Physical Therapy Assistant General Information

I was introduced to the career of "Physical Therapy Assistant" after breaking my arm in a cycling accident. Before being allowed to return to work after my cast was removed I had to see a Physical Therapy Assistant.

I had been working in a manufacturing plant at the time. The physical therapy assistant was a very amiable fellow and we got to talking about jobs. I mentioned that my job was horribly boring but the money was excellent and so were the benefits. He suggested I go back to school and start another career.

I actually had considered this but had nixed the idea because a four year degree would take six years. He said he felt I got along with people which I do. Now came the question I had not seen coming "why not become a physical therapy assistant".I told him I did not want to go back to school for six years to get a degree. He said I could become a physical therapy assistant with a two-year degree.

That day became a real eye-opener. I disliked my job quite a bit and as I said really only like the money. Maybe I could do that. The information began to take root. Of course right after that the economy tanked and I lost my job.

The opportunity was before me. I began researching the career of Physical Therapy Assistant.

This website is a result of the culling of a tremendous amount of information that I gathered in my “off time” a.k.a. being laid off.

I must say that without all of my research I probably would have gone nuts. Before I was laid off I have been working seven-day weeks.

Looking at the various job prospects I realized a career change was inevitable.

I actually saw ads in Craig's list for jobs ranging from assistant store manager to front desk at a gym requiring and associate degree, yet paying between eight and nine dollars an hour!

The two year degree has become the new high school diploma. Yet, the Physical Therapy Assistant, starts on average at about $21 an hour! Within five years the fellow who was my physical therapy assistant was making more than that.

For purely a bang for the buck comparison you will not find a better “net gain” for a two-year degree in any field!

As we have a population booming with older people and younger people exercising much more, the physical therapy assistant has a bright future.

All in all, in my humble opinion the Physical Therapy Assistant is the way to go.