Career Path

Physical Therapist

Overview

In this career, your responsibilities may include:

Helping ill or injured patients manage physical pain by teaching them how to improve their movement habits and by applying hands-on therapy.
Studying patients’ medical history and all notes from nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals.
Diagnosing patients’ problems and producing customized plans of care, taking into account the patients’ goals, expected timeline, and expected outcomes.
Using a variety of therapies including exercise, stretching techniques, specialized equipment, and more to help alleviate patients’ pain and increase their mobility and strength, as well as prevent further or future injury.

Job Titles

In your job search, you may find job listings for this career under different titles. You can find some examples of these, as well as more information about this career, at Career One Stop.

Academic Requirements

Typically requires a doctorate.

Certification

Certification is not required, but could make employers more likely to hire you or offer you a higher salary.

Physical therapy certifications require that you have already obtained licensure. Voluntary post-licensure specialty certifications are a way to show that you have a high level of expertise in a specific field.

The American Physical Therapy Association currently offers board certifications in ten specialty areas. Physical therapists who plan to pursue post-licensure board certification are required to complete a one-year residency training program if you do not already have significant US physical therapy work experience in your field of specialization.
Licensure

Licensure is required to work as a Physical Therapist, and passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is required for licensure in all states. Some states may also require a background check and an exam on the law related to the practice of physical therapy.