Physical Therapist
By: Quentan Sanderford
Occupation and Description
A physical therapist helps injured people rehabilitate their injured body parts in order to help remove pain and restore as regular as possible function to the injured body parts. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-1
Certification Necessary to Practice
Every state in the U.S. requires physical therapist to be licensed but all states have different licensing requirements. However as a part of all state requirements you must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4
Daily Activities: Nature of Work
Physical Therapist work with their clients to help heal/rehabilitate injuries. Depending on the client the physical therapist has to come up with a rehabilitation/treatment regiment to relive pain and restore the injured body part back to as close to regular function as possible. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-2
Education Requirements
You must pass a course accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. These courses offer a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). DPT programs usually last three years and require many classes dealing with the human body to be passed before hand (Anatomy, biomechanics, etc.). http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4
Pay
The beginning salary is around $65,000 a year. The average salary for a physical therapist is $80,000 a year. The top 10% of physical therapist make around $115,000 a year. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-5
Skills Necessary
To be a physical therapist you must have compassion, interpersonal skills, physical stamina, dexterity, resourcefulness, and finally you must be detail oriented. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-4
Where Physical Therapist Work
Physical Therapist usually work in hospitals, clinics, or their own personal business. Also some physical therapist do house calls and go to houses to work with their clients. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-3
Job Outlook
The physical therapist job field is projected to grow 36% from 2012 to 2022. This is above normal for a job field. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physical-therapists.htm#tab-6
Physical Therapist Career Information : Physical Therapist Pros & Cons