Physical therapist assistants generally are required to have formal training.  The minimum required level of education achieved is an associate degree.  The degree must be earned from an accredited physical therapist assistant program.  Some States require a physical therapy assistant to be licensed or registered.  Individual State licensing boards will stipulate what educational and examination criteria are to be expected in order for an assistant to practice.  The applicant can anticipate having to be CPR Certified, knowledgeable in first aide, and complete a minimum number of hours of clinical experience.
Physical therapist aides learn all of the skills necessary to practice through on-the- job training.  Employers generally provide this training to employees.  The aide will, however, have to have a high school diploma.  One of the most important qualifications an aide should display is strong interpersonal skills.  It is also beneficial if the applicant demonstrates the ability to work well with various types of people.  Working as a team is absolutely essential.  Perhaps the one thing that qualifies a physical therapist aide is the sincere desire to assist people in need.
Accredited physical therapist assistant programs last 2 years, or 4 semesters, and culminate in an associate degree. There are 238 accredited physical therapist assistant programs in the U.S. according to the American Physical Therapy Association. The program has two parts.  They are divided between academic study and hands-on clinical experience. Some of the courses that an interested student can expect to encounter are algebra, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, and psychology. Employers usually require completion of one semester of anatomy and physiology.  Clinical experience is important to educators and prospective employers.  It is viewed as an indication that students and applicants understand the responsibilities of a physical therapist assistant.
The utilization of physical therapy aides and assistants will increase in effort to reduce the cost of physical therapy services.  The patient will be evaluated by the licensed physical therapist and a treatment plan will be designed.  Then, the physical therapist assistant can be instructed by the physical therapist to provide many aspects of the treatment prescribed.  Since assistants work at a lower hourly rate than the licensed therapist, it is more cost effective to use the services of the assistant when it is practical to do so.
Aides and assistants with prior experience in health care setting, especially in a physical therapy office, will be eligible for the best job opportunities.  The field is competitive since there are a large number of qualified individuals with a high school diploma.