Duties of the PTA include assisting the physical therapist in implementing treatment programs, training patients in exercises and activities of daily living, conducting treatments, and reporting to the physical therapist on the patient's responses. In addition to direct patient care, the physical therapist assistant may also perform such functions as patient transport, and clinic or equipment preparation and maintenance. PTA's who were employed in the southern and western regions of the nation earned the highest median salary. Physical therapist assistants work in hospitals, private physical therapy offices, community health centers, corporate or industrial health centers, sports facilities, research institutions, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, home health agencies, schools, pediatric centers, and colleges and universities. Physical therapist assistants must complete a two-year education program, typically offered through a community or junior college.
Candidates receive an associates degree upon graduation.
The course of study includes one year of general education and one year of technical courses on physical therapy procedures and clinical experience. There are 266 accredited physical therapist assistant education programs throughout the country, graduating more than 5,000 PTAs annually. Currently, more than half of all states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. States requiring licensure stipulate specific educational and examination criteria.