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Certified physical therapist assistant skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Certified physical therapist assistant example skills
Below we've compiled a list of the most critical certified physical therapist assistant skills. We ranked the top skills for certified physical therapist assistants based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 26.2% of certified physical therapist assistant resumes contained rehabilitation as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a certified physical therapist assistant needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 certified physical therapist assistant skills for your resume and career

1. Rehabilitation

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use rehabilitation:
  • Assisted in the research and development of on-site fitness facility serving Physical Therapy, Cardiac Rehabilitation, and hospital staff.
  • Complete Decongestive Therapy, Vodder Technique, for Lymphedema patients Qualified in Aquatic Rehabilitation treatments.

2. Patients

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use patients:
  • Provided inpatient physical therapy to critical care patients and middle- intensive care unit patients.
  • Worked in Sub-acute facility on patients with various neurological and orthopedic diagnoses.

3. Acute Care

The branch of secondary healthcare which is responsible for giving short-term care to patients recovering from severe injuries or urgent medical problems is known as acute care. Acute care comprises multiple domains like; emergency care, urgent care, short-term stabilization, pre-hospital care, critical care, and trauma care.

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use acute care:
  • Worked in both acute care setting and outpatient clinic.
  • Position Held: Physical Therapist Assistant; Acute Care Medicine/Surgery; Cardiopulmonary, Thoracic Surgery, Ventilation.

4. Physical Therapy

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use physical therapy:
  • Provide quality physical therapy services to a very diverse patient population in fast paced outpatient setting.
  • Provided physical therapy services, including treatment, ergonomic consultation and injury prevention education.

5. Discharge Planning

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use discharge planning:
  • Participate in discharge planning, development and implementation of resident care plans, resident assessments as necessary.
  • Participated in patient and family care meetings, communication with staff and doctors, discharge planning and community reintegration

6. Patient Education

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use patient education:
  • Performed ROM, vitals, charting, documentation and patient education.
  • Delivered patient education on various topics ranging from disease prevention and health promotion to proper medication usage and nutrition.

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7. Crutches

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use crutches:
  • Assisted therapist in teaching patients proper use of wheelchairs, braces, canes, crutches, and prosthetic devices.
  • Trained patients in use and care of orthopedic braces, prostheses, and supportive devices, such as crutches.

8. Functional Training

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use functional training:
  • Conducted treatments using therapeutic exercises, gait training, and functional training.

9. Treatment Programs

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use treatment programs:
  • Planned individually-designed treatment programs to restore, maintain and improve physical functioning, alleviate pain and prevent disability.
  • Assisted with planning and implementing specific treatment programs for individual clients, including developing therapeutic exercise programs and monitoring schedule adherence.

10. Taking Inventory

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use taking inventory:
  • Perform clerical duties, taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephones, taking messages, and filling out forms.
  • Performed office duties such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering phones and scrubbing patient completed forums.

11. Patient Treatment

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use patient treatment:
  • Drafted notes related to patient treatments, entered records into central database and submitted documentation for official signatures and review.
  • Assisted in patient treatment sessions through prescribed exercise regimens under the direction of a supervising physical therapist.

12. Outpatient Clinic

Outpatient clinics are a part of a hospital and are set up for the purpose of treating outpatients - those who require treatment and diagnosis, but not a bed or overnight care.

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use outpatient clinic:
  • Worked in various settings, including hospitals, nursing facilities and outpatient clinics.
  • Shadowed several physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in both inpatient and outpatient clinics of Tampa General Hospital.

13. Therapeutic Exercises

Patients who have experienced physical injuries through accidents or medical conditions are assigned therapeutic activities to regain their physical health and body functions. E.g., If a person has had knee injuries, the therapist will suggest specific knee exercises to bring the knee back to normal. These exercises can be as simple as walking, stretching, lifting, or balancing.

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use therapeutic exercises:
  • Administered manual therapeutic exercises to improve or maintain muscle function.
  • Progress therapeutic exercises according to patient needs.

14. Traction

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use traction:
  • Used traction tables with rollers.
  • Experience using various medical equipment including electric stimulation, traction and ultrasound machines.

15. OT

OT, also known as Occupational Therapist, helps people of different age groups to participate in things they like to do by using therapeutic strategies in everyday activities. An OT plays the role of customer service representative and receives payment based on their tasks. They are concerned with promoting the health and well-being of their patients or clients. With the use of assessment and intervention, they help develop, recover, and maintain individuals, groups, or communities' meaningful activities.

Here's how certified physical therapist assistants use ot:
  • Collaborated with other health care professional including PT, OT, and Physicians in the design and treatment plan of clients.
  • Collaborated daily with PT, OT, ST, and PT aides to ensure smooth operation of rehab dept.
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List of certified physical therapist assistant skills to add to your resume

Certified physical therapist assistant skills

The most important skills for a certified physical therapist assistant resume and required skills for a certified physical therapist assistant to have include:

  • Rehabilitation
  • Patients
  • Acute Care
  • Physical Therapy
  • Discharge Planning
  • Patient Education
  • Crutches
  • Functional Training
  • Treatment Programs
  • Taking Inventory
  • Patient Treatment
  • Outpatient Clinic
  • Therapeutic Exercises
  • Traction
  • OT
  • Vital Signs
  • Manual Therapy
  • HEP
  • Sensory Perception
  • Physical Therapy Treatment
  • SNF
  • Gait Training
  • Injury Prevention

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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