Healthcare SupportO*NET: 31-2022.00
Will AI Replace Physical Therapist Aides?
Under close supervision of a physical therapist or physical therapy assistant, perform only delegated, selected, or routine tasks in specific situations. These duties include preparing the patient and the treatment area.
47out of 100
Medium Risk
AI Risk Score
47/100
Risk Level
Medium
Job Zone
2/5
Entry
Total Tasks Analyzed
13
🤖 What AI Can Do
- ▸Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- ▸Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
👤 What Requires Humans
- ▸Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- ▸Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- ▸Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
- ▸Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (2)
- Clean and organize work area and disinfect equipment after treatment.
- Observe patients during treatment to compile and evaluate data on patients' responses and progress and report to physical therapist.
👤Requires Humans (4)
- Instruct, motivate, safeguard, or assist patients practicing exercises or functional activities, under direction of medical staff.
- Administer active or passive manual therapeutic exercises, therapeutic massage, or heat, light, sound, water, or electrical modality treatments, such as ultrasound.
- Perform clerical duties, such as taking inventory, ordering supplies, answering telephone, taking messages, or filling out forms.
- Maintain equipment or furniture to keep it in good working condition, including performing the assembly or disassembly of equipment or accessories.
⚡AI-Assisted (7)
- Secure patients into or onto therapy equipment.
- Confer with physical therapy staff or others to discuss and evaluate patient information for planning, modifying, or coordinating treatment.
- Change linens, such as bed sheets and pillow cases.
- Transport patients to and from treatment areas, using wheelchairs or providing standing support.
- Schedule patient appointments with physical therapists and coordinate therapists' schedules.
- Arrange treatment supplies to keep them in order.
- Assist patients to dress, undress, or put on and remove supportive devices, such as braces, splints, or slings.
Key Skills Analysis
Active Listening
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Service OrientationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Social PerceptivenessAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.12/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
InstructingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
Time ManagementAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.00/5.00
PersuasionAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.88/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 2.75/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Physical Therapist Aides have a medium risk of AI replacement with a score of 47/100. While some tasks can be assisted by AI, the core responsibilities require human judgment and skills.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research