How to hire a licensed physical therapist assistant

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

Here's a step-by-step licensed 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 licensed physical therapist assistant job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new licensed physical therapist assistant
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the licensed physical therapist assistant you need to hire. Certain licensed physical therapist assistant roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   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 licensed 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.

   Here's a comparison of licensed physical therapist assistant salaries for various roles:

   Type of Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant	Description	Hourly rate
   Licensed 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:

   • Patients
   • Patient Care
   • Home Health
   • Rehabilitation
   • Treatment Programs
   • Acute Care
   • SNF
   • Physical Therapy
   • Body Mechanics
   • Physical Therapy Treatment
   • Discharge Planning
   • Occupational Therapy
   • Patient Safety
   • Traction

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead exercises and support for orthopedic, TKR, THA, and CVA in mix inpatient and outpatient setting.
   • Provide home rehabilitation to a variety of patients including CVA, orthopedics, and general rehabilitation and education.
   • Work briefly in a SNF setting providing physical therapy services to the elderly.
   • Fit patients for orthopedic braces, prostheses, or supportive devices, such as crutches.
   • Treat patients of all ages with a variety of diagnoses.Expertise in acute CVA, orthopedic surgeries, trauma and ICU.
   • Treat patients on weekends in skil nursing facility/rehab setting, specializing in orthopedics, post-operative and general rehabilitation.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your licensed physical therapist assistant job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A licensed physical therapist assistant salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, licensed physical therapist assistants' average salary in montana is 35% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level licensed physical therapist assistants earn 44% less than senior-level licensed physical therapist assistants.
   • Certifications. A licensed physical therapist assistant with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a licensed physical therapist assistant's salary.

   Average licensed physical therapist assistant salary

   $53,673yearly

   $25.80 hourly rate

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   Entry-level licensed physical therapist assistant salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a licensed physical therapist assistant job description

   A good licensed physical therapist assistant job description should include a few things:

   • Summary of the role
   • List of responsibilities
   • Required skills and experience

   Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a licensed physical therapist assistant job description:

   Licensed physical therapist assistant job description example

   Job DescriptionDedham Health & Athletic Complex has been proudly serving Boston and the South Shore for over 35 years, including Westwood, Newton, Needham, Brookline, Hyde Park, West Roxbury, Norwood, and Jamaica Plain. We strive to be recognized as the premier health and wellness facility in the Northeast and to attract and retain a diversified clientele with our various programs and services, such as medical wellness, adult recreation and fitness, family fun and fitness, and outdoor summer recreation. Our dedicated staff works to provide our customers with exceptional service and expert instruction in a safe, enjoyable, and motivational environment resulting in consistent use and extraordinary experiences.
   
   We are always looking for talented, self-motivated individuals to join our team. If you think you are ready to be a part of an exciting team, then we encourage you to continue with this applicant friendly, online job application!
   
   Dedham Health & Athletic Complex is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.We recognize and respect the amount of time you are about to invest by applying to this open position. If you complete this job application, you will be kept informed via email status updates (and text messages, if you opt in) throughout the evaluation process.
   
   By continuing with this job application, you will be asked to answer job-specific questions. Please note that the questions contained in this job posting are our sole intellectual property.
   
   Upon receipt of your responses, we will evaluate your submission. If selected for a personal interview, you will receive an email/text with scheduling instructions.
   Thank You,
   The Hiring Manager
   
   SPECIAL NOTE: If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail within minutes of your job application submission, please check your email bulk or spam folders .
   
   JOB DESCRIPTION
   
   Dynamic orthopedic and sports outpatient physical therapy facility seeking a Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant to lead our Aquatic Therapy program. Training will be provided if needed. The Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant's have independent schedules, while also having open communication with PT's for questions. He or she helps restore clients to their previous state of physical fitness after surgery, illness, or accident. Patient population mostly includes total joint replacements, arthroscopic surgical procedures, back pain, athletic injuries, and global arthritis.
   
   The ideal candidate has a license to practice as a Physical Therapist Assistant in Massachusetts, Candidates must have a pleasant and courteous personality, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and good computer skills. Aquatic therapy experience or knowledge is a bonus. Current CPR, AED, and First Aid certifications are a plus. Great learning environment and excellent benefits. RESPONSIBILITIES
   
   Helps develop, direct, and carry out aquatic physical therapy plans of care and activities following the rules, guidelines, and regulations of the facility Helps the Physical Therapist with all aspects of the program, including scheduling and helping during therapy sessions Screens and evaluates each client to determine appropriate treatment and monitors client progress throughout treatment Attends all staff meetings, trainings, and educational classes as required Performs other duties as assigned Plans, develops, organizes, evaluates, and directs physical therapy activities following the rules, guidelines, and regulations of the facility QUALIFICATIONS
   
   Current state license as a Physical Therapist Assistant Pleasant/friendly demeanor and an outgoing personality Communication and interpersonal skills to work effectively with clients, staff, vendors, and others Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) and the internet Able to bend, kneel, squat, stand, and lift heavy objects as needed Current CPR, First Aid, and AED certifications a plus

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find licensed physical therapist assistants for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your licensed physical therapist assistant job on Zippia to find and recruit licensed physical therapist assistant candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit licensed 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 licensed physical therapist assistant

   Once you've selected the best licensed physical therapist assistant candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new licensed physical therapist assistant. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

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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