Physical Therapy Careers

Physical therapists are part of the allied medical health professions who provide patients with treatments and rehabilitation therapies to help them overcome a variety of disorders and physical conditions. They work with patients from all age groups from newborns to the very elderly. Physical therapists also work with patients that have minor injuries and will rehabilitate rapidly, to those with very significant injuries or defects that will require intensive therapy. Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of the physical therapist as does the physical therapy aide. All three jobs are necessary in a large physical therapy depatment to keep patient care running smoothly.

If you think physical therapist careers would interest you then use these tips to learn about preparing for physical therapy jobs. For example, if you don’t think you can fit your schooling into your busy schedule, you can check out online colleges which offer physical therapy training. Online schools are convenient and affordable, and more and more of them are becoming accredited each year. Make sure to pick a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Here’s an overview of what’s involved in a physical therapy career.

1. Background: Before deciding on a career in physical therapy, you should first make sure that you have the temperament needed. These health care professionals have patience, a skill at instructing patients, attention to detail and the ability to encourage patients. You will be asking patients to participate in a program that retrains damaged muscles. These exercises may be painful or very difficult so you will need to be able to motivate patients to stay the course. You will also need physical strength. Physical therapists must be able to move and manipulate extremities on patients of all shapes and sizes as well as help those patients stand, sit and walk.
2. Job Description: On a day-to-day basis, the task of a physical therapist is to look at a patient’s medical records and test the patient to determine the extent of damage to the body and to the muscles. Once the damage has been determined, a plan of treatment may be formulated. This plan will need to be reviewed on a regular basis and modifications made as needed. The physical therapist may also direct care given by physical therapy aides, so good management skills is essential. Physical therapy assistants carry out the treatment plan and have direct patient care contact. They work closely with the physical therapist to update them on patient response to therapy and progress made on the treatment plan. Physical therapy aides help transport patients, clean the equipment, assist in positioning patients for treatments, order supplies and generally assist the therapist and assistant. 
3. Education and Training: The entry level education for the physical therapist has changed in the last few years. Most practitioners now have a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). Planning is absolutely critical when mapping out your career path. Look at several different programs in physical therapy to review their pre-requisites for admission to the program. A bachelor’s degree with an emphasis on the sciences is usually necessary for admission. This is a four year degree that can be obtained from an accredited university, online courses or a combination of online, two year programs and university classes. Make sure the courses are accredited, and the degree will be accepted by the universities of your choice for DPT programs. Additionally, practical work hours in physical therapy are usually necessary before admission to the program will be granted. Each school is different in the number of hours required, but these hours are part of the admission process and generally non-negotiable. During your senior year of your bachelor’s degree you may also want to study for The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) if your school requires that prior to admission. 


   
   It is now finally time to apply for the rest of your educational journey. The DPT will take about three years of full time training post baccalaureate degree to complete. The program will include courses in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, prosthetics, orthotics and exercise physiology just to give you a brief overview. 


   
   The physical therapy assistant is also a degreed position. Most states require a two year associate degree. These programs are available at universities and at two year colleges. This program may also be used as a stepping stone to allow you to get the experience necessary to proceed to a physical therapy doctoral program. 


   
   Physical therapy aides receive on-the-job training but must have a high school diploma to enter the profession.
4. Licensure: To be able to practice in the United States, licensure is required for both the Physical Therapist and the Assistant position. The exam is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) and is called the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Some states may also require practical experience before licensure is complete. Additionally, some states require continuing education to maintain licensure. 
5. Credentialing: Physical therapists may also elect to become credentialed in several different specialty areas. These include geriatric, cardiopulmonary, sports, women’s health and pediatric just to name a few. These are totally voluntary credentials and are administered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). They require another 2,000 hours of specialty training beyond the DPT.
6. Salary: The salary range for physical therapists is $52,000 to $106,000. This wide range includes smaller hospitals and extended care facilities, as well as those physical therapists that do not have a DPT. The median salary is $75,000. The salary range for the physical therapy assistant is $37,000 to $57,000 with a median salary of $48,000. The salary range for the physical therapy aide is $18,000 to $34,000 with a median salary of $24,000.
7. Job Outlook: The aging population has the future looking bright for physical therapy careers. The job growth is expected to be 30% in the next ten years.

Physical therapy is a fascinating field to enter into if you have the right combination of strength, gentleness, patience and compassion. You will see people when they have a need to rehabilitate or become stronger and can help them to accomplish that goal. What a wonderful gift to be able to help people when they need the help and knowledge that you will posses. A career in physical therapy will also allow one to start in at the ground floor to see if this is truly the career for you and educate yourself as high as you would like to go.