_____________________________________________ Social Occupations: Physical Therapist AssistantsSkills: Writing; Instructing; Reading Comprehen-
sion; Critical # inking; Speaking; Learning Strate-
gies; Social Perceptiveness; Persuasion.
Education and Training Programs: Philosophy;
Ethics; Philosophy, Other; Religion/Religious Stud-
ies; Buddhist Studies; Christian Studies; Hindu
Studies; Philosophy and Religious Studies, Other;
Bible/Biblical Studies; Missions/Missionary Stud-
ies and Missiology; Religious Education; Religious/
Sacred Music; # eology/# eological Studies; Divin-
ity/Ministry (BD, MDiv.); Pre-# eology/Pre-Minis-
terial Studies; others. Related Knowledge/Courses:
Philosophy and # eology; History and Archeology;
Sociology and Anthropology; Foreign Language;
English Language; Education and Training.
Work Environment: Indoors; sitting.
Physical Therapist Assistants
! Personality Code: SRI! Education/Training Required: Associate
degree
! Annual Earnings: $44,130
! Beginning Wage: $27,800
! Earnings Growth Potential: Medium
! Growth: 32.4%
! Annual Job Openings: 5,957
! Self-Employed: 0.2%
! Part-Time: 27.1%
Assist physical therapists in providing physical
therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accor-
dance with state laws, assist in the development
of treatment plans, carry out routine functions,
document the progress of treatment, and modify
specifi c treatments in accordance with patient sta-
tus and within the scope of treatment plans estab-
lished by physical therapists. Generally requires
formal training. Instruct, motivate, safeguard, and
assist patients as they practice exercises and func-
tional activities. Observe patients during treatments
to compile and evaluate data on their responses and
progress, and provide results to physical therapistsin person or through progress notes. Confer with
physical therapy staff s or others to discuss and eval-
uate patient information for planning, modifying,
and coordinating treatment. Transport patients to
and from treatment areas, lifting and transferring
them according to positioning requirements. Secure
patients into or onto therapy equipment. Adminis-
ter active and passive manual therapeutic exercises,
therapeutic massages, aquatic physical therapy, and
heat, light, sound, and electrical modality treatments
such as ultrasound. Communicate with or instruct
caregivers and family members on patient therapeu-
tic activities and treatment plans. Measure patients’
ranges-of-joint motion, body parts, and vital signs to
determine eff ects of treatments or for patient evalu-
ations. Monitor operation of equipment and record
use of equipment and administration of treatment.
Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, and
supportive devices such as crutches. Train patients in
the use of orthopedic braces, prostheses, or support-
ive devices. Clean work areas and check and store
equipment after treatments. Assist patients to dress,
undress, or put on and remove supportive devices
such as braces, splints, and slings. Attend or conduct
continuing education courses, seminars, or in-ser-
vice activities. Perform clerical duties such as taking
inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephones,
taking messages, and fi lling out forms. Prepare treat-
ment areas and electrotherapy equipment for use by
physiotherapists. Administer traction to relieve neck
and back pain, using intermittent and static traction
equipment. Perform postural drainage, percussions
and vibrations, and teach deep breathing exercises to
treat respiratory conditions.
GOE—Interest Area/Cluster: 08. Health Science.
Work Group: 08.07. Medical # erapy. Other Jobs
in " is Work Group: Audiologists; Massage # er-
apists; Occupational # erapist Aides; Occupational
# erapist Assistants; Occupational # erapists; Phys-
ical # erapist Aides; Physical # erapists; Radia-
tion # erapists; Recreational # erapists; Respiratory
# erapists; Respiratory # erapy Technicians; Speech-
Language Pathologists.
Skill: Service Orientation.Social–
P