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Physical Therapist Assistant Overview - Preparation - Day In The Life - Earnings - Employment - Career Path Forecast - Professional Organizations


Day in the Life
The hours and days that physical therapist assistants work vary with the facility. About 23 percent of all physical therapist assistants work part time. Many outpatient physical therapy offices and clinics have evening and weekend hours, to coincide with patients' personal schedules.

Physical therapist assistants should be well-organized, detail oriented, and caring. They usually have strong interpersonal skills and a desire to help people in need.

Physical therapist assistants need a moderate degree of strength because of the physical exertion required in assisting patients with their treatment. In some cases, assistants need to lift patients. Frequent kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods also are part of the job.

Some physical therapist assistants decide to specialize in a clinical area. They gain expertise in treating a certain type of patient, such as geriatric or pediatric, or a type of ailment, such as sports injuries. Many physical therapist assistants advance to administration positions. These positions might include organizing all the assistants in a large physical therapy organization or acting as the director for a specific department such as sports medicine. Other assistants go on to teach in an accredited physical therapist assistant academic program, lead health risk reduction classes for the elderly, or organize community activities related to fitness and risk reduction.

Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
 


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