Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed. For example, a drywall installer might benefit from experience installing drywall, but an inexperienced person could still learn to be an installer with little difficulty.
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma and may require some vocational training or job-related course work. In some cases, an associate's or bachelor's degree could be needed.
Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees.
Employment is projected to increase much faster than average; physical therapist aides may face keen competition from the large pool of qualified applicants.
Physical therapist assistants generally have an associate degree, but physical therapist aides usually learn skills on the job.
About 60 percent of jobs are in hospitals or offices of physical therapists.
