If you’re considering a career as a Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA), you may already know that PTAs work directly with patients as they recover from injuries, illnesses, surgeries, and other conditions that affect movement and function. But what does a PTA career actually look like?
One exciting part of becoming a Physical Therapist Assistant is the variety of environments and patient populations you may encounter throughout your career. PTAs can work in hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare settings. They may also work with children, older adults, athletes, and patients with neurological or other complex conditions.
Understanding the different PTA career settings can help you explore your interests and discover which patient populations and work settings appeal to you.
Outpatient Physical Therapy Clinics
Outpatient physical therapy clinics are one setting where physical therapist assistants may work with patients recovering from injuries, surgeries, or other conditions that affect movement and mobility.
In an outpatient setting, a PTA may work with patients on exercises and activities designed to improve strength, flexibility, balance, endurance, or functional mobility. Patients may visit an outpatient physical therapy (PT) clinic as they recover from an orthopedic injury, work toward returning to an activity, or manage a condition that affects their ability to move comfortably.
Outpatient PT can also provide opportunities to work with patients from a variety of age groups and backgrounds.
Hospitals and Acute Care
Physical therapist assistants may also work in hospitals, where patients may need physical therapy during or after a hospital stay.
In an acute-care environment, PTAs may help patients improve mobility, strength, and functional abilities after an illness, injury, or surgery. Activities may include helping patients practice safe transitions from a bed to a chair, walk with an assistive device, or participate in therapeutic exercises.
Hospital-based PT can be fast-paced and may involve working as part of a larger healthcare team. For people who enjoy collaboration and helping patients take important steps in their recovery, this can be a rewarding career setting.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities offer another setting where PTAs can help patients work toward greater independence.
Patients in inpatient rehabilitation may be recovering from significant injuries, surgeries, strokes, or other conditions that have affected their mobility and ability to perform daily activities.
Working under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist, a PTA may help patients practice movement, walking, transfers, exercise, and other activities that support their rehabilitation goals.
Skilled Nursing and Long-Term Care
Skilled nursing facilities and other long-term care environments can provide opportunities for PTAs to work with older adults and people with a variety of mobility needs.
In these settings, physical therapist assistants may help patients improve or maintain strength, balance, mobility, and independent movement. Depending on the patient’s needs and treatment plan, therapy may focus on activities that support safe movement and everyday tasks.
For PTAs who enjoy building relationships with patients over time and helping people maintain their quality of life, working with older adults or other adults with mobility needs can be a meaningful career path.
Pediatrics
Physical therapy isn’t limited to adults. Physical therapist assistants may also work with children who have conditions or developmental differences that affect movement and physical function.
Pediatric physical therapy may focus on areas such as:
- Strength and mobility
- Balance and coordination
- Gross motor skills
- Functional movement
- Developmental milestones
Working with children can require creativity, patience, and the ability to make therapeutic activities age-appropriate and engaging.
Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation
If you enjoy sports or want to help people return to the exercise and other activities they love, sports and orthopedic rehabilitation may be an area worth exploring.
PTAs may work with patients recovering from sports injuries, orthopedic procedures, or other conditions affecting the muscles, bones, and joints. Treatment may include therapeutic exercises and activities designed to improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and function.
Patients may range from competitive athletes to people who simply want to return to recreational activities or everyday routines after a setback.
Neurological Rehabilitation
Neurological rehabilitation is a branch of physical therapy that focuses on patients whose movement and function are affected by neurological conditions or injuries.
Physical therapist assistants may work with patients recovering from conditions such as stroke or traumatic brain injury, or living with neurological disorders that affect mobility, balance, coordination, or strength.
In these settings, PTAs may help patients practice functional movements and exercises as part of a physical therapist’s plan of care. The goal may be to help patients improve their ability to participate in everyday activities and maintain a certain level of independence.
Other PTA Career Settings and Areas of Practice
The settings discussed above are only some of the possibilities available to physical therapist assistants. PTAs may also work in areas such as:
- Oncology rehabilitation
- Geriatrics
- Home health
- Rehabilitation centers
- Community-based care
A PTA’s specific responsibilities can vary depending on the practice setting, patient population, and physical therapist’s plan of care.
This variety means becoming a PTA does not necessarily limit your career to one type of environment or one specific population. As your experience grows, you may discover particular patient populations or areas of physical therapy that interest you more.
What Can PTA Students Expect From Clinical Education?
While learning about different types of physical therapy settings is important, experiencing patient care in a clinical environment prepares students even more for future success.
Clinical education is essential to preparing to become a physical therapist assistant. At SNU, students complete three separate, full-time clinical education experiences before graduation. These include one five-week experience in the spring semester of year two, followed by one five-week and one eight-week experience in the fall semester of year two. These clinical experiences take place during the day and let students apply and refine the skills and knowledge they developed in the classroom during year one.
SNU’s PTA curriculum also introduces students to common physical therapy practice settings and prepares them to work with diverse patient populations. Coursework includes conditions and treatments across the lifespan, covering pediatric through geriatric populations.
Clinical placements give students valuable opportunities to see how physical therapy works in real-world healthcare settings.
Finding the Right PTA Career Setting for You
With so many possible settings and patient populations, how do you decide which area of physical therapy is right for you?
Start by thinking about the kinds of people and environments you enjoy working in and with. You might ask yourself:
- Do I enjoy working with children, adults, or older adults?
- Am I interested in sports and orthopedic rehabilitation?
- Would I enjoy working in a hospital or rehabilitation environment?
- Do I enjoy helping people work toward greater independence?
- Am I interested in working with patients over a longer period of recovery?
- Which areas of healthcare interest me most?
You don’t have to know the answer to all of these questions before beginning your PTA education. Your interests may develop as you learn more about the profession and gain experience in different clinical settings.
Start Exploring a Career as a Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical therapist assistants can work with a wide range of patients in many different healthcare and rehabilitation settings. From helping an athlete return to the field to supporting an older adult’s mobility or helping a patient regain function after an illness or injury, PTAs make a meaningful difference in their patients' lives.
If you’re interested in a hands-on healthcare career that combines movement, science, patient interaction, and rehabilitation, becoming a physical therapist assistant may be worth exploring.
Southern Nazarene University’s Physical Therapist Assistant (A.S.) program is designed to prepare students for entry-level PTA practice through classroom instruction, simulated practice, and clinical education. The 23-month program is offered in an evening format at SNU’s Bethany campus, allowing students to pursue their education while continuing to manage work, home life, and other responsibilities.
Learn more about SNU’s Physical Therapist Assistant program and find out whether a career in physical therapy is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions About PTA Career Settings
Where do physical therapist assistants work?
Physical therapist assistants may work in a variety of settings, including outpatient physical therapy clinics, hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and home health settings. Depending on their workplace, they may work with children, adults, older adults, athletes, and patients recovering from injuries or managing conditions that affect movement and mobility.
Can physical therapist assistants work with different types of patients?
Yes. Physical therapist assistants may work with patients across the lifespan, from children developing motor skills to older adults working to maintain mobility and independence. They may also assist patients recovering from orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, surgeries, and other health challenges as part of a physical therapist’s plan of care.
Do physical therapist assistant students complete clinical rotations?
Yes. Clinical education is an important part of PTA training. At Southern Nazarene University (SNU), students complete three full-time clinical education experiences before graduation, allowing them to apply classroom learning and develop practical skills in clinical environments.
