need a high school diploma or equivalent and on-the-job training.
How much does a Physical Therapist Assistant earn in the US?
Median full-time pay is $68,380 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $59,820 to $78,680.
Is a Physical Therapist Assistant a growing career in the US?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 23% by 2035, from about 114,100 to about 140,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).
Do you need a degree to become a Physical Therapist Assistant?
Not always. 39% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Associate's degree; Physical Therapist Assistant (Nof).
Will AI change the work of a Physical Therapist Assistant?
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.
Sources
- Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03
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.