What does a physical therapy assistant do all day?
Working as part of a physical therapist’s team, a physical therapy assistant provides rehabilitative, postoperative and pain-relief treatment to patients. The P/T assistant may instruct a patient in exercises and administer treatments prescribed by the physical therapist, like electrical stimulation, ultrasound, massage, traction and heat and ice.
What kind of cash are we talking about here?
The median salary range for physical therapist assistants in New York City is $48,000 to $59,000 — higher for those with many years of experience or who work in specialized areas.
What do you have to do to get this job?
To become licensed in New York state as a physical therapy assistant, you’ll need to earn a degree in a state-approved, two-year program and pass a national exam. P/T assistants should like working closely with people, be observant, organized and have a good eye for detail.
OK, tell me the bad part.
P/T assistants have very little down time, and the work can be physically exhausting. And P/T assistants need to have a positive attitude; they can’t be snappish or grumpy, no matter how tired they are.
What’s the upside?
P/T assistants play a direct role in improving the lives of patients. Salaries are very good for a profession that requires only a two-year degree, and jobs are expected to grow in the coming decade.