Therapy Aides and Assistants
Physical therapy assistants (P.T.A.s) and occupational therapy assistants (C.O.T.A.s) assist the therapists with treatments and exercises designed to improve the quality of life for patients who have experienced debilitating illnesses or injury or the effects of aging in general.
PT aides and O.T. aides generally assist with preparing the area for the treatment, keep therapy sites clean, perform office duties such as scheduling appointments, and assist patients to and from the therapy area. They can push patients in wheelchairs or provide assistance ambulating. They are not licensed or certified and are prohibited from performing any clinical tasks.
Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice
P.T.A.s can administer massage, exercises, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy, paraffin baths, hot and cold packs, and traction. They perform these tasks under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist. They will also record the patient's response to these treatments and report the outcome to the therapist.
C.O.T.A.s work with occupational therapists to deliver a plan of care to help rehabilitate patients with physical, mental, and emotional issues. This will help patients to increase their independence in activities of daily living. C.O.T.A.s help to adapt devices and instruct patients in the adaptation of activities to meet their needs and improve their outcomes in working toward independent living. They teach patients how to transfer, how to stretch and limber their muscles, and how to conserve energy. And they ensure that the activities and exercises are being done correctly.
Education and Training
PT and O.T. aide positions are unlicensed and are usually on-the-job training positions. However, some more formal programs are being developed and run through adult schools and vocational schools. Most schools and employers require a high school diploma or equivalent.
To become a PTA or COTA requires an associate's degree from a community college. These are two-year programs, and typically the curriculum consists of math, biomedical sciences, and general-education courses the first year, and theoretical and clinical therapy courses the second year. The clinical courses are, of course, conducted under the direct supervision of a licensed therapist.
ssential
Application to PTA or COTA programs is highly competitive, and applicants can improve their chances of acceptance by having completed algebra, biology, and chemistry courses in high school, as well as by accumulating volunteer work hours in the hospital, skilled-nursing facility, or therapy site.
Licensure/Certification
Upon graduation from an accredited school, the O.T. assistant can sit for the national certification exam from the American Occupational Therapy Certification Board and become certified. Most states regulate C.O.T.A.s, and they recognize this exam and certification process.
Not all states require licensing of P.T.A.s. Those that do have specific requirements that are available from the PT licensing board in each state.
Work Settings and Salaries
P.T.A.s and C.O.T.A.s are generally employed in hospital or skilled-nursing facilities or outpatient clinics or offices. Inpatient facilities generally utilize therapy services during the day shift and will often include weekends and holidays. Outpatient facilities quite often offer evening and weekend hours in addition to the normal eight-to-five schedule. Therefore these assistants may work a flexible schedule.
The median salary for P.T.A.s in 2004 was $37,890, and salaries ranged from $24,110 to $52,110 according to figures from the U.S. Department of Labor. For C.O.T.A.s, the median salary in 2004 was $38,430, and salaries ranged from $25,880 to $52,700.
PT and O.T. aides usually work in outpatient therapy facilities under the direct supervision of therapists. The PT aide salary ranged from $15,380 to $33,550 in 2004, with a median salary of $21,380. The O.T. aide salary ranged from $15,820 to $41,560, with a median salary of $23,150. Again, these are figures for 2004 as released by the U.S. Department of Labor.
Career Potential and Additional Information
The opportunity for these aides and assistants is expected to grow much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014. The aging population and the development of new technologies that save the lives of those who have suffered birth defects or debilitating illnesses and injuries will set the stage for a tremendous need for these workers.
As responsibilities trickle down from the primary practitioners to the therapists, so will the responsibilities of the therapists. This serves to maximize the efforts of all members of the health team in improving and maintaining the health care status of Americans over the next decade.
For more information on C.O.T.A.s and O.T. aides, contact the American Occupational Therapy Association. Their Web site is
Information about P.T.A.s and physical therapy aides can be obtained from the American P.T. Association. Their Web site is
