Physical Therapy Assisting

Overview

Programs in physical therapy assisting prepare people to help patients under the supervision of physical therapists.

Physical therapy assisting programs include topics such as:

Physical therapy modalities
Exercise and treatment plans
Anatomy and physiology
Recordkeeping

Internships

Internships allow students to develop skills at companies or organizations. Most physical therapy assisting programs require that students complete an internship.

Schools

Community colleges and other two-year schools offer certificate and associate degree programs in physical therapy assisting. A certificate program usually takes a year of full-time study. An associate degree usually takes two years to complete.

See schools that offer this program.

Related Educational Programs

Related Careers

Careers Directly Related to this Program of Study

Other Careers Related to this Program of Study

Program Admission

You can prepare for this program by taking courses in high school that prepare you for college. This typically includes four years of English, three years of math, three years of social studies, and two years of science. Some colleges also require two years of a second language.

Program admissions vary. Some schools require you to take general education courses and introductory health profession courses before you can begin their physical therapy assisting programs. These courses might include:

College Algebra
College Composition
College Physics
Current Healthcare Issues
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Medical Terminology
Psychology
Statistics

Additionally, admission requirements at some programs may include:

Health Occupation Aptitude Test
CPR certification
Personal interview
Volunteer or work experience in physical therapy or related field

Below is a list of high school courses that will help prepare you for this program of study:

Anatomy and Physiology
Community Health
Fitness and Conditioning Activities
Food and Nutrition
Health and Fitness
Health Education
Healthcare Occupations
Healthcare Sciences Work Experience
Physical Education
Psychology
Safety and First Aid
Sports Physiology
Weight Training

Typical Course Work

Program Courses

This program typically includes courses in the following subjects:

Applied Prosthetics and Orthotics
Clinical Kinesiology
Clinical Pathology
Communication and Documentation
Electromodalities
Musculo-Skeletal Techniques
Neurophysiology
Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Pathophysiological Conditions
Patient Mobility Techniques
Personal and Professional Ethics
Physical Therapy Procedures
Theory and Treatment Techniques
Wound Care

All programs include practicums or internships in their curriculums. These opportunities give you valuable hands-on experience working with certified physical therapists and physical therapy assistants. They also allow you to participate in the different settings and areas of physical therapy.

Things to Know

Most states require physical therapy assistants to be licensed

Physical therapy assistants need to have a moderate degree of strength so that they can help their patients during their treatments.

All physical therapy assistant programs require their students to be able to pay for any expenses related to their internships. This may include uniforms, transportation, and lodging.