As with any medical profession these days, the demand for them is on the rise. As of 2014, the projected 10-year job growth for the physical therapy occupation was a whopping 34%! This growth is way faster than average. Physical therapy is a great occupation because you get to rehabilitate patients and help them improve day to day. Some of this is done in a rehabilitation center while other practices are done in a sports facility. Either way, it is truly a great profession to get into. It also pays well too! The median annual salary for physical therapists is $84,000 which comes to a little over $40 an hour. In today’s article, I am going to be breaking down how to become a physical therapist, involving all of the steps of the process.
- Obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in a Health Related Field
Earning this bachelor’s degree is basically a prerequisite to your doctoral program. This degree can be in anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry, and physics. In the end, I would highly recommend looking into the program you want to go into and find out the specific prerequisites that you have to accomplish. After this accomplishment, it is time to move on to your doctor of physical therapy degree program.
- Completing your Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree Program
Before you can work as a physical therapist, you need to complete this program. The good news is as of 2014, there were over 200 physical therapy programs to choose from around the country. The programs are accredited by the CAPTE, or the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. On top of your four years earning your bachelors degree, these programs typically take around three years to complete. Before you can enroll in a DPT program, you typically have to complete a clinical internship in an area like orthopedics under supervision. While you are in the doctor of physical therapy degree program, you will be expected to complete coursework in Applied Physical Therapy, Functional Anatomy, Complex Conditions, Life Span Development, and Pharmacotherapy. After the degree is completed, your next step towards becoming a physical therapist is to get your license to practice.
- Getting your Physical Therapy License
Every state varies on physical therapy licensing requirements. In general, all states require you to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). This exam is administered by the FSBPT, or the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. This exam is taken online and includes multiple choice questions. It can be taken three times in a twelve month period. The good news is the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy has a practice test that resembles the actual NPTE, allowing students to practice for the actual exam. Once you pass this, your state may require you to take a law exam and may even need you to perform a criminal background check. At the end of the day, you need to check with your state on all the licensing requirements. The next two steps that we cover a completely optional. Typically after you are a licensed physical therapist, you are free to practice physical therapy on clients.
- Complete a Residency
After you earn your doctorate in physical therapy, you can apply to join a clinical residency program. This is typically for therapists looking to specialize in a specific type of therapy. They do this to get further training and experience in that specific field before practicing it.
- Becoming Board Certified
After a physical therapist has been working in the field for a good amount of time, they can apply to become a board-certified specialist. This specialization is in one of eight specializations offered by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. You have to have at least 2,000 hours of work in your field and pass an exam.
In the end, physical therapy is one of the best health professions to get into. To find out more, go to https://clarkecaniff.com/industries/publishing-recruiters-and-executive-search/.
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