How to hire a certified physical therapist assistant

How to hire a certified physical therapist assistant, step by step

Here's a step-by-step certified physical therapist assistant hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a certified physical therapist assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new certified physical therapist assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your certified physical therapist assistant job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a certified physical therapist assistant for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect certified physical therapist assistant also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents certified physical therapist assistant salaries for various positions.

   Type of Certified Physical Therapist Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Certified Physical Therapist Assistant	Physical therapist assistants, sometimes called PTAs, and physical therapist aides work under the direction and supervision of physical therapists. They help patients who are recovering from injuries and illnesses regain movement and manage pain.	$19-34
   Physical Therapy Technician	A physical therapy technician supports both the physical therapists and their physical therapy assistants in planning and implementing patient care. You are expected to perform varied duties and responsibilities that include responding to patients' requests for assistance, assisting with patient preparation before treatment, and maintaining the equipment used by the physical therapist during treatment sessions... Show more	$9-28

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Rehabilitation
   • Patients
   • Acute Care
   • Physical Therapy
   • Discharge Planning
   • Patient Education
   • Crutches
   • Functional Training
   • Treatment Programs
   • Taking Inventory
   • Patient Treatment
   • Outpatient Clinic
   • Therapeutic Exercises
   • Traction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage a diverse caseload including, but not limit to CVA's, cardiac care, Alzheimer's and sub acute orthopedics
   • Provide inpatient physical therapy to critical care patients and middle- intensive care unit patients.
   • Assist with problem solving for rehabilitation and wind care for the facility.
   • Assist in outpatient orthopedic and neurology rehabilitation.
   • Perform after care sterilization, while recording progress of microscopic pathogens including cleaning and sterilizing wind care and rehabilitating equipment.
   • Develop and maintain MDS section GG information tracking system in order to facilitate allocation of data and staff productivity.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your certified physical therapist assistant job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A certified physical therapist assistant can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, certified physical therapist assistants' average salary in montana is 35% less than in maine.
   • Seniority. Entry-level certified physical therapist assistants 44% less than senior-level certified physical therapist assistants.
   • Certifications. A certified physical therapist assistant with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a certified physical therapist assistant's salary.

   Average certified physical therapist assistant salary

   $54,132yearly

   $26.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level certified physical therapist assistant salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 22, 2026

4. Writing a certified physical therapist assistant job description

   A certified physical therapist assistant job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a certified physical therapist assistant job description:

   Certified physical therapist assistant job description example

   The Certified Physical Therapy Assistant is a professional who administers daily living/cognitive/visual-perceptual and psychosocial rehabilitation procedures as outlined in the care plan written by the Registered Physical Therapist. This individual provides services to patients of all ages.
   
   Actively participates in outstanding customer service and accepts responsibility in maintaining relationships that are equally respectful to all.
   ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
   
   * Competes patient care and daily documentation which is timely, accurate and contains the essential information to communicate need for skilled care.
   * Performs patient care functions with regards to patients' age in mind.
   * Provides therapy within the Scope of Practice for Physical Therapy Assistants in the State of Kansas.
   * Works within the Plan of Care written by supervising Physical Therapist.
   * Completes all patient care in a safe manor taking into account both the patient's safety as well as your own.
   * Ability to meet all Physical Requirements.
   * Abides by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability privacy and security regulations regarding all aspects of Protected Health Information (PHI).
   * Serves a population newborn through geriatric.
   
   MINIMUM KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
   
   * Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively.
   
   PREFERRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS REQUIRED:
   
   * Entry level knowledge for Physical Therapy.
   
   REQUIRED BEHAVIORAL SKILLS:
   
   * Integrity:
   * A personal presence which is characterized by a sense of honesty and the willingness to do the right thing.
   * The ability to role model, inspire and motivate others to promote the philosophy, mission, vision, goals and values of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System
   
   * Compassion:
   * A personal presence which is characterized by a sense of caring that is reflected in a high level of empathy and customer service with all that we come in contact.
   * Ability to manage conflict, consider other points of view, and offer alternative solutions without jeopardizing overall project direction and the ability to manage customer expectations.
   
   * Accountability:
   * Demonstrated track record of ownership of situations, projects and issues.
   * Able to work autonomously and have a high degree of flexibility to adapt to changing projects, priorities and work volumes.
   
   * Respect:
   * Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a diverse population.
   * Treat all internal and external customers with a positive, proactive service orientation.
   
   * Excellence:
   * Strong communication and presentation skills with a proven ability to influence and lead teams to conclusion/decision making.
   * Proven ability to think strategically but also must be able to lead day-to-day tactical processes.
   * Demonstrated ability to manage and provide coaching and leadership on complex projects.
   * Must be able to lead and/or facilitate process improvement.
   
   MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:
   
   * Graduation from an accredited school with an Associate's degree in Physical Therapy.
   * Entry level knowledge for Physical Therapy.
   
   PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
   
   * N/A
   
   REQUIRED LICENSE/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION:
   
   * Maintain a current license in the State of Kansas.
   * Healthcare Provider BLS - if BLS is not American Heart Association, AHA BLS is required within three months of hire.
   
   PREFERRED LICENSE/REGISTRATION/CERTIFICATION:
   
   * American Heart Association BLS.
   
   We offer competitive pay, a generous benefit package and a reason to be proud of what you do, every day.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right certified physical therapist assistant for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   To find certified physical therapist assistant candidates, you can consider the following options:

   • Post your job opening on Zippia or other job search websites.
   • Use niche websites that focus on engineering and technology jobs, such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post your job on free job posting websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit certified physical therapist assistants, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new certified physical therapist assistant

   Once you have selected a candidate for the certified physical therapist assistant position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new certified physical therapist assistant. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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