Career Overview: All About Physical Therapist Aides

If you’re interested in helping people live healthy, active lives and ready to jumpstart your career in as few as nine months, then a career as a physical therapist aide might be ideal for you! Physical therapist aides help with tasks like documenting patient treatments, scheduling appointments, and taking clients to different areas of a healthcare facility. This guide walks you through the process of how to be a physical therapist aide by highlighting tips, skills, and important resources, including:

• Work environment
• Job outlook & overview
• Education programs and curriculum

Physical Therapy Aide Job Description

Physical therapist aides perform a variety of tasks that help keep the office running smoothly. Although physical therapist aides are supervised by physical therapists, they might collaborate with therapist assistants.1 Their day-to-day responsibilities include cleaning treatment areas, setting up equipment for appointments, washing linens, as well as performing clerical duties such as answering the phone, or submitting patient intake forms. In some cases, a physical therapist aide might be responsible for ordering supplies, completing insurance forms, and administering modality treatments.2
A physical therapist aide can also interact with patients, helping them move to different treatment areas.

The work and tasks that aides are allowed to do vary by state, and you may also see some variety in the responsibilities required by different employers.2 Jobs in offices or facilities that specialize in more intensive rehabilitation, such as helping patients recover from spinal cord injuries, may require aides to assist with more hands-on work with patients.1

In this environment, a physical therapist aide could help patients fulfill basic life skills, like showering or eating.

They can work in different treatment areas, including hospitals, nursing care facilities, physicians’ offices, and government settings.3 Many aides work full-time, though part-time opportunities still exist. Some physical therapist aides work nights and weekends to accommodate their patients’ work schedules.

Physical Therapy Assistant vs Aide

Physical therapist assistants and aides may work closely together in the same office, but there are several differences between the two roles.2 Physical therapist aides execute operational activities that help keep the office running efficiently. But their interaction with patients may be limited to scheduling appointments and bringing patients in and out of the therapist areas.

However, physical therapist assistants have much more patient interaction. They perform many direct care responsibilities, such as:

• Observing patients during therapy.
• Helping patients with certain exercises.
• Recording details about patients’ health status.
• Using techniques like manual stretching to treat patients using devices like walkers to help patients.

Because physical therapist assistants work closely with patients, assistants are managed by physical therapists. In contrast, a physical therapist aide is often supervised by a physical therapist and may collaborate with a physical therapist assistant.

Both physical therapist assistants and physical therapist aides ensure a seamless health care experience, as they provide patients with the care they need.

Benefits of Being a Physical Therapist Aide

Working as a physical therapist aide is rewarding in many ways. When you work in this industry, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re helping to improve and maximize a patient’s quality of life.⁵ You will also have the ability to choose from various work settings, like rehabilitation centers, private practices, and more.³

Physical Therapist Aide Classes

The following are some of the Physical Therapy Technology program classes you could take at Carrington College.

Kinesiology Basics Theory

Students explore the science of human movement, art of palpation, draping techniques, trigger points and stretching in relation to physical therapy. Students will learn how to locate specific bones and muscles via touch. Additionally, students will learn the origins, insertions and actions associated with the musculoskeletal system.

Fundamentals of Physical Therapy Technology Application

Students will obtain and assess specific vital signs. Students will also demonstrate the correct height of assistive devices, weight bearing statuses, various types of transfers and gait patterns using various assistive devices. Additionally, scope of practice will be discussed throughout the course.

Prepare for a Career in Physical Therapy With Carrington College

A career as a physical therapist aide can be quite rewarding having the satisfaction of knowing you’re helping people live better lives. If you’re ready to take the next step in your career, then enrolling in Carrington College’s Physical Therapy Technology program can prepare you for the challenges you’ll see on the job. In as little as nine months, you could be applying for your first physical therapist aide job and putting the skills that you’ve learned to practical use. Request more information today to learn about the program and how it can help you along your career path.

Physical Therapist Aide FAQ

Do physical therapist aides need certification?

You don’t have to obtain certification or licensure to become a physical therapist aide.8 However, a certificate program can prepare you for your career with skills, knowledge, and real-world experience that will make your transition into your first job easier.

Should I go to school to be a physical therapist aide?

Attending school to be a physical therapist aide is a great way to kickstart your career, but it’s not the right decision for everyone. You’ll need to consider your budget, your career goals, and what you want to get out of a Physical Therapy Technology program when deciding if going to school is right for you.