Physical Therapist
Jessica Shepherd
What They Do
Physical therapist treat patients and create plans to help them relieve their pain, increase strength, and improve movement. They work with..
Education/Certification Requirements
Aspiring physical therapists first need a high school degree and then move on to a bachelors degree program in a related study. After getting a bachelors degree a doctoral or professional degree is required. Typically to get in to a doctoral program a minimum of 3.0 GPA is necessary. All PT's must be registered in their state and pass the National Physical Therapy Examination.
Daily activities
Include:
- examining/diagnosing patients
- testing muscle function
- observing balance and coordination
- designing a plan of care
- teach exercises
- use electrotherapy/hydrotherapy
Career Spotlight: Ellen Willis - Physical Therapist
Average Income
The average income is anywhere from $60-100 thousand dollars a year
Skills
Typically a physical therapist is working with people for a majority of their day, so a person must be good and comfortable working with people if they want to be a PT. A person would also need to have the ability to collect and integrate data about patients to problem solve safely and effectively. Prioritizing and managing multiple tasks simultaneously is a necessity for this occupation.
Practice Setting
Physical therapists can be found working in a variety of environments
- private offices
- rehabilitation centers
- community health centers
- nursing homes
- home health agencies
- cooperate or industrial health centers
- sports facilities
- hospitals