Comments on: What Do Physical Therapist Assistants Do? http://physical-therapists.org/2010/02/what-do-physical-therapist-assistants-do/ a guide to physical therapy on the web Wed, 28 Jul 2010 18:05:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Geoff http://physical-therapists.org/2010/02/what-do-physical-therapist-assistants-do/comment-page-1/#comment-3961 Geoff Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:18:27 +0000 http://physical-therapists.org/2010/02/what-do-physical-therapist-assistants-do/#comment-3961 You asked three questions so here goes. Physical therapy assistants perform treatments under the direction of a physical therapist for patients. They do not perform evaluations or advanced therapy techniques, since their training doesn't include these areas. However, practice acts between states vary so each state can set specific roles if they desire. Assistants also make less. The national median for a physical therapist salary is $70,536 but varies greatly depending on location. For an Assistant it is $43,456 but again varies by region. Some sites have a state by state breakdown. I have been a PT for several years now and enjoy my job. One thing about therapy is that there are many different settings including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, peds (kids) and research. I suggest you do some observation hours with a therapist to help you decide what area you like. You asked three questions so here goes.
Physical therapy assistants perform treatments under the direction of a physical therapist for patients. They do not perform evaluations or advanced therapy techniques, since their training doesn’t include these areas. However, practice acts between states vary so each state can set specific roles if they desire. Assistants also make less.
The national median for a physical therapist salary is $70,536 but varies greatly depending on location. For an Assistant it is $43,456 but again varies by region. Some sites have a state by state breakdown.
I have been a PT for several years now and enjoy my job. One thing about therapy is that there are many different settings including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, peds (kids) and research. I suggest you do some observation hours with a therapist to help you decide what area you like.

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