• Nature of the Work
• Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
• Employment
• Job Outlook
• Earnings
• Wages

• Employment is expected to grow much faster than average.
• Job opportunities should be good.
• Today’s entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program.
• About 60 percent of physical therapists work in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners.

Physical therapists, sometimes simply referred to as PTs, are healthcare professionals who evaluate and treat medical problems,conditions, illnesses, or injuries that limit an individual’s ability to move and function in their daily activities. PTs treat patients of all ages, from the premature newborn to the great-grandma celebrating her 100th birth. A physical therapist examines a patient then develops a treatment plan to promote mobility, pain reduction, restoration of function, and the prevention of disability. In addition, PTs develop fitness and wellness-oriented programs that allow patients to live healthier, more active lifestyles and prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs.

Physical therapists provide care to people of all ages who have functional problems that include neck and back pain, sprains/strains, fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, and stroke; medical conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida; and injuries related to accidents, work, and sports. Physical therapy care and services are provided by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants, who work under the direction and supervision of a physical therapist. PTs evaluate and diagnose movement dysfunction then develop interventions plan to treat patient/clients. Interventions may include therapeutic exercise, functional training, manual therapy techniques, physical agents, electrotherapeutic modalities, and assistive or adaptive devices and equipment.

Physical therapists often consult and work with a variety of other professionals such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists in the course of a patient’s treatment.

Work environment. Physical therapist can work in a variety of different clinical settings and work environments. PTs practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. Therapy can be physically demanding on the therapist, as well as the patient, because the therapist have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods during treatment sessions. In addition, physical therapists may need to move heavy equipment, lift patients for transfers, assist patients with standing, and help patients walk.

In 2008, most full-time physical therapists worked a 40-hour week; some worked evenings and weekends to fit their patients’ schedules. About 27 percent of physical therapists worked part-time.

Today’s entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Each state regulates the practice of physical therapy in their state, so practice laws may vary by state but all states require therapists to pass national and state board examinations.

Education and training. The American Physical Therapy Association’s accrediting body, called the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), accredits entry-level academic physical therapy programs. In 2009, there were 212 accredited physical therapy programs. Of these programs, 12 awarded master’s degrees and 200 awarded doctoral degrees. Currently, only graduate degree physical therapy programs are accredited.The typical length of a master’s program is 2 to 2.5 years, while doctoral programs usually run 3 years.

Physical therapy programs include foundational science courses, such as biology, anatomy, physiology, cellular histology, exercise physiology, neuroscience, biomechanics, pharmacology, pathology, and radiology/imaging, as well as behavioral science courses, such as evidence-based practice and clinical reasoning. Some of the clinically-based courses include medical screening, examination tests and measures, diagnostic process, therapeutic interventions, outcomes assessment, and practice management. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students receive supervised clinical experience.

Anatomy,physiology, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics are among the undergraduate courses that are required when applying to physical therapy school. Some additional classes that may be useful when applying include exercise physiology, pathology, kinesiology, and histology. Many programs also require volunteer experience in a physical therapy setting and letters of recommendation as part of their admissions requirements.

Licensure. Each state regulates physical therapy practice within that state so specific state license requirements vary. Typical license requirements include graduation from an accredited physical therapy program, passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), and fulfillment of additional state requirements, such as jurisprudence exams. A number of states require continuing education courses as a condition of maintaining licensure.

Other qualifications. A physical therapist needs to posses a few additional qualification besides having a degree from an accredited program and passing the NPTE. Physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills. They must be able to communicate about the patient’s condition and treatment on a professional level with other healthcare workers, but they also must be able to communicate that same information in laymens terms to the patient and family so they too are able to understand the patient’s condition and treatment. PTs also should be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients.

Advancement. Physical therapists are expected to continue their professional development by participating in continuing education courses and workshops. Some physical therapists become board certified in a clinical specialty. Some of the specialty areas include orthopedics, pediatrics, geriatrics, and neurology. Opportunities for physical therapists exist in academia and research as well. Some therapists become self-employed, providing contract services or opening a private practice.

Physical therapists held about 185,500 jobs in 2008. The number of physical therapy jobs is probably greater than the number of practicing therapists because some PTs work part time at two or more jobs. For example, some may work in a private practice, but also work part time in another healthcare facility.

About 60 percent of physical therapists worked in hospitals or in offices of other health practitioners. Additional jobs settings include home health, skilled nursing facilities, outpatient clinics, and physician owned clinics. Some PTs own their own private practice clinics and are self-employed, while others work under contract in hospitals, rehab centers, skilled nursing facilities, home health, and schools. Physical therapists also teach in academic institutions and conduct research.

Employment is expected to grow much faster than average. Job opportunities should be good.

Employment change. Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 30 percent from 2008 to 2018, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. Changes to restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand. The size of the elderly population will continue to grow and increase the demand for physical therapy services. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that often require therapeutic services. Also, the baby-boomer generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. Medical and technological developments create an additional demand for rehabilitative care by permitting a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive. In addition, growth may result from medical advances that are providing treatment opportunities to an increasing number of disabling conditions that were once untreatable.

In addition, the federally mandated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act guarantees that students have access to rehabilitation services including physical therapy. Physical therapists will continue to be in demand in school systems.

Job prospects. Job opportunities will be good for licensed physical therapists in all settings. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, skilled nursing, and orthopedic settings, where the elderly are most often treated. Job prospects should be especially favorable in rural areas as many physical therapists tend to cluster in highly populated urban and suburban areas.

Median annual wages of physical therapists were $72,790 in May 2008. The middle 50 percent earned between $60,300 and $85,540. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $50,350, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $104,350. Median annual wages in the industries employing the largest numbers of physical therapists in May 2008 were:

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition,