Interview Questions to Ask a Physical Therapist Assistant Candidate
Questions that surface real evidence of hands-on patient progress under a real PT's plan of care — plus what to actually listen for in the answer, not just whether they say the right buzzwords.
1. How do you adapt an exercise when a patient says it increases their pain during a session?
What to listen for: Expect stopping, asking about the pain, modifying or regressing the exercise, reporting to the supervising therapist and documenting.
2. A patient who is recovering from knee surgery wants to progress faster than the plan allows. What do you say?
What to listen for: Good answers explain the reasons for staged progress, involve the therapist, and keep motivation high.
3. How do you ensure patient safety during gait training or transfers?
What to listen for: Look for using gait belts, checking footwear and surroundings, clear instructions, and never leaving a patient unsupported.
4. You think the treatment plan is no longer helping a patient. What do you do?
What to listen for: Strong answers record observations, discuss with the supervising therapist, and avoid changing the plan on their own.
5. What would you do in your first 30 days in this physical therapist assistant role?
What to listen for: Whether their plan is grounded in the role's actual must-haves (treatment plan execution and patient mobility assistance) or generic ("get to know the team"). Specificity here signals real understanding of the job, not just interview prep.
6. Why are you leaving your current role, and why this one specifically?
What to listen for: Forward-looking motivation tied to something concrete about this role, versus badmouthing a past employer or vague dissatisfaction. Watch for whether their reasons actually match what this role offers.
A warning sign in this interview
Working outside the treatment plan or supervision limits, or pushing patients through pain to hit a schedule.
What to look for on the CV before the interview
Patient volume, the settings worked in and treatment techniques.
Confirm before you make an offer
The licence or certification required for assistants where you hire, and the supervision rules for the setting.
People who may apply under another title
This job is also called PTA, Physiotherapy Assistant, Rehabilitation Assistant, Physical Therapy Aide. A candidate with one of those titles can be a strong match, so ask the same questions and judge the answers, not the title.
Frequently asked questions
How many of these questions should I ask in one interview?
3-4 is realistic for a 30-45 minute interview once you leave room for follow-ups and the candidate's own questions. Divide competencies across panel members rather than every interviewer asking all of them — see the Interview Scorecard tool for a structured version of this.
How is this different from the Interview Scorecard tool?
This page is a generic starting point for the physical therapist assistant role. The tool generates a full panel-ready kit — competency-grouped questions, a 1-5 rating rubric, and strong/weak answer examples — tailored to your actual job description and competencies.
What is a red flag when interviewing a physical therapist assistant?
Working outside the treatment plan or supervision limits, or pushing patients through pain to hit a schedule.
What should I confirm before offering a physical therapist assistant the job?
The licence or certification required for assistants where you hire, and the supervision rules for the setting.
Hiring a physical therapist assistant? The rest of the toolkit
- How to write the job description →
Titles, must-haves, credentials and a starting posting.
- Search strings to find candidates →
Five searches from broad to narrow, with exclusions.
- Run the whole hire in one place →
Jobs, CV review, interviews, offers and checks together.