PHYSICAL THERAPY SCHOOLS

Physical Therapy Salary, Job Description And Job Projection’s

Physical Therapy Salary

A person who is interested in becoming a physical therapist will want to start by learning about the physical therapy salary, employment projection’s and job description. The good news is that a physical therapist can make a good living in this line of work and there are multiple job opportunities available for those who are interested in this line of work. While it takes time and study to become an accomplished and certified physical therapist, it can be not only a profitable career but also a fulfilling one, as a physical therapist is able to regularly improve the lives of hundreds of people.

How to Become a Physical Therapist

In order to become a physical therapist, one will need to have a high school diploma and enroll in an accredited university course that teaches physical therapy. It is possible to obtain an Associate’s degree, Masters Degree or Doctorate in this field. It takes about one year to obtain an Associate’s degree, two or two and a half years to obtain a Masters degree and three years to get a Doctorate in this field. A person who wants to work as a physical therapist and not simply an physical therapist assistant will need to have either a Masters or Doctorate in this field of study.

It is also possible to take an accredited online course in physical therapy. Such courses are offered by various colleges and universities throughout the United States and enable one to study from the comfort of his or her own home. It is also significantly cheaper to study online than it is to study on campus. However, one downside to studying online is that one will not benefit from the practical hands on training that is provided by various universities that offer on campus training courses. Once a person has finished his or her online studies, he or she may want to look for physical therapist internship opportunities. Such opportunities enable one to put the skills that he or she has learned into practice.

Besides obtaining a degree in physical therapy, a person who wants to become a physical therapist will need to become licensed in the state that he or she intends to work in. While state requirements vary, all states require that a person pass the National Physical Therapy Examination in order to become a licensed physical therapist. Furthermore, one may need to pass a jurisprudence exam and continue his or her education on the side in order to maintain licensure.

Job Opportunities

There are various job opportunities for those who have graduated from an accredited physical therapy course. A physical therapist may work at a hospital, clinic, private practice, convalescent home, nursing home, adult day care center or private practice. Some physical therapists work part time in more than one of the above mentioned locations. It should be noted that the physical therapy salary varies depending on which exact type of job one takes on.

Physical Therapy Salary
The average physical therapy salary is $72,790. However, there are various factors that will determine just how much a physical therapist can expect to earn per year. The average physical therapy salary for a therapist who has just graduated from university is a mere $50,000 a year. As was noted above, one’s place of employment will also determine how much he or she makes. While the average physical therapy salary for a person working in a home health care service is over $77,600, the average physical therapy salary for a therapist working in the office of a health practitioner is $71,400.

It is also important to note that one’s geographical location will also determine his or her physical therapy salary. For instance, the mean yearly physical therapy salary in California, Florida and Texas is over $80,000. Two others states with a high annual salary for licensed physical therapists are New York and Pennsylvania.

Furthermore, one’s level of education will also determine how much he or she is able to earn as a physical therapist. There are various specialized fields of physical therapy that one may want to get training in. A physical therapist who continues his or her training will be able to command a higher salary over time. Furthermore, continued training will enable a physical therapist to stay on the cutting edge of his or her chosen profession.

Skills

While most skills needed to become a physical therapist are learned at university, there are many skills that one will need that have nothing to do with book study. A physical therapist will first and foremost need compassion for the people that he or she treats. The therapist must genuinely desire to make the other person’s life better by helping him or her learn how to get around without pain and discomfort.

A physical therapist should be in good health and strong physically, as he or she will need to move patients who have limited mobility. Good communication skills are also important, as the therapist will need to speak with family members of the patient being treated. Being able to speak a second language is not obligatory but it can be helpful as it will enable a therapist to treat a wider range of patients than he or she would have been able to treat otherwise.

In Summary

A person who is looking for a meaningful and high paying profession may want to consider becoming a physical therapist. The demand for such professionals is quite high and is set to increase in the years to come. A person who is interested in this line of work will need to obtain either a Masters degree or Doctorate; such degrees can be obtained from an accredited university either through on campus study or online study. Once a person has obtained a degree he or she will need to pass an exam and obtained licensing from the state. The physical therapy salary that one earns will then depend on one’s geographical location, the type of employment that he or she takes on, his or her experience and any specialized training or skills that he or she may have.