How to become a pt assistant

How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist Assistant? In most cases, it takes two years to complete a physical therapist assistant program. It may take additional time to pass the National Physical Therapist Assistant Examination and receive a state license.

All states require PTAs to have an Associate’s degree from an accredited program, according to the BLS. Earning a degree may sound daunting, but some PTA training can be completed in as few as 18 months. This formal education consists of courses, lab work and clinical training.

A PTA program requires intense and effective study, both in terms of mastering academic information and in terms of being able to understand and follow instructions given by the instructor, especially when the student is carrying out work in a clinical setting.

Being a physical therapist assistant is emotionally demanding sometimes. Many patients are in pain and facing uncertainty about their health. The job comes with frequent physical demands, as well. A PTA must be comfortable in physical contact with others, supporting patients as they complete exercises.

Being a PTA is an incredible career in a fast-growing field. In fact, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, PTA jobs are some of the fastest growing in the nation—averaging 40% annually. This is much faster than the 7% average growth rate for all occupations.

Are Physical Therapist Assistants Being Phased Out? From available statistics, there is no indication that physical therapist assistant jobs are going anywhere anytime soon. No, PTAs are not about to be phased out.

Below is a list of the top-10 highest-paying states for physical therapist assistants: New Jersey average physical therapist assistant salary: $69,480. Texas average physical therapist assistant salary: $68,680. California average physical therapist assistant salary: $66,150.

No, they are in the same pay range, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The median salary for established OTAs is more than $60,000. The median salary for established PTAs is $58,040. Because OTAs have a unique skill set, the demand for OTAs is estimated at more than 32% through 2028.

The short answer is: YES, occupational therapy school is hard. But so is physical therapy school, nursing school, medical school, pharmacy school, physician’s assistant school, etc. All healthcare degrees are going to be challenging, and for good reason.

Best-Paying States for Occupational Therapy Assistants

The states and districts that pay Occupational Therapy Assistants the highest mean salary are New Jersey ($73,680), Nevada ($72,400), California ($70,150), Virginia ($68,120), and Texas ($67,090).

OT Has a Positive Job Outlook

Occupational therapy is one of the top healthcare fields in the United States today, and the OTA profession is in high demand. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that employment for the profession will grow by 32% between 2019 and 2029.

The financial answer is yes but there is a significant price to pay. For most occupational therapists, they’ll have to deal with student loans for 10 to 20 years. They won’t necessarily be able to celebrate and enjoy that higher income until their loans are dealt with.

What do Occupational Therapists wear in acute rehab, skilled nursing facilities, and hospitals? OTs in acute rehab or skilled nursing usually wear a polo shirt with dark pants or hospital scrubs. Some rehabs require OTs to wear color coordinated scrubs for each department.

You want experience in the field before committing to a master’s degree. Becoming an OTA lets you experience the OT profession firsthand — and see occupational therapists in their day-to-day work — while giving you a strong academic and clinical foundation on which to build future OT-related studies.

Start with a Bachelor’s Degree

OTAs have two options to become OTs. OTAs who have a bachelor’s degree in any field — although health sciences are typically preferred — can enter a master’s program immediately, according to the American Occupational Therapy Association.

On a daily basis, Occupational Therapy Assistants perform clerical duties, such as scheduling appointments, collecting data, or documenting health insurance billings. They evaluate the daily living skills or capacities of physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabled clients.

Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a physical therapist assistant is $57,750 per year (or $27.77 per hour). Salaries for physical therapist assistants cans also vary based on your location.

An OT works independently and is responsible for developing and carrying out treatment plans to help a person increase their independence in daily activities. Their work is higher level and more strategic in nature. An OTA can decide when treatment needs to be modified according to patient/client progress.