Plenty of students want a career in healthcare, but if you want a practical, hands-on job, you might want to consider physical therapy. In physical therapy, you can work as a physical therapist (PT) or a physical therapist assistant (PTA).
While these careers sound pretty similar, they actually differ in responsibilities, education, decision-making, and pay. This guide is here to break down those differences so you can decide what path into physical therapy is right for you.
What PTs and PTAs Do
Both PTs and PTAs play essential roles in helping patients move and live better. How they do this is just different:
- PTs: They evaluate and diagnose movement problems, and then develop treatment plans to help patients regain mobility or manage pain. Other than evaluation and monitoring progress, they don’t spend a lot of time in the same room as the patient.
- PTAs: They work under the supervision of the PT and help patients through their treatment plans. They might guide them through exercises, like stretches or balance training, and document their progress for the PT.
What Education and Training They Need
Because PTs deal with the more complex task of designing effective treatment plans, they need more education. This includes:
- A 4-year bachelor’s degree in a related field
- A 3-year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree
- Passing a national licensure exam
Because PTAs work directly with the patient, they need to be skilled in the hands-on part of physical therapy. Their education includes:
- A 2-year PTA program [LINK TO Physical Therapist Assistant DEGREE PAGE]
- Passing a national licensure exam
What PTs and PTAs Can (and Can’t) Do
PTs and PTAs have differing levels of education, and so they also have different levels of responsibility in the clinic.
Here are some things that PTs can do that PTAs cannot:
- Assess and diagnose patients
- Design treatment plans
- Take responsibility for patient health
- Open a private practice
On the other hand, PTAs can:
- Help patients through their treatment plan
- Document sessions and patient responses
- Provide hands-on therapy, like massages or stretches
What Job Growth Looks Like
When it comes to job growth, both PTs and PTAs work in places like hospitals, outpatient clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, schools, and home health settings. PTs usually have more opportunities for specialized clinical roles, leadership positions, research, and even teaching. PTAs spend most of their careers in healthcare settings and, without further education, do not grow into other fields.
What Will You Choose?
There’s quite a few differences between the two careers, so here’s a helpful breakdown to help you decide:
| | Physical Therapist | Physical Therapist Assistant |
| What They Do at Work |
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| What Education They Need |
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| What They Can Do |
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| What Their Pay and Growth Look like |
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Even though PTs and PTAs are pretty different, there’s not one role that is objectively better than the other. It all depends on what you want to do with your career. If you want to work directly with patients and make a visible impact in their daily lives, then a PTA is a great option for you. But if you’re more interested in solving problems, designing treatments, specializing, or going into new fields, then a PT is the right path for you.
Whatever you decide, you’ll get to help patients lead better lives. You’ll improve the health of real people and find a rewarding career, all at the same time.
Citations
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physical Therapists
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Physical Therapist Assistants and Aides
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: How to Become a Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist Assistant (A.A.S.)
George Fox University: PT vs. PTA vs. Aide
Rasmussen University: PT vs. PTA: The Differences Between These Physical Therapy Careers
University of Saint Augustine: 11 Physical Therapy Specialties to Boost Your Career