Physical Therapist Assistant Jobs Search

Step 1: Determine what type of PTA job you are looking for

Before you go into your job search blindly, take a few minutes to think about, and maybe even research, some of the different practice areas that Physical Therapist Assistants work in. Depending on your specific skill set and past experience you probably have some ideas in mind for the type of role you would like to work in. Here are a few physical therapy practice areas that we have available PTA jobs in our database.

Types of PTA Jobs to Search For

Step 2: Try a number of different search phrases to find the perfect PTA job

Search engines have gotten much better over the years, and our PTA jobs search engine is up too date with Indeed’s latest technology. This is great because our system is user friendly and easy to use. It also is great because it is a very powerful system that includes jobs from 1,000s of employers across the country.

That being said, with just one small tip users can leverage our search engine to find a much higher number and higher quality of open positions to apply for. That tip is simple, try a number of different search phrases to pull more search results.

Step 3: Compare search results and apply to desired positions

As you are trying the different search phrases, you will be shown different results each time with different job openings.

One of the best ways to compare the different positions is to right click on the job search result links and then click “Open in a new tab”. This will open each job posting in a new browser window.
So, if you see multiple jobs you are interested in, then you can open each one in a new window and compare them to each other before you decide whether or not you want to apply.

That’s it! Now it is time to get started finding that perfect physical therapist assistant job position that you’ve been dreaming of.

Physical Therapy Assistant Job Description

Physical therapist assistants perform their functions under the supervision and direction of a licensed physical therapist. PTs rely heavily on their PTAs, it is important that a PTA can offer patients a complete plan of physical therapy exercises. All Physical Therapist Assistant jobs require Physical therapy assistants to apply many physical therapy techniques when caring for patients. Some techniques include deep soft tissue massage, therapeutic exercise, physical modalities such as ultrasound and electrotherapy as well as functional training.

Additionally PTAs often assist their patients to avoid losing mobility by implementing wellness and fitness programs for more active healthier lifestyles. The first time a physical therapy assistant sees a patient for the first time, they help the PT examine the individual and develop a care plan promoting restored functions, the ability to move, preventing disability and pain reduction. Then, as a team, the PT, PTA, and patient all work together to make sure the goal of the health plan is achieved, measuring patient progress, response, and safety while making adjustments as needed.

Acute Care Physical Therapy

In an acute care PTA Job, physical therapy is given to patients who have been admitted into short term patient care in a hospital for a variety of reasons such as surgery, illness, disease, accident, or trauma recovery. The PTA’s goal in an acute care position is to rehab the patient to the point in which they are medically stable and they can be discharged.

Here the physical therapist may provide skilled programs for those who are suffering form an acute health issue. These issues may cause limited mobility, loss of abilities, skin conditions and more. While most of the patients who are in the hospital are those with developmental issues (including children) it may also be due to an accident, injury or an illness. Acute care therapists are expert at evaluating and treating those who are suffering from any medically complex issues. They may also work in an emergency room or in intensive care or a group home. In a few cases they may also work for a hospice program and patients residence. They may be in a caregivers home or even in a community setting.

Here are some of the acute health issues that physical therapy can help treat:

Rehabilitation Hospital

This PTA job involves intense physical therapy typically for 3 or more hours per day with a patient. Physical therapy is provided to patients who have been admitted to a rehabilitation unit or facility. The PTA’s goal is to provide intense therapy to improve the individual’s ability to care for themselves. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Sub-Acute Rehabilitation

This PTA job involves less intense physical therapy treatments and rehab usually only lasts for less than 3 hours per day. Physical therapy is provided to patients who are admitted to a specific hospital that provides medical and/or rehabilitation care. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Extended Care Facility / Nursing Home / Skilled Nursing Facility

This PTA Job involves caring for and offering physical therapy and rehabilitation treatments to elderly patients. Therapy is offered to patients who are admitted to a facility for long-term nursing care, rehabilitation, and other services. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Outpatient Clinic (AKA Private Practice)

This is one of the most common PTA Jobs, or common physical therapy settings. This PTA job involves providing therapy to patients visiting a physical therapist’s office, clinic, or other health care facility most often to rehab orthopedic, or musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular impairments and injuries. Back to list of PTA Jobs

School / Pre-school

This is a unique PTA Job where physical therapy is offered in an educational setting which includes pre-school, elementary school, or even at secondary education facilities including high schools and vocational schools. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Wellness / Prevention / Sports / Fitness

PTA Jobs in these areas focus more on prevention of injuries and illnesses and less on recovery. Individuals interested in wellness come to physical therapists for therapy emphasizing illness and injury prevention as well as promoting a healthy lifestyle. This is opposed to an emphasis on treating diseases and injuries. This type of physical therapy often occurs in sports training facilities and fitness centers.

There is a real need for those specializing in the area of sports physical therapy. Sports injuries, and the prevention of such, requires expert training in the areas of not only rehabilitation but also in evaluating and designing individualized treatment plans. Treatments often mean helping the patient to get back to the level of ability they had before the injury. The goal is to keep the sports minded person able to participate in physical sporting activities at the level they enjoy. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Home Health

This PTA job involves physical therapy treatment provided at the patient’s residence. The most common patient for home health physical therapy is a senior citizen, but there are also pediatric patients, and patients of all ages, with various injuries, developmental disabilities and other conditions that require rehabilitation at their home. Home health PT may be applied when a younger patient would prefer to do their therapy at home or may require that they stay home while they heal and perform rehab.

Home health care can actually be provided in a few locations, such as: the patients residence, the caregiver’s (PTA’s) home, skilled nursing facility, a hospital emergency room, residential facility, hospice, group home, or elsewhere in the community. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Hospice Therapy

This PTA Job is not for everyone, especially not those who don’t deal well with loss. This setting involves providing physical therapy to patients that are in the last phases of incurable diseases and conditions so that they can maintain some functional abilities for as long as possible and manage or mitigate their pain. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Industrial, Workplace, or Other Occupational Environments

This PTA Job most often involves offering physical therapy services to individuals in an effort to help them return to work. However, this job could also involve a corporate, or employee benefit program, to enhance employee health, increase workplace productivity, or improve safety in the workplace. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Local, State, & Government

This PTA job consists of providing physical therapy services to military and civilian personnel. PTAs may be employed by federal agencies such as the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA), Indian Health Services (HIS), or even the Department of Defense. A PTA may also be employed by a local or state government agency as well. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Orthopedics

Orthopedic physical therapy involves the treatment of those with musculoskeletal disorders, injuries or dysfunctions. The therapist can help not only with the diagnosis and management of problems but can also help prevent musculoskeletal disorders. Skilled orthopedic therapist can provide assessments that will allow for a treat plan that can improve movement, decrease pain and improve daily activity. This is done in a variety of settings including the home, health facilities, sports clinics and even on industrial sites. Treatment includes education the patient, therapeutic exercise as well as manual therapy. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Aquatic Treatment

Water has wonderful properties that make it unique for many different types of physical therapy. The natural buoyancy of water provides support for the body and allows patients with a wide range of problems to get rehabilitation that otherwise might be impossible. Patients with musculoskeletal conditions, integumentary conditions, cardiopulmonary and neuromuscular conditions, no matter the age, can all benefit from aquatic therapy. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Pediatrics

A pediatric patient is one that is no older than 21 years of age. Pediatric physical therapists provide treatment and many different services to children. They specialize in dealing with developmental disabilities and can provide therapy for many different conditions and injuries that affect children. Not only do these therapists provide services to the patient but play a very important role of support to the family. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Pediatric PT services can be rendered in hospitals, clinics, homes and a school setting. The goal of pediatric physical therapy is to enhance the patient’s ability to participate in everyday activities, help with the improvement of endurance and strength, develop independence and provide learning opportunities to the patient. Things like motor skills are focused on with the end goal being less need for daily caregiving. Prevention is another goal of pediatric physical therapy through education and working with children and families of all fitness levels. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Geriatrics, Cardiovascular & Pulmonary

Patients in any age range who suffer from cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions can greatly benefit from physical therapy designed specifically for them. This type of therapy can help maintain health and wellness as well as rehabilitation. It can also help with preventative treatment that can help improve future health. There are many different cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapy options available to those suffering from those conditions. Back to list of PTA Jobs

One age group that cardiovascular and pulmonary physical therapists often treat is the geriatric group. This patient group is especially susceptible to the problems related to heart conditions.  Geriatric physical therapy often focuses on living a more productive and mobile life while dealing with the issues that occur with aging. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Physical Therapy for Women

Women are going to experience different problems with health in areas such as musculoskeletal disorders throughout their life. Depending on the stage of the women’s life physical therapy treatment may vary. Women have unique pelvic issues that often require a physical therapist who specializes in women’s health. While women are obviously going to make up the majority of patients seen buy specialized physical therapists men with pelvic issues such as incontinence can also benefit from this type of physical therapy. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Neurology

When an injury occurs to the nervous system, or a neurological disease occurs, neurologic physical therapy can be of great benefit. After evaluation treatment plans can help improve the neurologic function and the ability of the patient to once again participate in daily activities. Neurological physical therapy can do a great deal to help patients, of any age range, regain personal roles in their life that may have been affected by the injury or disease. This type of physical therapy can be offered as in home care, acute care hospitals, any type of rehab center, nursing homes and outpatient clinics. For pediatric patients the neurologic physical therapist may even come to the local school. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Oncology

Patients suffering from, or recovering from, various types of cancer can be provided expert oncology physical therapy. This therapy is often started at the beginning of the cancer diagnosis and will often be continued throughout treatment and recovery. Provided for all ages, it can be offered in rehabilitation hospitals, acute care hospitals, nursing homes or in the patient’s home. Health and wellness centers often provide physical therapy to cancer patients as well. The main benefits can be helping the patient maintain their strength and flexibility, regain lost strength and maintain the ability to function as needed. Back to list of PTA Jobs

PT Research Jobs

This is a unique PTA job where physical therapists, PTAs, and other professionals perform research to improve patient care outcomes in the field of physical therapy. A PTA may perform research on various methods of physical therapy rehab treatment or even physical therapy equipment. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Other Physical Therapy Practice Areas

There you have it, the primary practice areas within physical therapy. But there are many more niches that physical therapists are identifying and assisting patients in. Physical therapy is one medical treatment that has many many applications and can help heal almost any condition. So, get creative when searching for jobs, try a variety of terms and places to find different niche opportunities. Back to list of PTA Jobs

Physical Therapy Aide Job Description

Not to be confused with a PTA, a Physical Therapy Aide is slightly different. Physical Therapy Aide Jobs are still very similar to PTA Jobs, but there are some differences worth mentioning.

Physical Therapy Aide Jobs Do Not Require a Degree or License

Yep, that is right. You don’t need a state PTA license to get hired into a physical therapist aide job position. You also do not need to complete college in order to work in a PT Aide job position.

So what are the requirements for a PT Aide Job?

• Most physical therapy aide jobs will require a high school diploma.
• Volunteer work at a nursing home, or physical therapy clinic although not required, would certainly help your resume.
• Having a passion and a clear interest to work in the physical therapy field for a long term career.
• Taking some physical therapy courses or even physical fitness courses would help give you a competitive advantage over other applicants for Physical Therapist Aide jobs, however this isn’t required.
• It should be noted that there are physical therapy aide programs that you can attend and receive a certificate for which would drastically help your chances at landing that perfect physical therapy aide job.

Interested in becoming a PTA or a PT Aide? Great, we have a more detailed page on PTA and Physical Therapy Aide requirements just for you 🙂