Certified Physical Therapist Assistant

Mission Edge • San Diego, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Includ(Ed) is seeking a passionate, dedicated, and neurodiversity-affirming Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) to join its inclusive preschool team at campuses in Pacific Beach and Point Loma, San Diego. The PTA works directly within the classroom and collaborates with teachers, therapists, families, and a supervising licensed Physical Therapist to support children’s movement, mobility, participation, and success throughout the school day.

The role combines individual and small-group physical therapy intervention, classroom-based support, team consultation, and staff training in an inclusive childcare program. Therapy is embedded in the natural classroom environment and focuses on helping children participate meaningfully in routines, play, learning, transitions, and social experiences. The position supports a multidisciplinary, strengths-based approach that prioritizes access, autonomy, connection, participation, and inclusion.

Includ(Ed) provides inclusive preschool and childcare, bringing typically developing children and children with disabilities together to learn, play, and thrive. Its model emphasizes relationships, access, autonomy, and collaboration, with support integrated into the classroom whenever possible.

Requirements

• Associate’s degree from an accredited Physical Therapist Assistant program.
• Current California licensure as a Physical Therapist Assistant.
• Experience working with young children.
• Knowledge of developmentally appropriate pediatric physical therapy practices and gross motor development.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with children, teachers, and families.
• Ability to collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Comfort providing practical strategies and training to teachers and classroom staff.
• Strong understanding of play-based, relationship-based, and neurodiversity-affirming approaches.
• Passion for supporting young children’s movement, participation, independence, and quality of life.
• Ability to work independently and seek and incorporate feedback from the supervising Physical Therapist and classroom team.
• Ability to stand and walk throughout the school day; frequently stoop, bend, kneel, and move between floor- and table-level activities; actively participate in play and movement activities with young children; and lift up to 40 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with young children in a preschool, childcare, or pediatric setting.
• Experience providing physical therapy services in a classroom or other school-based environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide individual and small-group physical therapy intervention in the classroom under the direction and supervision of a licensed Physical Therapist.
• Support children’s gross motor development, mobility, balance, coordination, strength, postural control, and functional movement.
• Provide push-in physical therapy support in the natural classroom environment.
• Support children’s participation in classroom routines, playground activities, transitions, movement-based play, and peer social experiences.
• Collaborate with teachers and other therapists to integrate physical therapy strategies into everyday classroom activities and routines.
• Consult with classroom teams on student needs, gross motor development, mobility, positioning, balance, coordination, and environmental access.
• Provide practical strategies, modeling, and training to teachers and classroom staff.
• Help implement classroom adaptations and environmental supports that promote safe access, mobility, and participation.
• Observe classroom routines and identify opportunities with the team to increase independence, engagement, and participation through movement.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and student planning as needed.
• Communicate regularly with the supervising Physical Therapist about student progress, needs, and intervention strategies.
• Maintain brief and accurate service and student progress documentation.
• Support a neurodiversity-affirming, strengths-based approach prioritizing autonomy, connection, participation, and inclusion.
• Contribute to a collaborative team culture in which therapists and teachers work together to support the whole classroom.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employees working 30 or more hours per week.
• Paid time off and holidays.
• Professional development opportunities.
• Supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary team environment.
• Opportunity to work directly within an inclusive childcare setting alongside teachers, therapists, and families.
• Clinical supervision and ongoing collaboration with licensed Physical Therapists.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Education Level: Associate degree