What Does a Career in Physical Therapy Look Like?

What Do Physical Therapists Do?

Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals experiencing pain, functional impairments, and limited mobility due to injury, illness, or disease. These professionals assess and diagnose patients, then use that information to design and implement treatment or fitness plans. Physical therapists provide care for children, adolescents, and adults, often specializing in a specific demographic in their practice.

Physical therapists can use exercises, stretching techniques, and specialty sports equipment when working with patients and clients. Additional physical therapy practices include electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, and ultrasound technology. Physical therapists help to restore function, prevent further ailments, and improve overall quality of life for their clients by providing care for their individual needs.

Where Do Physical Therapists Work?

Physical therapists practice in hospitals, outpatient centers, and athletic facilities. Within a hospital setting, physical therapists work with patients after an accident, treatment, or surgery, while outpatient care is usually focused on more long-term care.

Physical therapists can also find employment in nursing homes, residential care facilities, or sports organizations. Athletic teams and fitness centers usually have physical therapists on staff. Many physical therapists work traditional hours in office and clinical settings, although some make home visits to patients.

Skills

Physical therapists spend long hours on their feet, actively engaging with patients and clients through exercise and treatment, often using weights and fitness equipment. These professionals need excellent communication skills and patience to succeed in their roles. They must also be able to explain treatment plans and exercises, listen to concerns, and offer encouragement to patients.

Physical therapists must understand human anatomy and physiology, pain assessment and management, and therapeutic practices. Warning an advanced degree in physical therapy demonstrates expertise and prepares graduates to pursue specialty certifications.

How to Become a Physical Therapist

A career in physical therapy requires an advanced degree and professional certification. Each student must earn a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT) from an accredited institution, which blends didactic and clinical requirements. Without a DPT, candidates can only become a physical therapy assistant.

A DPT prepares learners to sit for the national physical therapy examination (NPTE), which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Once they've passed the exam, aspiring therapists must meet state-specific licensure requirements before they can practice.

Education

In 2015, master's degrees in physical therapy were discontinued in the United States. To become a physical therapist, students need to earn DPTs from institutions accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Admission to a CAPTE-accredited DPT program requires a bachelor's degree. Most programs also require students to have prerequisite coursework in anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry. Once enrolled in a DPT, students complete three years of coursework with accompanying clinical experiences to build practical skills.

DPT curricula emphasize physical therapy principles and theories. Students also build an advanced understanding of neuroscience, functional anatomy, and health promotion and wellness. Learners explore diagnostic techniques, assessment methods, and treatments for disorders and diseases.

Additional classes in women's health, sports physical therapy, and geriatric physiology can help build the knowledge and skills needed to work in specialty areas across the lifespan and within specific contexts. Earning a DPT also introduces students to professional issues in the field, research methods, and administrative aspects of working with patients and clients.

As part of a DPT degree, learners participate in clinical education and evidence-based practice activities, where they apply their learning to practical and professional activities while earning a requisite number of hours working with patients and clients.

Certification and Licensure

Upon completion of a DPT degree, learners can sit for the NPTE, which is designed to assess entry-level competence for careers in physical therapy. The NPTE takes place four times annually and consists of 250 multiple-choice questions divided into five sections. Students have five hours to complete the exam.

Each student gets three opportunities to take the NPTE. Once they've passed, they can pursue licensure within individual states. Each state has its own licensing authority, and learners should contact their local department for licensure requirements. In many states, students also have to take a jurisprudence exam to assess knowledge of state laws and rules for physical therapists. Additional requirements include a criminal background check and proof of insurance.

Along with entry-level qualifications to become a physical therapist, practitioners can earn board certification in physical therapy specialties. For example, the American Board of Physical Therapy (ABPT) offers specialized certifications in pediatrics, wound management, and orthopedics.

With board certification, learners demonstrate expertise in a niche aspect of physical therapy to patients and colleagues. This facilitates career advancement and acknowledgment within the field. Board certification lasts for 10 years. After 10 years, physical therapists must recertify by completing an exam, submitting a professional portfolio with documented continuing education coursework, or demonstrating participation in a post-professional residency.

What to Look for in a Program

To become a physical therapist, candidates must enroll in a CAPTE-accredited DPT program. Accreditation attests to the academic excellence of a degree, ensuring learners complete coursework and gain the practical experience needed to enter careers in physical therapy.

CAPTE-accredited DPT programs may include some online coursework, but given the clinical requirements, no colleges offer entirely online degrees in the field. Additional things to consider when choosing a program include tuition and related costs, faculty and research options, and location of the college or university.

Physical Therapy Organizations

• American Physical Therapy Association APTA serves more than 100,000 physical therapy professionals and students. As a leading organization in the field, APTA offers members access to publications, honors and awards, and advocacy opportunities. APTA also hosts a learning center, provides access to practice guidelines, and engages with the public through its consumer information page.
• The American Council of Academic Physical Therapy Uniting physical therapy faculty, clinicians, and academic leaders, ACAPT promotes educational research, clinical education, and collaboration among organizations within the field of physical therapy. Eight ACAPT consortia forums in specialized areas accompany standing committees and advocacy task forces, all designed to facilitate conversations among academics interested in physical therapy.
• American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties Conceptualized during the 1970s to formalize criteria and examinations for specialized areas within physical therapy, ABPTS now oversees board certification for nine different subfields. ABPTS provides information about certification processes and maintenance, along with additional resources related to volunteerism, marketing, and professional development opportunities.