Physical Therapist
What does a physical therapist do?
Plans, prepares, and carries out individual treatment programs
Performs and documents an initial exam to diagnose problems
Evaluates the effects of treatments at various stages
Adjusts treatment as needed
- Instructs patients and their family in treatment procedures to be continued at home
Skills needed
Workplace Skills
- Coordination
- Instructing
- Social perceptiveness
- Complex problem solving
- Equipment selection
- Judgment and decision making
- Persuasion
- Service orientation
- Time management
Transferable skills
- Giving health care instructions
- Operating medical diagnostic equipment
- Planning health care treatments
- Working as a member of a health services team
- Treating physical or mental problems
Education Required: Master's Degree and State License
Where do physical therapist's work?
Acute care
Rehab/ Subacute rehab
Nursing home
Outpatient clinic
School/Preschool
Wellness/Sports/Prevention/Fitness
Hospice
Industrial, Workplace, or other Occupational environments
Local, state, and federal government
Research facility
Job Outlook
There is a 39% expected increase in jobs for PT's from 2010 to 2020. The unemployment rate for a PT is 0.2%.The need for PT’s is expected to grow in the future as the population ages and the need for physical therapy services grow.
Your salary will be based on the years of experience in Physical Therapy
The more experience you gain, the higher your salary will be.
Why I chose this career?
I think it is interesting to learn more about a career that is in the health field. I didn’t know a lot about it so I thought I would research more about it to see if it would be a career I am interested in. I am going to go to college undecided next year, so learning about different careers will be helpful.