Physical therapist vs physical therapist assistant

The physical therapist assistant is, in APTA's words, the only individual who assists a physical therapist in practice. The division of work is fixed by role rather than by technique: only the physical therapist performs the initial examination and reexamination, makes the evaluation, diagnosis and prognosis, writes and revises the plan of care, and concludes the episode of care.

Within that plan, the assistant delivers interventions, collects selected examination and outcome data and reports back, and may modify an intervention to progress the patient as the therapist directs or to keep the patient safe and comfortable. APTA's position is that assistants work under at least general supervision, meaning the therapist need not be on site but must be reachable by telecommunication; it lists federal and state law among the factors that decide how much supervision applies, and states and payers can require more.

The education gap is large. The physical therapist's Doctor of Physical Therapy takes about three years after college, with an average of 22 weeks in the final clinical experience; the assistant's associate degree takes about two years, with an average of 16 weeks of full-time clinical experience. CAPTE accredits both kinds of program.