Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description
Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) work under the direction of physical therapists. They help patients recover from accidents, surgery, or injuries by determining the best course of treatment. They must be knowledgeable of the human body and specific exercises used to increase strength and mobility. Typical job duties include:
- Working directly with physical therapy patients on a variety of exercises
- Making plans for patient care alongside a physical therapist
- Liaising with clients and other medical professionals
- Keeping track of patients' progress
- Communicating with patients and their families about treatment and home exercises
PTAs are required to have at minimum an associate's degree in an area like physical therapy assisting as well as licensure. Below are some general requirements about the field.
| Required Education | Associate degree |
| Field of Study | Physical therapy assistant training |
| In-Person Requirements | Lab and hands-on coursework |
| Program Length | 2 years for associate's degrees |
| Licensure/Certification | All states require licensure |
| Job Outlook (2019-2029) | 29% growth* |
| Median Salary (2019) | $58,790* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Role of PTA Online Course
Physical therapy assistant courses can be found online and consist of computer-based readings, assignments, video lectures, and online classroom discussions. Some physical therapy assistant associate's degree programs are available through combined distance-learning and on-site courses, but due to the nature of the training, some on-site laboratory work is required for students to gain hands-on experience. The role of PTA online course content is to prepare you just as much as on-site education would for your future career.
It is common for many online physical therapy assistant programs to recommend that students complete general education requirements before enrolling in a program. Online courses in physical therapy assistance generally culminate with an Associate of Applied Science, which gives students the educational qualifications necessary to sit for the National Licensing Exam for Physical Therapist Assistants administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Graduates can seek careers as physical therapy assistants, or they can continue their education to become certified physical therapists.
Course Descriptions
While there are a range of courses offered in a physical therapy assistant program, there are some that are most commonly found in every program. Let's take a look at some of these courses:
- An intro to physical therapy course introduces students to basic professional practices and the medical issues inherent in physical therapy work. Students learn about common injuries, therapeutic exercise, and functional training.
- A clinical and pathological physiology course teaches human movement and bodily functions, while training students to understand abnormal functioning and the diseases that can lead to limited or painful movement. The course provides an overview of diseases commonly dealt with in physical therapy.
- A gross anatomy course provides students with a basic understanding of the locations and functions of different parts of the body. Because the course relies heavily on laboratory work, it may require more classroom time for students in distance education programs, though the ratio of online work to laboratory work varies from program to program.
- A therapeutic exercise course focuses on the basics of therapeutic exercise, which involves the different ways people can move and train their bodies to overcome an injury or movement-inhibiting illness. This course provides students with the theoretical understanding necessary to plan out and implement various exercise regimens.
- In a body systems terminology course, students familiarize themselves with the vocabulary used to describe systems of organs, muscles, bones, and nerves that run throughout the body, and they learn how to apply these terms in physical therapy practice.
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How to Choose Physical Therapy Home Study Courses
The most important thing to look out for when researching online PTA classes is this: is the course you are interested in certified by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)? If not, it will not give you proper PTA training that you can use in a career. Make sure the course is also aimed at physical therapy assistants rather than physical therapy aides, as the training differs. Beyond those major considerations, make sure the course that you are looking into fits your schedule, education and experience level, and budget. Taking physical therapy classes online can be a great idea as long as you are careful to get a good fit.
Free Physical Therapy Assistant Training
Though you may find several websites claiming to provide free physical therapy assistant training, it is important to be careful. Many of these sites are not offering accredited teaching and may not adequately prepare you for a PTA career.
Courses in an online physical therapy assistant program focus on teaching students about the human body and how it works, while also providing the skills needed to enter the workforce as a physical therapy assistant.
