Physical therapy aides are a critical part of physical therapy support teams. Working alongside and under physical therapists and their assistants, physical therapy aides perform a wide variety of nonmedical duties, including:

• Assisting with patient intake

• Setting up and cleaning rooms for treatment

• Transporting patients within a facility

• Observing patients

• Preparing materials

• Recording patient progress

• Communicating with other facility personnel

Career Opportunities and Trends

Becoming a physical therapy aide opens many doors.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for this position in the next decade is a whopping 29%, which is much higher than average. The demand for this role is also expected to increase in response to the growing healthcare needs of the current aging generation in addition to higher rates of chronic issues such as diabetes and obesity.

Types of Physical Therapy Aide Careers

Physical therapy is a broad career that is crucial to many different areas within the healthcare field. Here are eight different settings in which you can work as a physical therapy aide:

1. Hospitals

Physical therapy aides who work in hospitals often help patients who are in the immediate stages of recovery following a surgery or accident.

2. Sports Training Facilities

At sports training facilities, physical therapy aides help formerly injured athletes create exercise regimens, gain strength and improve their mobility and range of motion.

3. Nursing Care Facilities

In extended care facilities such as nursing homes or recovery centers, physical therapy aides help provide care for patients who need continued care beyond an initial hospital stay. This care may be focused on regaining or maintaining proper function or recovering from surgery.

4. Skilled Nursing Facilities

In a skilled nursing facility, a physical therapy aide provides long term care to elderly patients. You would likely work with patients on improving coordination or regaining strength.

5. Schools

Some schools offer physical therapy to students in order to assist them with learning and mobility. Physical therapy aides in this setting work with students, teachers and parents alike in order to provide care.

6. Rehabilitation Centers

Some hospitals have specific wings dedicated to rehabilitation. There, physical therapy aides work with patients who are recovering from serious injuries or procedures, with the intention of equipping them with the tools they need to be ready to return home.

7. Outpatient Clinics

Most outpatient clinics for physical therapy are private practices. Doctors refer patients who are dealing with muscular injuries and impairments to physical therapists there.

8. Occupational Settings

Occupational therapy is one of the highest paid fields within physical therapy. As a physical therapy aide in this setting, you would help patients overcome health challenges so they can better go about their daily activities.

Physical Therapy Aide Program Launch

With the exciting program launch of PT 3000: Physical Therapy Aide and Administration Specialist, you can launch yourself into an expansive and growing career.

Through Medcerts training, you can gain all of the wisdom and earn all of the necessary certifications to become a physical therapy aide in any and all of these settings—and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home.