Physical Therapist

By: Nathan Schuster

Education Required Typical level of education that most workers need to enter this occupation.

• Doctorate or

• Professional degree

All states require physical therapists to be licensed.

Skills Required• Compassion.

Physical therapists are often drawn to the profession in part by a desire to help people. They work with people who are in pain and must have empathy to help their patients.

• Detail oriented. Like other healthcare providers, physical therapists should have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patient’s problem, evaluate treatments, and provide safe, effective care.

• Hands On. Physical therapists should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises.

Skills Required Continued.

• Interpersonal skills. Because physical therapists spend their time interacting with patients, they should enjoy working with people. They must be able to explain treatment programs, educate their patients, and listen to the patients’ concerns to provide effective therapy.

• Physical stamina. Physical therapists spend much of their time on their feet, moving as they work with their patients. They should enjoy physical activity.

Average Salary RangeThe median annual wage of physical therapists was

$76,310The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,620The top 10 percent earned more than $107,920

Physical therapists who own their own practice or who are partners in owning their practice must provide their

own benefits and those of their employees.

Job Duties• Diagnose patients’ dysfunctional movements by watching them stand or

walk and by listening to their concerns, among other methods

• Set up a plan for their patients, outlining the patient's goals and the planned treatments

• Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain and to help them increase their ability to move

• Evaluate a patient’s progress, modifying a treatment plan and trying new treatments as needed

• Educate patients and their families about what to expect during recovery from injury and illness and how best to cope with what happens

Employment Industry• A closer look at the projected job growth for physical therapists reveals that new jobs will be

added more in some healthcare industry segments than in others.

Key Employers in the Field

• Health Clinics• Hospitals• Rehabilitation Services• Private Practices• Nursing Homes• Select School Systems

Professional Associations

Work EnvironmentPhysical therapists typically work in

• private offices • clinics, • hospitals

• nursing homes

They spend much of their time on their feet, actively working with patients.

Typical Career Path

• After gaining work experience, some physical therapists choose to become board certified in

a particular clinical specialty, such as pediatrics or sports physical therapy. Board

certification requires passing an exam.

Where can position openings be found?

• Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas because many physical therapists live in highly populated urban and suburban

areas.

• Employment of physical therapists is expected to increase 39 percent from 2010 to 2020,

much faster than the average for all occupations.

Influence of technology and global economy

Advances in medical technology have increased the use of outpatient surgery to treat a variety of injuries and illnesses. Physical therapists will continue to play an important role in helping

these patients recover more quickly from surgery.

Diversity Issues

• The majority of physical therapists are female (67.2%) and Caucasian (90.8%).

Only 4.2% are Asian, 1.9% are Hispanic, 1.5% are African American and 0.5% are American Indian.

• When physical therapists and their clients share a common language and a similar background, the effectiveness of treatment is greatly enhanced.

Is this career fit for me? I believe this career is fit for me because I have had my share of injuries and I want to provide others with the care and services so

they can recover and regain their movement etc. I am especially interested in helping athletes like

myself, recover from injuries so they can get back on the playing field fully recovered.