Your Best Career? Physical Therapy Assistant Explored!

Your Best Career? Physical Therapy Assistant Explored!

Author: Time We Discuss May 17, 2026 Duration: 29:06
Time We Discuss | Career Exploration Podcast with Real Professionals and Real Stories
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Discover what it is really like being a physical therapy assistant in this episode of Time We Discuss featuring John Cooper. From helping amputees regain mobility to working with stroke patients and orthopedic injuries, John shares the reality of working as a PTA and what makes this healthcare career both challenging and rewarding.

In this conversation, we discuss:

  • What a physical therapy assistant actually does
  • The difference between a PTA and a physical therapist
  • PTA education requirements and whether you need a degree
  • Working with amputees and prosthetics
  • Outpatient versus inpatient physical therapy
  • How physically demanding the job really is
  • Work life balance and scheduling flexibility
  • Paperwork and patient care responsibilities
  • Continuing education and career growth opportunities
  • The best and hardest parts of the profession
  • Important skills needed to succeed as a PTA

John also shares powerful stories about helping patients recover mobility, improve strength, and regain independence after life changing injuries and medical conditions.

If you are considering a career in healthcare, physical therapy, rehabilitation, or allied health, this episode gives you a real world look at what it takes to become a physical therapy assistant and whether this could be the best career for you.

Subscribe for more career interviews and behind the scenes conversations about unique jobs and professions.

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Timestamp:
0:00 - Intro
0:35 - Physical Therapy Assistant (PTA) vs. Physical Therapist
1:59 - Typical Day as a Physical Therapy Assistant
2:40 - Do PTAs Work with All Ages and is it family friendly work?
3:18 - PTA and working with amputees
4:47 - Do you work shift work or regularly scheduled hours?
5:52 - What about Full-Time vs. Part-Time?
6:26 - Is being a PTA physically demanding?
7:28 - How much time is spent on paperwork as opposed to seeing patients?
8:22 - Do you need to go to college to be a physical therapy assistant?
11:33 - Ways to pivot out of being a PTA
13:45 - The BEST part of being a PTA
14:16 - The WORST part of being a PTA
14:55 - Do physical therapy assistants have difficult conversations with patients?
15:49 - Inpatient vs. Outpatient facilities
17:42 - Working with other professions
18:32 - Barriers to being a physical therapy assistant
19:50 - Unexpected perks of being a PTA
20:58 - Continuing education for PTAs
22:23 - Patient demographics
24:43 - Conference anecdote
26:37 - Talent has the floor
27:46 - Thank you
28:05 - Recap
28:57 - Outro

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Guest Information:

John Cooper, PTA

Also Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:

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Original Music: Original Music furnished by Dan Swift
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Figuring out what you want to do for a living is one of life's biggest puzzles, and Time We Discuss tackles it by bringing real voices into the conversation. Instead of abstract advice, each episode sits down with people who are actually doing the jobs you might be curious about. You'll hear the unvarnished details of their daily routines, the challenges they didn't see coming, and the moments that make their work worthwhile. This podcast moves beyond glossy job descriptions to explore the practical realities of different paths, from traditional professions to less conventional roles. Whether you're a student weighing college against direct entry into the workforce, someone considering a complete pivot, or simply fascinated by how other people spend their working hours, these discussions offer grounded insights. The focus is on career discovery through honest storytelling, providing a resource that feels more like a series of candid conversations than a formal guide. By listening, you gather the nuanced, firsthand information needed to make more informed decisions about your own professional journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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