Training Needed for Physical Therapy Technician

A physical therapist technician assists licensed physical therapists in treating patients. Under the supervision of a physical therapist, technicians can work independently with patients providing exercise, massage and other treatments. Physical therapist technicians also maintain patient records and handle other tasks throughout the office.

Qualifications

• A good physical therapist technician should be outgoing and friendly. Physical therapy is a field that requires substantial training and education, so if you are considering a career in physical therapy, you should be intelligent and motivated to work toward your goal of becoming a physical therapy technician.

Education

• Most physical therapist technician training programs are 2-year courses of study at community colleges. Most employers require physical therapist technicians to have an Associate of Applied Science in Physical Therapy Assisting.

Choose a School

• It is important to choose the right school to begin your training. A good place to start is your local community college. If your community college does not have a program for physical therapy technicians, ask if they can recommend a local program at another college or at a vocational or technical school. If you cannot find a program through your local community college, contact local physical therapy offices to see if they can recommend a training program for you.

Class Requirements

• The coursework required for a degree in physical therapy assisting is rigorous and includes courses in kinesiology, physical therapy techniques, pathology, orthopedics, neurological concepts, pediatrics, anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, algebra and psychology. As you can see, the program of study requires a lot of science-based coursework; therefore, physical therapy is a field suited for someone who enjoys science.

National Exam

• Graduates must pass a national exam in physical therapy assisting in order to practice. Your training program will prepare you for the test and advise you of all the pertinent details. It is important that you do well in your coursework so you will be adequately prepared to pass the national exam.

Choose a Specialty

• A wide variety of patients find themselves in need of physical therapy, so there are a variety of specialties to choose from. You could decide to work with accident victims or patients suffering from diseases or recovering from surgery. You could find yourself working with children, athletes or the elderly. Through your career as a physical therapy technician, you will have the opportunity to meet a wide variety of people.

Find a Job

• As a physical therapy technician, you can choose to work in a variety of environments, such as a small office, hospital or nursing home. The health care industry is growing rapidly, and due to the increasing number of elderly people in the population, this trend is likely to continue.
  As a physical therapy technician, you can expect to make between $24,000 and $52,000 per year depending on such factors as education, training and location.