Physical Therapy Assistant Salary

Physical therapy assistant salary around mid-year 2011 was around $48,932 in theUnited States.  Around 50% of the pta salary ranges fall between $38,100 and $55,439. You can expect that the most you in your physical therapist assistant salary is just over $60,000.

Which industry pays the highest physical therapy assistant salary?

 

In general home health care services will pay the most for a pta.  Although you may find that a physical therapist may be willing to pay you more if you bypass any health benefits.  Physical therapy assistant salary should be higher if you opt out of the benefits.  I’m aware physical therapist assistant salary amount around $60,000 paid by a physical therapist.  Another spot with higher salary is that of nursing homes.  I assume that is because working with the elderly is not the ideal patient.

Many times elderly patients also suffer from other disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.  These patients can be difficult to direct during therapy.  Also, these patients are sometimes confused and occasionally violent. We see less physical therapy assistants wanting to do deal with the elderly.   So pta salary will be higher for those that will work with the elderly.

Physical therapy assistant salary around mid-year 2011 was around $48,932 in theUnited States.  Around 50% of the pta salary ranges fall between $38,100 and $55,439. You can expect that the most you in your physical therapist assistant salary is just over $60,000.

 

 

Which industry pays the highest physical therapy assistant salary?

 

In general home health care services will pay the most for a pta.  Although you may find that a physical therapist may be willing to pay you more if you bypass any health benefits.  I’m aware physical therapist assistant salary amount around $60,000 paid by a physical therapist.  Another spot with higher salary is that of nursing homes.  I assume that is because working with the elderly is not the ideal patient.

 

Many times elderly patients also suffer from other disorders like dementia and Alzheimer’s.  These patients can be difficult to direct during therapy.  Also, these patients are sometimes confused and occasionally violent. We see less physical therapy assistants wanting to do deal with the elderly.

 

 

Physical therapist assistants work with a PT to provide care service.  The overall idea is that physical therapy helps improve a patient’s ability to move.  Also, the relief of pain and ability to work around other disorders is another benefit  bonus. Currently there are a number of patients that come in for therapy to treat sports injuries.  But there are a number of other specialty areas like pediatric physical therapy.

 

I found this video that describes the work that a pta does and it is quite good.  It lasts about 10 minutes.  Take a look at how pta professionals really help patients.


Many physical therapy offices that specialize in treating incontinence and lymphedema have special techniques they use.  A physical therapy assistant that is trained to work in specialty areas may discover that they can get a higher pta salary.

 

Therapy is achieved by assigning exercises, electrical stimulation, manual traction, and mechanical traction.  Other physical therapy techniques include using ultrasound.  An individual that can operate the ultrasound machine is more valuable.

 

Patients also benefit from the use of this technologically advanced equipment.  For example the electrical stimulation can be applied to the muscle area the physical therapist is attempting to help.  This stimulation causes the muscle to tense up become exhausted.  After the muscle recovers it is typically stronger.  Over a short period of time of physical therapy the patient may heal that muscle area.

If you are looking for another good source for career information to become a pta look here at the APTA’s site.

 

PTA programs have two parts to them.  One is in the classroom.  The other part is in the clinic.  The academic work requires anatomy, psychology and physiology classes.  The work you do in the clinic is hands on.  A pta student will get their cpr certification during the hands on clinic time usually are divided into academic coursework and hands-on clinical experience. In order to truly understand what a physical therapy assistant does on the job, hands on experience is critical.

 

If you are attempting to be a pta then you will need to be licensed and certified.  The certification happens after your coursework.  The certification for pta is acquired by taking and passing the physical therapy exam.

 

States regulate physical therapist assistants through licensure, registration, or certification. Most States require physical therapist assistants to graduate from an accredited education program and pass the National Physical Therapy Exam.

 

It is a good idea to contact your state’s licensing board to get all the details.

 

 

Most physical therapy assistants have an associate degree.  There are many individuals that work in physical therapy offices and carry out the work of a pta but are not trained with an associate degree in physical therapy assistant courses.  These people can do a good job but are not given the higher physical therapy assistant salary.

 

There are over 200 accredited physical therapy assistant programs in theUnited States.  The program will typically take about 2 years.  This is by far one of the best fields to make a great living in without having to obtain a four year degree.

 

Another bonus of being a physical therapy assistant is that you can help people and make a great pta salary.

 

Physical therapist assistants work with a PT to provide care service.  The overall idea is that physical therapy helps improve a patient’s ability to move.  Also, the relief of pain and ability to work around other disorders is another benefit  bonus. Currently there are a number of patients that come in for therapy to treat sports injuries.  But there are a number of other specialty areas like pediatric physical therapy.  And remember that the more you specialize the more physical therapy assistant salary you can demand.

Many physical therapy offices that specialize in treating incontinence and lymphedema have special techniques they use.  A physical therapy assistant that is trained to work in specialty areas may discover that they can get a higher pta salary.

Therapy is achieved by assigning exercises, electrical stimulation, manual traction, and mechanical traction.  Other physical therapy techniques include using ultrasound.  An individual that can operate the ultrasound machine is more valuable.

Patients also benefit from the use of this technologically advanced equipment.  For example the electrical stimulation can be applied to the muscle area the physical therapist is attempting to help.  This stimulation causes the muscle to tense up become exhausted.  After the muscle recovers it is typically stronger.  Over a short period of time of physical therapy the patient may heal that muscle area.  This is another skill area you may want to master for the highest physical therapy assistant salary.

 

PTA programs have two parts to them.  One is in the classroom.  The other part is in the clinic.  The academic work requires anatomy, psychology and physiology classes.  The work you do in the clinic is hands on.  A pta student will get their cpr certification during the hands on clinic time usually are divided into academic coursework and hands-on clinical experience. In order to truly understand what a physical therapy assistant does on the job, hands on experience is critical.

 

If you are attempting to be a pta then you will need to be licensed and certified.  The certification happens after your coursework.  The certification for pta is acquired by taking and passing the physical therapy exam.  To obtain the highest physical therapy assistant salary, you must pass this exam.

 

States regulate physical therapist assistants through licensure, registration, or certification. Most States require physical therapist assistants to graduate from an accredited education program and pass the National Physical Therapy Exam.

 

It is a good idea to contact your state’s licensing board to get all the details. Or you can visit the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy for some more information on certifications by state.

 

 Higher Physical Therapy Assistant Salaries Explained:

Most physical therapy assistants have an associate degree.  There are many individuals that work in physical therapy offices and carry out the work of a pta but are not trained with an associate degree in physical therapy assistant courses.  These people can do a good job but are not given the higher physical therapy assistant salary.

There are over 200 accredited physical therapy assistant programs in theUnited States.  The program will typically take about 2 years.  This is by far one of the best fields to make a great living in without having to obtain a four year degree.

 

Another bonus of being a physical therapy assistant is that you can help people and make a great pta salary.

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