Physical therapists (PTs) are healthcare professionals who help individuals living with pain, aches, and discomfort manage them to improve the way they move their bodies and perform day-to-day activities. They work with other healthcare professionals to help individuals prevent or treat injuries, and achieve their movement goals. Being a PT is a fulfilling and lucrative career path worth considering, especially for those who want to explore a career in healthcare while maintaining a good work-life balance. In this article, we’ll discuss everything you need to know to become a PT, such as physical therapist requirements, necessary tests, and what the job entails.
In this article, we’ll discuss the steps to becoming a physical therapist — what the job entails, the educational requirements, and the job outlook for the next several years.
What do physical therapists do?
As healthcare specialists, physical therapists receive referrals from doctors for patients who need specialized care. To assess a patient’s musculoskeletal concerns and needs, PTs first conduct a physical examination and create a treatment plan, which may include guided stretches and exercises. PTs also give individualized treatment, including massages and ultrasound therapies.
Physical therapists typically perform the following day-to-day activities:
· Diagnosing a patient’s condition and ability to function
· Assessing a patient’s functional level via observation
· Listening to a patient’s concerns and issues
· Creating a personalized treatment plan that takes into account a patient’s functional level and goals
· Documenting a patient’s progress, and assessing a patient for discharge when appropriate
· Helping a patient use supportive devices
How to become a PT: Physical therapist requirements, tests, and more
To become a physical therapist, you must successfully complete the following steps:
1. Get a bachelor’s degree and earn a DPT degree.
To be a licensed PT, you must first get a bachelor’s degree as this is a prerequisite to earning a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. A bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or other health-related undergraduate degrees, such as kinesiology, health science, biology, and even psychology.
Some DPT programs allow students to enter a 3+3 early assurance program. This program allows students to earn their doctoral degree in six years instead of seven.
Typically, when you enroll in a DPT program, you’ll learn the following subjects that are important to your journey to becoming a PT:
· Biology
· Anatomy
· Cellular histology
· Physiology
· Exercise physiology
· Biomechanics
· Kinesiology
· Neuroscience
· Pathology
· Pharmacology
· Behavioral sciences
· Management sciences
· Communication
· Sociology
· Finance
· Clinical reasoning
· Ethics/values
· Evidence-based practice
· Endocrine and metabolic functions
· Musculoskeletal systems
Make sure that the DPT program you enter is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). You can check which programs are accredited via the CAPTE website.
2. Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
To become a licensed physical therapist, you must pass the NPTE, a test administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) that assesses your basic entry-level competence after graduating from an accredited DPT program.
3. Pass your state’s licensure exam
Like other healthcare careers such as becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA), you’d also need to pass your state’s licensure exam to become a licensed PT.
Physical therapist specializations
One of the benefits of becoming a PT is the number of specializations you can explore. Depending on your interest and the required certification, you can specialize in the following:
· Cardiovascular and pulmonary
· Clinical electrophysiology
· Geriatrics
· Neurology
· Oncology
· Orthopedics
· Pediatrics
· Sports
· Women’s Health
· Wound Management
Physical therapist job outlook and median pay
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) between 2022 and 2032, it’s expected for physical therapist job employment to grow 15%, which is much faster than average. Until 2032, there are about 13,900 job openings for physical therapists on average.
The median pay for physical therapists in 2023 was US$99,710 per year or US$47.94 per hour. As of June 2024, the average salary for PTs is US$101,801.
