What career do you want?
Physical Therapist
Physical Therapist
You might work in a clinic, hospital, or private office, and your patients could include an injured soldier, an aging athlete, or a recent accident victim. It's your job to test and measure their coordination, muscle strength, range of motion, and motor function. You may consult with other medical-care providers, including physicians, occupational therapists, and social workers. Job opportunities look good in the field, and employment is expected to grow much faster than average thanks to rising demand for such services among older baby boomers.
Training
At a minimum, you'll need a master's degree and a state license to become a practicing therapist. Many students currently pursue a doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT), and new graduates taking the national licensure examination in the field after 2017 will be required to hold such a degree. Most doctoral programs take three years, compared with two or two and a half for a master's. Many licenses also require continuing education in order to stay certified.
What we do.
Working Conditions
- Scrubs
- 40 Hours a week
- Work in private offices and clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes
The BLS reports the median annual wage for a physical therapist was $78,270 in 2011. The best-paid 10 percent of workers in the category made approximately $110,670, while the bottom 10 percent made approximately $54,710. The highest wages are found in physician offices or hospitals. By location, many of the highest-paid positions are clustered in Texas in the metropolitan areas of McAllen, El Paso, and Midland.
Salary Range
75th Percentile$91,810
Median$78,270
25th Percentile$65,860
Required Education
Physical therapists are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Physical therapy programs usually award a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, although a small number award a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Doctoral programs typically last 3 years; MPT programs require 2 to 3 years of study. Most programs, either DPT or MPT, require a bachelor’s degree for admission, and many require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry.
Pros/Cons
Pros:
Get to help people.
Cons:
Its sad to see people like that.