How To Become A Rehab Technician: What It Is and Career Path

What is a rehab technician and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A rehab technician works in the rehabilitation field, helping patients recover from injuries or illnesses. They assist physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists. Rehab technicians help patients with exercises, prepare equipment, and monitor progress. They also provide emotional support and help patients adjust to new circumstances. Rehab technicians work in settings including hospitals, nursing homes, and outpatient clinics. Overall, they help patients regain independence and improve their quality of life.

ScoreRehab TechnicianUS Average

Salary

2.2

Avg. Salary $28,505

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

6.9

Growth rate 24%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.41%

Asian 7.49%

Black or African American 7.12%

Hispanic or Latino 13.25%

Unknown 4.79%

White 66.93%

Gender

female 66.32%

male 33.68%

Age - 37

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 37

Stress level

6.9

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

4.1

Complexity level is basic

7 - challenging

Work life balance

10.0

Work life balance is excellent

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a rehab technician?

Pros

High demand for rehab services, leading to job security
Opportunities for professional development and advancement
Collaborative work environment with other healthcare professionals
Competitive salary and benefits packages
Learning new techniques and technologies

Cons

Physically demanding job, requiring long periods of standing and bending
Requires frequent documentation and recordkeeping
May require working weekends, evenings, or holidays
Risk of injury due to lifting or moving patients
Continual need for ongoing education and certification updates

Key steps to become a rehab technician

Explore rehab technician education requirements

Most common rehab technician degrees

Bachelor's

47.4 %

Associate

20.7 %

High School Diploma

13.2 %

Start to develop specific rehab technician skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	23.58%
Physical Therapy	10.41%
Rehabilitation	10.11%
Customer Service	5.56%
CPR	4.49%

Complete relevant rehab technician training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New rehab technicians learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a rehab technician based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real rehab technician resumes.

Gain additional rehab technician certifications

Rehab technician certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific rehab technician certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for rehab technicians include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research rehab technician duties and responsibilities

Make rounds for walkers and wheelchairs for patients.
Assist therapist with transfers, monitoring of splints, hot packs, and modalities.
Prepare patients for therapy sessions and assist patients to put on devices such as braces and splints.
Maintain and clean medical equipment, interact with staff and patients, and occasionally cover the reception desk.Skills UsedCNA and CPR

Prepare your rehab technician resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your rehab technician resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a rehab technician resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable rehab technician resume templates

Build a professional rehab technician resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your rehab technician resume.