Physical Therapist Assistant; PTA

All About a Career as a Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA)

On this episode of the Unboxing Careers Podcast, Greg Zakowicz unboxes the career of a Physical Therapist Assistant with John Cooper.

Guest: John Cooper has been practicing as a PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant) for 17 years, with experience in outpatient, inpatient, and nursing home settings. John spent his first 14 years practicing in a rural hospital in Valley, Alabama. He is currently working in a private practice outpatient clinic in Columbus, GA.

A Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) helps patients return to their everyday lives after injuries, surgeries, or health conditions. Unlike physical therapists (PTs), who develop treatment plans, PTAs work under their supervision to carry out those plans. This makes PTAs essential to the therapy process. It’s a career that allows you to work closely with patients, encourage progress, and see measurable improvements over time.

Many careers in healthcare require long years of training, but becoming a PTA offers a faster entry point into the field while still making a huge impact on patients’ lives. John Cooper, who has worked as a PTA for 17 years, was drawn to the field as a teenager after seeing his grandfather go through rehabilitation. Watching therapists help people regain mobility left a strong impression, and combined with John’s love for athletics and exercise, it became the foundation of his career choice.

The education path for a PTA is shorter than many other healthcare professions. PTAs earn an associate’s degree from an accredited PTA program, which typically takes about two years. Most programs require students to complete at least 40 hours of observation in a clinic before applying. John recommends that high school students start early by shadowing a PT or PTA in a hospital, nursing home, or outpatient clinic.

If you’re considering this path, here are the steps:

High school prep: Take science and health classes like biology, anatomy, and physiology. This foundation will make college-level coursework easier.

Observation hours: Spend time shadowing professionals. John suggests splitting hours across different summers or school years so it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

Associate’s degree: Complete a 2-year PTA program that combines classroom learning with hands‑on clinical experience.

Licensing exam: Pass the national exam to become certified.

John’s journey looked different—he first earned a bachelor’s in exercise science before pursuing his PTA degree. Looking back, he says he would have chosen the PTA degree first to begin hands‑on work earlier. This shows there’s flexibility in the path, but either way, strong science skills and a passion for helping people are key.

A PTA’s daily routine varies depending on the workplace, but in outpatient care like John’s, it’s structured around patient sessions. He usually sees 12 patients a day
, split between morning and afternoon. Each session lasts about 40 minutes, during which he guides patients through exercises, tracks progress, and documents notes for insurance and doctors.

Here’s a look at what that actually means:

Exercise guidance: PTAs help patients perform stretches, strengthening moves, and mobility drills. For example, if someone is recovering from knee surgery, a PTA might guide them through leg lifts, balance training, or resistance band exercises.

Mobility training: PTAs teach patients how to safely use walkers, crutches, or prosthetics, adapting exercises to match their goals.

Documentation: After each session, PTAs record notes on progress, challenges, and next steps. These notes are critical for insurance approvals and doctor updates.

In addition to outpatient care, PTAs also work in hospitals (inpatient care), where they help patients get moving right after surgery or serious injuries. Some PTAs even work in home health, visiting patients at their homes to provide therapy in a more personal setting. This variety means PTAs can choose a work environment that fits…