A children’s physical therapist is also known as a pediatric physical therapist. Their focus is on providing physical therapy to children who have suffered injuries, have undergone surgery or are suffering other medical conditions that affect their muscular and skeletal system. Pediatric physical therapists work in hospitals, office settings, schools, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities and do home therapy.
Pediatric therapy programs generally focus on the assessment of the patient’s joint range of motion, muscle strength, motor control, neurological function and posture in order to strengthen the affected area. Children with both congenital and non-congenital conditions and those with developmental delays undergo physical therapy as well.
The education required to become a physical therapist is intense. Graduate degree programs are the only ones that are currently accredited. The new standard for entry-level physical therapy jobs is a doctorate degree. Some schools do still offer a master’s degree in physical therapy. These programs are very competitive to enter.
These tips will help you learn more about the duties of a physical therapist who works with children. You’ll also learn how to prepare for a career in physical therapy. Here’s how to become a children’s physical therapist.
- Job Description: A children’s physical therapist has an added element that makes it different from others in the physical therapy field. The age range is from newborn to 21. This encompasses patients who can’t talk to those who won’t because they are teenagers. You will also be dealing with children and parents who are enduring a stressful situation. The typical job description involves assessing the patient and then devising a rehabilitation program. Addressing problems such as flexibility, strength, motor control, range of motion, and decreasing discomfort are just a few issues that will be included. Revaluation and making adjustments are all part of the treatment plan.
- Education: The vast majority of accredited programs in physical therapy grant a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT). These programs last three years post bachelor's degree. DPT programs are usually year round with residencies in specialty areas. This is where the specialized training to become a children’s physical therapist may begin. Some programs do offer a master’s in physical therapy (MPT) that lasts two years post bachelor’s degree. Most programs require full-time enrollment.
- Residency Programs: You will take a specialized residency that is above and beyond the residency in your educational program. These are available at several university medical centers across the United States. This will complete your training to work with this diverse group of patients.
- Licensure Exam: Upon completion of your residency program, you need to take the licensure exam administered by your state’s licensing board. Licensure is required in all 50 states. Each state has a board of professional practice that will describe scope of practice issues as well as licensure.
- Salary: The median starting salary is around $52,000. The median wage is around $73,000. These salaries may increase as the DPT becomes the standard practitioner. Job growth is expected to increase as more babies survive premature deliveries, and trauma survival statistics improve. More physical therapists as a whole will be needed for the aging baby boomer generation, placing a demand on the entire physical therapy work force.
Working with children is not easy for everyone. Working with children in pain or with various physical problems is harder. Becoming a physical therapist that works with children is a very rewarding profession. By applying all the knowledge and techniques you learned in the classroom and through clinical experience, you can surely find children’s physical therapist jobs and make a difference in a child’s quality of life.