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PhysicalTherapist
AtaGlance
Physicaltherapistsassessandtreatpatientswhohaveproblemswithmovementduetoillness,
injury,orphysicaldisabilities.
MichiganCareerPathways
HealthSciences
Earnings
EarningsRange:52K106K
LevelofEducation
4YearCollegeorUniversity
CoreTasks
Performphysicalexamstoassesspatientsconditions
Designtreatmentplanstohelppatientsachieveasmuchmovementaspossible
Treatpatientsusingsofttissuemassage,lasers,andothertechniques
Teachexercisesandstretchestopatients
Monitoranddocumentpatientsprogress
Attributes&Abilities
Communicationskills
Enjoyhelpingpeople
Goodwithpeople
Workwellwithyourhands
Workplace
Workforhospitals,clinics,nursinghomes,schools,athleticdepartments,communityhealthcenters,
researchcenters,andrehabcenters
Someareselfemployed
Theworkcanbephysicallydemanding
Mostwork8to10hoursaday
Eveningandweekendworkiscommon
JobDescription
Ifyouveeversprainedyourankleorbrokenyourarm,youllknowthatittakesawhiletorehabilitatethelimb
andligamentsandgetthemworkingproperlyagain.Worse,ifthelimbisnotexercisedandencouragedto
functionnormally,itmightnotworkaswellasitusedto.Thiscanaffectapersonsphysicalandmentalhealth.
Physicaltherapistshelppeoplewhohavebeenillorinjuredreturntoahealthylife.Theyalsohelppeoplewith
permanentdisabilitiesachievethehighestpossiblelevelofphysicalfunction.Theirpatients,orclients,include
peoplewhohavesportsrelatedinjuries,orwhohavebeenthroughseriouscaraccidents.Theyalsosee
patientswhoaresufferingfromheartdiseaseandotherailments,andthosewhoarecopingwithdiseases
suchasarthritis,multiplesclerosis,orcerebralpalsy.
Physicaltherapistsseeupto30patientsaday.Thefirsttimetheymeetwithanewpatient,theylearnabouthis
orhermedicalhistory,andthenperformaphysicalexamination.Oncetheyhavedeterminedwhattheproblem
is,theydesignatreatmentplananddiscussitwiththepatient.Thetreatmentcouldinvolvehandsontherapy
(suchassofttissuemassageandjointmobilization)ortheuseofhotandcoldpacks,ultrasound,lasers,and
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othermechanicaltools.
Inaddition,physicaltherapiststeachpatientsspecificstretchesandexercisesthatallowthemtotakeamore
activeroleinthetherapyprocess.Theymonitortheirpatientsprogressduringvisitsandsuggestpossible
treatmentmodifications.Theyalsodocumenteachstepofthetreatmentprocess,becausequiteoften,reports
mustbemadetodoctors,insurancecompanies,andemployers.
Anumberofphysicaltherapistschoosetoworkatleastpartofthetimeinnonclinicalsettingssuchascolleges
ortheresearchunitsofhospitals,wheretheyoftenconcentrateonteachingandresearch.Othersworkinthe
privatesectorasconsultants.Theyshowpeoplehowtoreduceonthejobinjuriesbycreatingsafer,less
physicallystressfulworkingconditions.
Physicaltherapistswhoownandruntheirownclinicsmayspendalargepartoftheirdaydealingwith
administrativeandmanagerialtasks.
WorkingConditions
Physicaltherapistsworkforhospitals,publiclyandprivatelyfundedclinics,nursinghomes,schoolsforchildren
withphysicaldisabilities,collegeathleticdepartments,communityhealthcenters,researchcenters,and
rehabilitationcenters.Bothfullandparttimeworkisavailable.Someworkinprivatepractices.
Physicaltherapycanbeaphysicallydemandingjob.Mostpeopleinthisfieldareinclinicalpracticeandspend
longhoursstanding,bending,liftingequipment,andphysicallysupportingpatientsforexample,helpingthem
stand,walk,orturnover.
Physicaltherapistshavetoadapttheirschedulestosuitpatientsneeds.Eveningandweekendworkisvery
common,particularlyforthosewhoworkinprivatepractice.Mostphysicaltherapistswork8to10hoursaday,
or40to50hoursaweek.Parttimeworkisalsoavailable.
Earnings
Ingeneral,peopleinthisprofessioncanmakeanywherefromabout$52,000to$106,000ayear.Themedian
annualincomeforallphysicaltherapistsisapproximately$74,000.
Exactearningsvarydependinguponlevelofresponsibility,experience,geographiclocation,andemployer.
Forinstance,medianannualearningsofphysicaltherapistswhoworkinhomehealthcareservicesarehigher
thanthoseoftherapistswhoworkindoctorsoffices.
Mostemployersprovidefulltimephysicaltherapistswithbenefitssuchaspaidvacations,sickleave,health
insurance,andretirementprograms.Selfemployedtherapistsmustprovidetheirownbenefits.
MichiganWages
Occupation:PhysicalTherapists
Source:U.S.DepartmentofLabor,BureauofLaborStatisticshttp://www.bls.gov
MichiganOutlook
Occupation:PhysicalTherapists
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Employment
2014 8,670
2024 10,570
Change
Number 1,900
Percentage 21.9
AnnualAverageOpenings
420
Source:ProjectionsCentralhttp://www.projectionscentral.com
Education
Inordertopracticeasaphysicaltherapist,youmustearnamastersordoctoraldegreefromanaccredited
physicaltherapyeducationprogram,andthenpassalicensingexam.
Beforeyoucanapplytoaphysicaltherapyprogram,youmustearnabachelorsdegree.Mostschoolsaccept
studentswithbachelorsdegreesinanysubject.However,itisimportanttotakecoursesinareassuchas
anatomy,biology,chemistry,physics,statistics,andpsychology.
Onceyouhaveabachelorsdegree,youcanapplytoaphysicaltherapyprogram.Therearetwotypesof
programs:mastersdegreeprogramsandDoctorofPhysicalTherapy(DPT)programs.Althoughbothwill
prepareyouforacareerasaphysicaltherapist,moreandmorestudentsarechoosingtocompletetheDPT,
andthismaybetherequiredpathinthefuture.
Bothtypesofprogramsincludeacombinationofcourseworkandsupervisedclinicalexperience.Theyusually
take2to3yearstocomplete.
Aftercompletingthemastersordoctoraldegree,youmustpassalicensingexamapprovedbyyourstate.
Continuingeducationmayberequiredtomaintainlicensure.Thisusuallyinvolvestakingprofessional
developmentcoursesandworkshops.
RelatedCollegePrograms
PhysicalTherapy/Therapist
PrePhysicalTherapyStudies
OtherSuggestedQualifications
Itsagoodideatocheckoutvolunteeropportunitiesatlocalclinics.Thiswillgiveyouvaluableexperienceand
insightintothefield.Inaddition,volunteerexperienceisrequiredforadmissiontomanyphysicaltherapy
educationprograms.Physicaltherapistsneedstrongcommunicationandinterpersonalskillsandadesireto
helpothers.Manualdexterityisalsoimportant.Inhighschool,youshouldtakeupperlevelcoursesinmath,
English,andscience.
SuggestedHighSchoolSubjects
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Grade9 Grade10
English
English
Mathematics
Mathematics
Biology
Biology
PhysicalSciences
PhysicalSciences
SocialStudiesGeography
SocialStudiesHistory
CreativeArts
Health&PhysicalEducation
Health&PhysicalEducation
Grade11 Grade12
English
Algebra
English
Calculus
Mathematics
Anatomy&Physiology
Biology
Biology
Chemistry
Chemistry
Physics
Physics
Law&Government
Economics
Health&PhysicalEducation
Psychology
Health&PhysicalEducation
Important
Checkwithyouradvisortomakesurethatyourcourseselectionssatisfyyourgraduationrequirements.
Coursesavailablemayvaryfromschooltoschool.
SampleCareerPath
Peopletakedifferentpathwaysthroughtheircareers,butnoonestartsatthetop.Thisisanexampleofhowthe
earnings,educationandexperiencerequirements,andresponsibilitiesmightprogressforsomeoneinthis
occupation.
Level1
SampleTitle StaffPhysicalTherapist
Earnings $50,000to$60,000ayear
Bachelorsdegree
Requirements MastersdegreeorDoctorofPhysicalTherapy(DPT)degree
Successfulcompletionoflicensingexam
Assessingclientsplanningandcarryingouttreatmentliaisingwiththegovernment
Responsibilities medicalsystem,insurancecompanies,familymembers,andotherhealth
professionals.
Level2
SampleTitle ExperiencedPhysicalTherapist
Earnings $60,000to$80,000ayear
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Level2
Requirements Severalyearsofclinicalexperience
Assessingclientsplanningandcarryingouttreatmentliaisingwiththegovernment
Responsibilities medicalsystem,insurancecompanies,familymembers,andotherhealth
professionalsattendingtoprogramplanningandmanagement.
Level3
SampleTitle Consultant
Earnings $60,000to$90,000ayear
Requirements Moreclinicalexperience
Marketingyourservicesassessingworkplaceconditions(suchasinanoffice,
Responsibilities factory,orrestaurant)recommendingwaysinwhichtosetupmoreergonomic
workplaces(safe,comfortable,andlessphysicallystressful/demanding).
Level4
SampleTitle PrivateClinicOwner
Earnings $70,000to$105,000ayear
Manyyearsofclinicalexperience
Requirements
Possiblycoursesinbusinessadministrationandmanagement
Marketingtheclinicsservicesmanagingstaffandotherphysicaltherapistsdoing
Responsibilities
programplanningandmanagementperformingsomeclinicaltasks.
RelatedCareers
Herearesomeotheroccupationsthatyoumightbeinterestedin.Clickonanoccupationnametolearnmore.
Acupuncturist
AthleticTrainer
Chiropractor
Coach
Doctor
Kinesiologist
MassageTherapist
Naturopath
Nurse
NursePractitioner
OccupationalTherapist
Pedorthist
PersonalTrainer
PhysicalTherapyAssistant
Prosthetist/Orthotist
RecreationTherapist
RehabilitationCounselor
SpeechLanguagePathologist
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RelatedMilitaryCareers
Physical/OccupationalTherapist
NationalEmploymentbyIndustry
Industry %Employed
HealthCareandSocialAssistance 85
Source:O*NetOnline,BrowsebyIndustry,USDepartmentofLabor
http://online.onetcenter.org/find/industry
OtherResources
AmericanPhysicalTherapyAssociation(APTA)
APTAiscommittedtoadvancingthepracticeofphysicaltherapy.ScrolloverCareers&Educationandclick
onAboutPT/PTACareersforinformationaboutcareers,educationalprograms,andmore.
http://www.apta.org
BecomingaPhysicalTherapist
Thiswebsiteoffersgreatinformationandadviceforanyoneinterestedinpursuingacareerasaphysical
therapist.BesuretocheckouttheCategoriessectiontofindoutmore.
http://www.becomingphysicaltherapist.com
DoctorsofPhysicalTherapy5QualitiesofanExcellentPhysicalTherapist
Thisblogarticleoutlinesthequalitiesthatyoullneedtobeanexcellentphysicaltherapist.
http://www.doctorsofphysicaltherapy.wordpress.com/2013/04/17/5qualitiesofanexcellentphysical
therapist
ExploreHealthCareers.Org
Checkoutthiswebsiteforaninformativelookatjobsinthehealthcarefield.SearchthroughtheCareer
Explorertofindacareerthatinterestsyou.
http://www.explorehealthcareers.org
PhysicalTherapist.Com
Thissiteprovidesinformationandresourcesforthephysicaltherapycommunity.ScrolloverPhysical
TherapyResourcesandclickonBecomeAPhysicalTherapisttolearnmoreaboutthecareer.
http://www.physicaltherapist.com
FederationofStateBoardsofPhysicalTherapy(FSBPT)
VisitthissiteforinformationabouttheNationalPhysicalTherapyExam(NPTE).
http://www.fsbpt.org
OccupationalOutlookHandbookPhysicalTherapists
CareerinformationfromtheUSDepartmentofLabor.
http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physicaltherapists.htm
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