Physical Therapist Assistants

People in this career often have these skills:

• Active Listening - Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Social Perceptiveness - Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Therapy and Counseling - Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Psychology - Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.

• Medicine and Dentistry - Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Biology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• Speech Recognition - The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
• Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

• Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
• Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

People in this career often do these activities:

• Engage patients in exercises or activities.
• Encourage patients during therapeutic activities.
• Document client health or progress.
• Record patient medical histories.
• Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

• Prepare medical reports or documents.
• Communicate patient status to other health practitioners.
• Train patients, family members, or caregivers in techniques for managing disabilities or illnesses.
• Hold patients to ensure proper positioning or safety.
• Confer with other professionals to plan patient care.
• Administer therapy treatments to patients using hands or physical treatment aids.
• Move patients to or from treatment areas.
• Adjust positions of patients on beds or tables.
• Clean patient rooms or patient treatment rooms.
• Teach medical procedures or medical equipment use to patients.
• Assess physical conditions of patients to aid in diagnosis or treatment.
• Monitor medical equipment to ensure proper functioning.
• Prepare medical instruments or equipment for use.
• Prepare patient treatment areas for use.
• Administer basic health care or medical treatments.
• Assist patients with daily activities.
• Attend educational events to update medical knowledge.
• Teach medical procedures to healthcare personnel.
• Fit patients for assistive devices.
• Perform clerical work in medical settings.
• Inventory medical supplies or equipment.

• Licensed Practical and Licensed Vocational Nurses

• Occupational Therapy Assistants

• Medical Assistants

• Registered Nurses

• Psychiatric Technicians

• Preschool Teachers, Except Special Education

• Social and Human Service Assistants

• Athletic Trainers

• Career/Technical Education Teachers, Postsecondary