Physical Therapist

Are you considering becoming a physical therapist? If you are compassionate, empathetic, people-oriented and possess excellent communication skills, combined with a need to devote your life to helping others, physical therapy might be the ideal career for you.

As a physical therapist (PT) your work will focus on helping people with injuries or illnesses that partially or fully immobilize them, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. They often focus on overall fitness, and they work with a wide range of patients, from accident victims to people with lower back pain or cerebral palsy. After examining a patients' medical history, physical therapists perform a series of tests that may include strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Then they create treatment plans and implement those plans with the assistance of physical therapist assistants.

Education and Credentials Required
In every state, physical therapists must be licensed. A license is obtained by attending one of the 200 accredited physical therapist programs in the US, which offer both masters’ and doctoral degrees.

Many programs expect students to volunteer for clinical experience as part of their education. Physical therapists are typically expected to continue their education throughout their careers, and some states stipulate that they must do so in order to extend their licenses.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for physical therapists are expected to rise faster than average, because the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function is expected to rise. A growing interest on the part of the public in promoting good health will also fuel demand for physical therapists.

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for physical therapists was $57,330. Self-employed physical therapists can expect to earn significantly more than salaried physical therapists. Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income. Physical therapists rarely pay for their own health benefits and retirement benefits, as they are rarely self-employed.