# Physical Therapist Assistants

> Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 31-2021.00
- **Summary:** Assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.

## Aliases

- Certified Physical Therapist Assistant (CPTA)
- Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant (LPTA)
- Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
- Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)
- Home Care Physical Therapy Assistant
- Home Health Physical Therapist Assistant
- Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant
- Outpatient Physical Therapist Assistant
- Per Diem Physical Therapist Assistant (Per Diem PTA)
- Assistant
- Home Health Physical Therapy Assistant (Home Health PTA)
- Nursing Facility PTA (Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistant)

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and assist patients as they practice exercises or functional activities. | Core | 4.A.4.b.2.a |
| Document patient information, such as notes on their progress. | Core | 4.A.3.b.6.f |
| Observe patients during treatments to compile and evaluate data on their responses and progress and provide results to physical therapist in person or through progress notes. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Instruct patients in proper body mechanics and in ways to improve functional mobility, such as aquatic exercise. | Core | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.d |
| Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, aquatic physical therapy, or heat, light, sound, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound. | Core | 4.A.4.a.5.b |
| Transport patients to and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring them according to positioning requirements. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.m |
| Clean work area and check and store equipment after treatment. | Core | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Communicate with or instruct caregivers or family members on patient therapeutic activities or treatment plans. | Core | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Measure patients' range-of-joint motion, body parts, or vital signs to determine effects of treatments or for patient evaluations. | Core | 4.A.2.a.1.f |
| Train patients in the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices. | Core | 4.A.4.b.3.f |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments. | 4.A.1.a.2.e |
| Prepare medical reports or documents. | 4.A.3.b.6.f |
| Communicate patient status to other health practitioners. | 4.A.4.a.2.d |
| Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids. | 4.A.4.a.5.b |
| Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients. | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Attend educational events to update medical knowledge. | 4.A.2.b.3.a |
| Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel. | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Encourage patients during therapeutic activities. | 4.A.4.b.2.a |
| Engage patients in exercises or activities. | 4.A.4.b.3.f |
| Confer with other professionals to plan patient care. | 4.A.4.a.2.d |
| Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment. | 4.A.2.a.1.f |
| Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety. | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Fit patients for assistive devices. | 4.A.4.a.5.f |
| Move patients to or from treatment areas. | 4.A.3.a.1.m |
| Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables. | 4.A.4.a.5.k |
| Monitor medical equipment to ensure proper functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms. | 4.A.3.a.1.c |
| Assist patients with daily activities. | 4.A.4.a.5.i |
| Administer basic health care or medical treatments. | 4.A.4.a.5.c |
| Perform clerical work in medical settings. | 4.A.4.c.1.a |
| Inventory medical supplies or equipment. | 4.A.4.c.3.g |
| Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use. | 4.A.3.a.2.k |
| Prepare patient treatment areas for use. | 4.A.3.a.2.k |
| Document client health or progress. | 4.A.3.b.6.f |
| Record patient medical histories. | 4.A.3.b.6.k |
| Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses. | 4.A.4.b.3.f |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Customer and Personal Service | knowledge | 4.52 |
| Therapy and Counseling | knowledge | 4.24 |
| English Language | knowledge | 4.19 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4.12 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Education and Training | knowledge | 3.92 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.88 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.88 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Social Perceptiveness | transferable_skill | 3.75 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 3.75 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Near Vision | ability | 3.75 |
| Psychology | knowledge | 3.64 |
| Medicine and Dentistry | knowledge | 3.5 |
| Computers and Electronics | knowledge | 3.44 |
| Biology | knowledge | 3.38 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Writing | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.25 |
| Service Orientation | transferable_skill | 3.25 |
| Written Expression | ability | 3.25 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 3.25 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 3.25 |
| Coordination | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Instructing | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Complex Problem Solving | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 3.12 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 3.12 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 3.12 |
| Static Strength | ability | 3.12 |
| Persuasion | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3 |
| Fluency of Ideas | ability | 3 |
| Category Flexibility | ability | 3 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 3 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Windows | Common Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Access | Specialized Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Email Software | Specialized Skill |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| DBase | Specialized Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Medical Software | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| eClinicalWorks EHR software | Medical software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Access | Data base user interface and query software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Windows | Operating system software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| Arena Health Systems Phys-X | Medical software | no | no |
| Beaver Creek Software The THERAPIST | Medical software | no | no |
| Billing software | Billing and invoicing software | no | no |
| BioEx Systems Exercise Pro | Medical software | no | no |
| Bookkeeping software | Accounting software | no | no |
| Client caseload management software | Medical software | no | no |
| dBASE | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Eazy Application Systems QuickEMR | Medical software | no | no |
| Email software | Electronic mail software | no | no |
| FileMaker Pro | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Knees Software PT DocTools | Medical software | no | no |
| Laboratory information system LIS | Medical software | no | no |
| Medical condition coding software | Medical software | no | no |
| PhysioTools Tools RG | Medical software | no | no |
| Rehab Documentation Company ReDoc Suite | Medical software | no | no |
| Scheduling software | Calendar and scheduling software | no | no |
| SpectraSoft AppointmentsPRO | Calendar and scheduling software | no | no |
| SpectraSoft DocuPRO | Medical software | no | no |
| Summit Software CarePoint | Medical software | no | no |
| TherAssist | Medical software | no | no |
| Video game software | Action games | no | no |
| Virtual reality game software | Action games | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Physical Proximity | 4.97 |
| Contact With Others | 4.95 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 4.94 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.92 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.9 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.62 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.61 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 4.46 |
| Exposed to Disease or Infections | 4.3 |
| Telephone Conversations | 4.26 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 4.11 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 4.09 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 3.91 |
| Consequence of Error | 3.85 |
| Spend Time Standing | 3.82 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.6 |
| Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body | 3.59 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 3.57 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.57 |
| Time Pressure | 3.52 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.37 |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 3.36 |
| Spend Time Walking or Running | 3.29 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.25 |
| Written Letters and Memos | 3.21 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.21 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 3.01 |
| E-Mail | 2.86 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 2.78 |
| Level of Competition | 2.49 |
| Public Speaking | 2.46 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 2.46 |
| Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling | 2.31 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 2.23 |
| Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People | 2.16 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.1 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 1.96 |
| Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings | 1.84 |
| Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance | 1.78 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 1.77 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 3
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
- **Experience:** Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
- **Svp Range:** (6.0 to < 7.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 84.16 |
| Bachelor's Degree | 14.88 |
| First Professional Degree | 0.97 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 7 |
| Health Care Service | specific_interest_area | 6.42 |
| Social | career_interest_type | 6.41 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 6 |
| Social Service | specific_interest_area | 5.48 |
| Integrity | work_style | 5 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 4.45 |
| Teaching/Education | specific_interest_area | 4.25 |
| Cooperation | work_style | 4 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 3.76 |
| Personal Service | specific_interest_area | 3.72 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 3.65 |
| Physical/Manual Labor | specific_interest_area | 3.57 |
| Professional Advising | specific_interest_area | 3.26 |
| Medical Science | specific_interest_area | 3.06 |
| Social Orientation | work_style | 3 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31-2022.00 | role-31-2022-00 | Physical Therapist Aides | Primary-Short |
| 31-2011.00 | role-31-2011-00 | Occupational Therapy Assistants | Primary-Short |
| 31-2012.00 | role-31-2012-00 | Occupational Therapy Aides | Primary-Short |
| 29-2053.00 | role-29-2053-00 | Psychiatric Technicians | Primary-Short |
| 29-1126.00 | role-29-1126-00 | Respiratory Therapists | Primary-Short |
| 29-1125.00 | role-29-1125-00 | Recreational Therapists | Primary-Long |
| 29-1124.00 | role-29-1124-00 | Radiation Therapists | Primary-Long |
| 31-1133.00 | role-31-1133-00 | Psychiatric Aides | Primary-Long |
| 31-9092.00 | role-31-9092-00 | Medical Assistants | Primary-Long |
| 29-9093.00 | role-29-9093-00 | Surgical Assistants | Primary-Long |
| 29-1123.00 | role-29-1123-00 | Physical Therapists | Supplemental |
| 29-1122.00 | role-29-1122-00 | Occupational Therapists | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Healthcare & Human Services | healthcare-human-services |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Associate's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Health Professions and Related Programs | health-professions-and-related-programs |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 65510
- **Mean Wage:** 67160
- **Pct10Wage:** 46020
- **Pct25Wage:** 58240
- **Pct75Wage:** 77270
- **Pct90Wage:** 87630
- **Employment:** 108010
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Median Wage | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 105060 | 65510 | 6.49 |
| 621340 | 621340 | Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | National industry | 49030 | 61620 | 146.86 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1070 | 69530 | 0.17 |
| 621310 | 621310 | Offices of Chiropractors | National industry | 800 | 49900 | 7.83 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 790 | 62160 | 0.08 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 780 | 71300 | 0.42 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 550 | 70580 | 0.28 |
| 624120 | 624120 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | National industry | 510 | 70740 | 0.3 |
| 623210 | 623210 | Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | National industry | 170 | 61880 | 0.62 |
| 621420 | 621420 | Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers | National industry | 90 | 64810 |  |
| 621330 | 621330 | Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians) | National industry |  | 77890 |  |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 621340 | 621340 | Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists | National industry | 49030 | 146.86 |
| 621310 | 621310 | Offices of Chiropractors | National industry | 800 | 7.83 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 105060 | 6.49 |
| 623210 | 623210 | Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities | National industry | 170 | 0.62 |
| 561320 | 561320 | Temporary Help Services | National industry | 780 | 0.42 |
| 624120 | 624120 | Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities | National industry | 510 | 0.3 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector | 550 | 0.28 |
| 56 | 56 | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | Sector | 1070 | 0.17 |
- **Count:** 11

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.018 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.5308535 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | -1.016285 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.2472779 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 22
- **Percentile:** 20
- **Band:** Low
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 34 | felten_aioe |
| 25 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 8 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.5308535 | 34 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.20512820512820512 | 25 | Low | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.043589140673391744 | 8 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.018
- **Percentile:** 13
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.10256410256410256
- **Beta:** 0.15384615384615385
- **Gamma:** 0.20512820512820512

### Usage Tasks


### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 22
- **Growth Percentile:** 99
- **Direction:** Growing fast
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 19.8
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 78
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 111.5
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 136

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 21
- **Skills:** 42
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 30
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 905e3851f73df599