 Career
Path Forecast
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
employment of physical therapist assistants and aides is expected to
grow by 35 percent from 2008 through 2018, much faster than the average
for all occupations.
Changes to restrictions on
reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will
increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand. The
increasing number of people who need therapy reflects, in part, the
increasing elderly population. The elderly population is particularly
vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require
therapeutic services. These patients often need additional assistance in
their treatment, making the roles of assistants and aides vital. In
addition, the large baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for
heart attacks and strokes, further increasing the demand for cardiac and
physical rehabilitation.
 Medical
and technological developments should permit an increased percentage of
trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating
added demand for therapy and rehabilitative services.
Physical therapists are expected to increasingly use assistants and
aides to reduce the cost of physical therapy services. Once a patient is
evaluated and a treatment plan is designed by the physical therapist,
the physical therapist assistant can provide many parts of the
treatment, as directed by the therapist.
Opportunities for
individuals interested in becoming physical therapist assistants are
expected to be very good; with help from physical therapist assistants,
physical therapists are able to manage more patients. However, physical
therapy aides may face keen competition from the large pool of qualified
individuals. In addition to employment growth, job openings will result
from the need to replace workers who leave the occupation permanently.
 Job
opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled
nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often
treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas, as
many physical therapists tend to cluster in highly populated urban and
suburban areas.
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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