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Physical Therapist

Overview and Key Facts

physical therapist
Education
Education
Doctoral or professional degree
Median Pay
Median Pay
$101,020
Job Growth
Job Growth
10.90%
(Above US Average)
Jobs in 2034
Jobs in 2034
296,400

What Do They Do?

A physical therapist could...

 
man learning to walk
Help an elderly man learn how to walk again after a hip fracture, so he can remain independent in his home.
person with knee brace doing exercises
Teach exercises to a patient after knee surgery so he can strengthen the muscles around the repaired knee.
scoliosis
Show a young teen with scoliosis back exercises that will help strengthen her back and reduce the pain.
prosthetic arm fitting
Train and encourage an amputee to return to their everyday activities using a prosthetic limb.
 
man learning to walk person with knee brace doing exercises scoliosis prosthetic arm fitting

Overview Listen to this section

If you are injured in an accident, suffer a stroke, heart attack, or loss of a limb, or are born with conditions that make it difficult to move your body, then you will often be cared for by a physical therapist. Physical therapists review a patient's medical history, test and measure his or her physical condition (things like range of motion, strength, flexibility, balance, coordination, muscle function), and then develop a treatment plan to meet some physical goals. They coach, motivate, and educate the patient to follow the plan and work on therapies that will restore, maintain, or promote physical fitness and health. Physical therapists also act as advocates, bringing a patient's health needs to the attention of other workers on a patient's healthcare team, such as physicians, speech therapists, or respiratory therapists.
Watch this video to see the amazing variety of people that physical therapists help—from children to the elderly, soldiers to athletes, heart attack or stroke victims to amputees.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r35FQT3u0J4

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Physical Therapist?


  1. Service Orientation: ?
  2. Social Perceptiveness: ?
  3. Active Listening: ?
  4. Speaking: ?
  5. Reading Comprehension: ?
More skills...

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Physical Therapist might do:
  • Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
  • Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
  • Record prognosis, treatment, response, and progress in patient's chart or enter information into computer.
  • Confer with the patient, medical practitioners, or appropriate others to plan, implement, or assess the intervention program.
  • Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
  • Instruct patient and family in treatment procedures to be continued at home.
  • Administer manual exercises, massage, or traction to help relieve pain, increase patient strength, or decrease or prevent deformity or crippling.
  • Obtain patients' informed consent to proposed interventions.
  • Direct, supervise, assess, and communicate with supportive personnel.
  • Test and measure patient's strength, motor development and function, sensory perception, functional capacity, or respiratory or circulatory efficiency and record data.
  • Review physician's referral and patient's medical records to help determine diagnosis and physical therapy treatment required.
  • Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
  • Provide information to the patient about the proposed intervention, its material risks and expected benefits, and any reasonable alternatives.
  • Provide educational information about physical therapy or physical therapists, injury prevention, ergonomics, or ways to promote health.
  • Inform patients and refer to appropriate practitioners when diagnosis reveals findings outside physical therapy.
  • Discharge patient from physical therapy when goals or projected outcomes have been attained and provide for appropriate follow-up care or referrals.
  • Administer treatment involving application of physical agents, using equipment, moist packs, ultraviolet or infrared lamps, or ultrasound machines.
  • Refer clients to community resources or services.
  • Construct, maintain, or repair medical supportive devices.
  • Evaluate, fit, or adjust prosthetic or orthotic devices or recommend modification to orthotist.
  • Teach physical therapy students or those in other health professions.
  • Conduct or support research and apply research findings to practice.
  • Participate in community or community agency activities or help to formulate public policy.

Salary & Job Openings

Median Salary (Yearly Pay)

Tap or scroll over map to see median salaries for each state

Future Jobs

Blast-Off:

How Will Physical Therapist Jobs Grow by 2034?
Projected % Growth
Rapid growth
(10% or higher)
Much faster than average
(7% - 10%)
Faster than average
(5% - 7%)
About as fast as average
(3% - 5%)
Slower than average
(0% - 3%)
Decreasing
Average of all U.S. jobs (5.3%)
Physical Therapist jobs (10.90%)
Source: https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables/occupational-projections-and-characteristics.htm

Steps to Get There: Becoming a Physical Therapist

High School Subjects to Study

Aim to study the yellow-shaded subjects.
Math
Algebra 1
Geometry
Algebra 2
Pre-Calculus
Calculus
Statistics
Science
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Environmental Science
Physiology
Bio-Medical / Biotech
IT &
Engineering
Computer Science
Applied Technology
Drafting & CAD Training
Core
English
Foreign Language
Business
Psychology / Sociology

Career Pathway Listen to this section

Individuals pursuing a career as a physical therapist usually need a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from an accredited physical therapy program and a state license, requiring passing scores on national and state examinations.

Education- Typical Degree Needed After High School Listen to this section

Degree
Post
high school credential
AA
Bachelor's
Master's
Doctoral or Professional Degree

Typical degree for an entry-level position: Doctoral or professional degree ? Types of Degrees and Credentials

Physical therapists first need to go to college and get a bachelor's degree. After college, students need to apply and be accepted into a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. These professional degree programs are typically 3-4 years long and consist of both classes and time in clinics working with patients under the supervision of licensed physical therapists.

During college, most students interested in becoming physical therapists major in exercise science or another science field. It is possible to be accepted to a DPT program with a non-science major, but students choosing this route should at least take classes in anatomy, biology, chemistry, social science, mathematics, and physics in order to have good background knowledge for their physical therapy classes. Spending time observing physical therapists at work in different settings can be helpful, and even required by many schools, before applying to DPT programs. This list, maintained by the American Physical Therapy Association, is an easy way to see how many observation hours are required by each DPT program. Observation hours can be found by volunteering to help or shadow physical therapists working in a variety of settings including outpatient clinics, local hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, schools, and specialized athletic facilities.

After earning the DPT degree, graduates must pass national and state exams to get a license to work as a physical therapist. Requirements vary from state to state, but to maintain or renew their licenses, practicing physical therapists may need to take continuing education workshops and classes throughout their career.

Licensed physical therapists interested in specializing or gaining advanced skills and experience can go on to do a residency program, and even a paid fellowship after that. This is not necessary for most entry-level positions.

Companies That Hire Physical Therapists

Try it Out with an Activity or Project

STEM Activities

STEM activities are fun hands-on explorations that usually take from 10 minutes to one hour and use readily available household or classroom materials while introducing you to STEM concepts common in this career.

Science Project Ideas

Project Ideas are in-depth STEM explorations that have a strong focus on controlling variables, taking accurate measurements, and analyzing data suitable for investigating the scientific method or the engineering design process.

On the Job

Role Models

Read this interview to meet Matthew Scherer, a physical therapist who works with amputees in the army, and who got his start in the military and the Peace Corps.
I chose to become a physical therapist because I wanted to promote wellness and spend time treating and interacting with my patients. 
Matthew Scherer, Physical Therapist, Medical Specialist Corps
Read this interview to learn about a day in the life of physical therapist Sara Ochoa, who diagnoses and assesses orthopedic concerns, and then designs a treatment plan.
A lot of what we do as physical therapists is teaching—we teach our patients what they need to do to be successful in their recovery. 
Sara Ochoa, MOMT, PT

Nature of the Work

Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions, such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.

Therapists examine patients' medical histories and then test and measure the patients' strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function. Next, physical therapists develop plans describing a treatment strategy and its anticipated outcome.

Treatment often includes exercise, especially for patients who have been immobilized or who lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. Physical therapists encourage patients to use their muscles to increase their flexibility and range of motion. More-advanced exercises focus on improving strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. The goal is to improve how an individual functions at work and at home.

Physical therapists also use electrical stimulation, hot packs or cold compresses, and ultrasound to relieve pain and reduce swelling. They may use traction or deep-tissue massage to relieve pain and improve circulation and flexibility. Therapists also teach patients to use assistive and adaptive devices, such as crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. They also may show patients how to do exercises at home to expedite their recovery.

As treatment continues, physical therapists document the patient's progress, conduct periodic examinations, and modify treatments when necessary.

Physical therapists often consult and practice with a variety of other professionals, such as physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.

Some physical therapists treat a wide range of ailments; others specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports medicine, neurology, and cardiopulmonary physical therapy.

Work Environment

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, clinics, and private offices that have specially equipped facilities. They also treat patients in hospital rooms, homes, or schools. These jobs can be physically demanding because therapists often have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods of time. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and lift patients or help them turn, stand, or walk.

In 2006, most full-time physical therapists worked a 40-hour week; some worked evenings and weekends to fit their patients' schedules. About 1 in 5 physical therapists worked part-time.

More Information

Ask Questions

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Additional Resources

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