Physical Therapy Assistants and Aides are in the Top Fifty Fastest Growth Occupations in California. Most of the employers that were surveyed in 1993 reported a bigger demand for Physical Therapy Aides than for Assistants, but both these jobs are expected to grow twice as fast as all other jobs. Those who are thinking of physical therapy as a career may want to start at the Aide level and get the practical experience and visibility necessary to promote to licensed Assistant jobs. The wages for Physical Therapy Assistants are higher than Aides. Almost all employers offer paid vacation, sick leave, medical and life insurance, retirement plans, and dental and vision insurance.
Employers hire applicants who have a high school diploma or who have a certificate of equivalency.
They require speaking and writing skills, readable handwriting, and the ability to read and follow instructions. Some employers hire only applicants who have completed at least a short vocational training program in physical therapy offered at some community colleges. Physical Therapy Assistants must be licensed by the California Physical Therapy Examining Board. There are two ways to qualify for the license. Graduates with an associate degree in Physical Therapy Assisting from an accredited school can apply for the examination.