The physical therapist assistant is a health care worker who assists the physical therapist in the provision of physical therapy. The physical therapist assistant is a graduate of a physical therapist assistant associate degree program accredited by an agency recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department of Education or the Council of Postsecondary Accreditation.

The physical therapist assistant is required to work under the direction and supervision of the physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant may perform physical therapy procedures and related tasks that have been selected and delegated by the supervising physical therapist. Where permitted by law, the physical therapist assistant may also carry out routine operational functions, including supervision of the physical therapy aide or equivalent, and documentation of treatment progress. The ability of the physical therapist assistant to perform the selected and delegated tasks shall be assessed on an ongoing basis by the supervising physical therapist. The physical therapist assistant may, with prior approval by the supervising physical therapist, adjust a specific treatment procedure in accordance with changes in patient status.

When the physical therapist and the physical therapist assistant are not within the same physical setting, the performance of the delegated functions by the physical therapist assistant  must be consistent with safe and legal physical therapy practice and shall be predicated on the following factors: complexity and acuity of the patient’s needs; proximity and accessibility to the physical therapist; supervision available in the event of emergencies or critical event; and type of setting in which the service is provided. The physical therapist assistant shall not perform the following physical therapy activities: interpretation of referrals; physical therapy initial evaluation or re-evaluation; identification, determination of modification of plans of care (including goals and treatment programs) final discharge assessment/evaluation or establishment of the discharge plan; or therapeutic techniques beyond the skill and knowledge of the physical therapist assistant.