Physical Therapy Assistant Salary Information

Physical therapy has become an important addition to medical treatment over the last few decades. This has been facilitated by development of modern techniques which make therapy more productive and effective than in the early 20th century.

This has metamorphosed into an influential industry as the ageing population of baby boomers increases resulting onto more health demands. CNN Money in 2010 rated the medical profession as the 2nd most popular professions out of 100 and as a physical therapy assistant, you will definitely be joining this prestigious class of professionals. As such, understanding the salary becomes imperative to help you take the next step.

US BLS has reported for several years that health related professions have been the fastest growing and according to IBIS World survey of 2011, the physical therapy industry is set to grow by 5.1% annually from 2007-2017 and this highlights the opportunities that exist for anyone strategizing on joining the broad and highly prospective profession.

If you are like most people intending to join a new career, you might be wondering about a physical therapy assistant salary. There are some pertinent issues that are crucial in not only determining the salary but also the general outlook of the profession.

Assistant Roles

Physical therapy assistants (PTAs) help physical therapists to provide the necessary treatment to patients through rehabilitative activities, procedures and technologies.

The main goal in this kind of treatment is to reduce pain and increase mobility to enable patients to go about their day to day life with minimal or no physical assistance. As a physical therapy assistant, you will be working under supervision of certified therapists to provide massage, paraffin baths, electric stimulation, and traction and ultrasound treatment among other procedures recognized in the industry.

Another critical role will be in observation and recording of a patient's reaction to treatment over time and reporting the same to the therapist for further action. Additionally, you will be expected to provide education to both the family and patient about use of any appliances to help increase mobility and reduce pain. In most situations, you will work patients involved in accidents, those who suffer from neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy and arthritis among others.

An Exegesis on Physical Therapist Assistant Salary

According to the US BLS the annual median pay for a licensed physical therapist assistant is $46,683 but this is a very general way of looking t the profession in terms of pay.

This is because a lot of contingent factors determine the pay and these include training, the workplace, experience and even certification. For starters, most employers require a 2 years Associate Degree focusing on areas such as anatomy, psychology, physiology, CPR and a practical part which is the most essential in giving you hands-on experience.

Job experience is considered the most instrumental factor in determining a physical therapy assistant salary.

However, you should also ensure that any program you enroll to has accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) to ensure you get licensed to practice in your state and exams such as the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) and Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) are essential in getting professional licensure and thus improving your salary.

If you want better pay, you can also specialize in therapy areas such as geriatric and pediatric care, neuromuscular therapy, and musculoskeletal therapy among other areas. Such kind fields require advancement in education levels to Masters or even Doctorate again improving your value in the market.

Other factors that determine the salary include the kid of facility you work in. There are many private nursing facilities in the country and they pay higher salaries than public facilities, however, you can also opt to work in a clinic and still get better pay depending on the geographical location especially if you are offering services in affluent urban suburbs. At an entry level you will find that outpatient services are the most popular position and the pay is not very high.

Though the industry has immense benefits especially in the attractive physical therapy assistant salary, this should not be the only reason for joining the profession. You must be dexterous, detail oriented, outgoing and approachable and also possess interpersonal skills.

You should also be passionate about health care to succeed. As the BLS has indicated the profession is to grow by 45% from 2010 to 2020, there is no doubt your physical therapy assistant salary will increase and it is no brainer that this is a motivation.