While APTA's centennial may be a couple years away, there's another cause for celebration right here, right now: 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the first physical therapist assistant (PTA) graduates.

Though a half-century may seem like a long time, the rise of the PTA from something that seemed like a good idea to a recognized, well-established, and in-demand profession integral to health care represents a remarkably short ascendance. Today, it's hard to imagine the delivery of physical therapy without PTAs on the team.

Here's a look at how the PTA profession came into being, and what's happened since.