Physical Therapy Technician Description
A physical therapy technician offers rehabilitative care to patients under the direction of a physical therapist. Physical therapy technicians help patients gain the ability to function and move properly. According to the Occupational Information Network, a physical therapy technician can also be known as a physical therapy assistant.
Other People Are Reading
-
Responsibilities
-
According to the Occupational Information Network, a physical therapy technician helps physical therapists who provide treatments and procedures in physical therapy. Duties vary, depending on a particular state’s law. A physical therapist technician may assist in creating treatment plans, document and monitor treatment progress and modify treatments when the patient’s status changes within the parameters provided by the physical therapist.
Environment and Hours
-
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapy technicians work in different types of health care facilities, such as orthopedic settings or acute hospitals. Hours depend on the type of facility that a physical therapy assist works in. Approximately 28 percent of physical therapist technicians work part-time. Physical therapy workers may work night and weekend hours at locations, such as outpatient physical therapy offices and clinics.
-
Education and Training
-
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, most physical therapist technicians are required to have an associate degree that lasts 2 years. The American Physical Therapy Association’s Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education recognized 223 accredited programs in 2009. According to College Board, a non-profit that connects students with educational opportunities, typical courses include clinical practicum, disease and disability, introduction to physical therapy, introduction to the physical therapy clinic, kinesiology, modalities and procedures in physical therapy, motor development, physical agents, rehabilitation procedures and therapeutic exercise. Most states require physical therapist technicians to be licensed. Licensing requires assistants to graduate from an accredited education program and pass an exam. Since each state can have different licensing requirements, the state licensing board details further regulations.
Earnings
-
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, physical therapist assistants earned a national mean hourly wage of $23.36 and a national mean annual wage of $48,590 in May 2009. The industries that employed the highest number of physical therapist assistants were the offices of health practitioners with a mean annual wage of $46,910; general medical and surgical hospitals, $47,000; nursing care facilities, $52,700; home health care services, $60,360; and the offices of physicians, $44,120.
Outlook
-
According to the National Employment Matrix from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physical therapist assistants is expected to increase at a rate of 3 percent through 2018. Demand will be due to changes to restrictions on reimbursement which will increase patient access. The increase of demand reflects the growing elderly population.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit physio therapy - helping hands image by Wingnut Designs from Fotolia.com
