How to Become a Pediatric Physical Therapist

By: Katherine Rush, PT

Last Updated: December 21, 2018

Pediatric physical therapists know the profound joy of helping children and their families achieve greater happiness under challenging circumstances. Ever since their field of medicine was born during the polio epidemic of the 1920s, these therapists have relied upon an impressive array of techniques to treat musculoskeletal problems and improve the mobility of children facing numerous health conditions.

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A physical therapist (PT) interviews children and their families and uses physical examinations to diagnose the source of the child’s movement difficulties. From there, the therapist guides and individualizes a treatment regimen. PTs work to improve children’s motor development, strength, range of motion, endurance, balance, coordination, gait difficulties, heart and lung endurance, and delayed motor development.

Having broadened their patient population significantly through the decades, pediatric physical therapists successfully treat patients using an extensive set of skills and techniques that include:

• Manual manipulation and other physical therapy techniques
• Breathing training and motor learning
• Developmental, recreational and play “therapy”
• Adaptation of daily care activities to a child’s special needs
• Designing, fitting and using assistive technology, orthotics and prosthetics
• Burn and wound care

Every child responds best to a unique, carefully crafted treatment plan, which the therapist creates. Pediatric PTs also teach children and their families about safety and home exercises, since improving physical function often requires daily practice. Providing expert consultation to school and daycare is often the therapist’s responsibility as well. These professionals support the family and child by coordinating care with other health care professionals and providing advocacy and social assistance when necessary.

Therapists find motivation, diverse challenges and great reward as they work to strengthen and promote a child’s independence and integration at home, in school and in the broader community.

Workplace Details

Pediatric physical therapists work in neonatal intensive care units, schools, outpatient treatment centers, hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, or directly in the child’s home. They also work in international development, and in disaster settings where they may treat children who have lost limbs due to landmines or war-related trauma. Pediatric PTs usually have a deep desire and a natural aptitude for working with special needs children and their families.

Depending on the setting, work hours vary. Therapists who work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation facilities, and similar settings often enjoy the option to work full or part time. Those working in schools find their schedules influenced by school hours. Therapists performing in-home care often must adjust their schedules to provide services to children during hours when they are home, making evening or weekend visits if necessary.

Hover over any state to explore local income and job growth data.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a physical therapist is $85,400 per year. Pediatric physical therapists may perhaps earn more, due to their specialized training and high demand. Salary varies by work setting; in general, physical therapists who work in nursing homes and home health agencies earn higher salaries. Salary also varies by geographic location. Currently the highest-paying major metropolitan area is Las Vegas. To earn extra pay, physical therapists can also work as a consultant to businesses or other organizations in need of their expertise.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics states anticipates that the job growth rate for physical therapists from 2014 to 2024 will be 34%, which is considerably higher than average. Child physical therapists might expect a similar rate of growth. Job outlook is quite good thanks to new medical technologies that prolong the lives of special needs children, such as preterm babies and trauma victims, all of whom will require the therapists’ specialized skills.

To gain entrance to graduate school in physical therapy, students must first earn an undergraduate degree from a four-year college. It is advisable to major or minor in subjects such as biology, anatomy, child development, neuroscience or physiology. Many strong students compete for admission to graduate programs in physical therapy, so maintaining a high grade point average in a science-related subject is important. The graduate records exam (GRE) is also required for admission to graduate school.

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Pediatric physical therapists must graduate from a physical therapy program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In the past, the Master of Physical Therapy degree required 2-2.5 years for a student to earn after an undergraduate degree has been completed. However, the Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) is now the required degree. The DPT takes at least three years, and provides in-depth training in pharmacology, radiology, and body systems. In 2017, new graduates taking the national physical therapy licensure exam need to complete a DPT.

While in graduate school, future pediatric PTs must complete an internship under supervision from a licensed clinician. You could then complete an APTA-credentialed post-professional clinical residency in pediatric physical therapy if you desire; this provides additional expertise in anatomy, child development and body systems.

Licensing requirements vary by state. In general, licensing requires completing a degree from an accredited graduate program as well as passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.

After becoming licensed as a physical therapist and completing specialist training, prospective pediatric PTs are eligible to take the Physical Therapist Specialist Certification Examination.

Throughout their careers, licensed therapists will be required to complete periodic continuing education requirements in order to renew their licenses.

Pediatric PTs can advance their careers by taking on supervisory roles, such as training future therapists or managing physical therapy programs in settings such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers. PTs can choose to develop their own private practice, or enter a group practice with other physical therapists or physicians, which may carry the advantage of higher pay.

A Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, or DPT, is now required for licensure as a physical therapist in all states. Most children’s physical therapists first earn a bachelor’s degree before entering physical therapy school. After graduation and licensure, many also complete an optional one-year residency in pediatrics.

At the bachelor’s level, aspiring physical therapists can major in any subject. However, in order to apply to physical therapy school, they need to complete prerequisite courses in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, behavioral sciences, and math. Some universities offer a pre-physical therapy track to help students meet these requirements.

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Most children’s physical therapists spend four years earning a bachelor’s and three years earning a doctorate. A few schools offer 3+3 programs that allow well-qualified students to enter PT school after three years of college. Another accelerated option is the freshman entry program, which combines the two degrees into a single pathway.

In order to become licensed as a physical therapist, students must graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Over 200 universities across the country currently offer accredited DPT programs.

Physical therapy students do about 80 percent of their learning in the classroom and lab studying subjects like:

Physical therapy students spend the remaining 20 percent of their instructional time in clinical settings. These are opportunities to practice skills with real patients under the guidance of a licensed therapist. Students gain a deeper understanding of major clinical disciplines like musculoskeletal and neuromuscular therapy. They also experience working as part of a healthcare team.

After earning a DPT and obtaining a license, therapists can complete an optional one-year residency in pediatrics. Pediatric physical therapy residents rotate through a variety of care settings, including the neonatal intensive care unit, acute inpatient therapy, and school-based therapy. They also take classes and pursue scholarly and research activities.

Some therapists also complete subspecialty training in the form of a one-year fellowship. There are currently no accredited fellowships specific to pediatrics. However, some children’s physical therapists pursue fellowship training in neonatology. Others study clinical areas like orthopaedics, critical care, or hand therapy.

The American Board of Physical Therapist Specialties (ABPTS) offers optional board certification in pediatrics. This credential signifies a high degree of knowledge, skill, and experience in working with this infants, children, and teens.

In order to become board certified in pediatrics, therapists must be licensed, pass an exam, and meet one of the following experience requirements:

• Completion of an accredited residency program
• 2,000 work hours in pediatric physical therapy