With the job outlook of the physical therapy field being expected to grow by 34 percent by 2024, faster than the average occupation, the average annual wage at a whopping $84,020, paid sick and vacation days and the flexible work environment, this seems like the perfect profession to enter. Having a career in physical therapy can be very rewarding because a physical therapist gets to watch as his or her patients improve every appointment through treatment. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in this profession. There are many disadvantages, and knowing these will help anyone interested in this field have a better understanding of how tough pursuing a career in this field can be. Being a physical therapist can be a rewarding experience and have amazing benefits. However, it is important to be aware of the disadvantages: the extreme amount of education, physical demands, emotional demands and the continuation of education requirements. Physical therapists are required to complete at least six years or higher of education before work begins. This means that a master’s degree or a bachelor’s degree must be achieved. Only a few colleges or universities offer master’s programs, therefore a student must enter a doctoral program to attain this profession. Acquiring a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree requires three years of education only after receiving a bachelor’s degree. Most students join residency programs that can last anywhere from nine months to three years to
To become a physical therapist of course I need an education the programs often include courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics physical therapist students also complete at least 30 weeks of clinical work, during which they gain supervised experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care.
A Physical therapist is a highly educated, licensed health care professional that can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility. They can teach patients how to prevent or manage their condition so that they will achieve long-term health benefits. To become a physical therapist one must go through years of school and training. My goal of becoming a physical therapist has been my main goal ever since high school. Being in a swim team and helping others out as a lifeguard has motivated to into helping athletes and people with disabilities. To me, working with people would be a fantastic career field for me to pursue. Reaching this goal is harder than most career goals. I will have to go through a pool of candidates that are has motivated as me. This goal that I am trying to accomplish will need a hundred percent of my effort in school and the field itself. Finding “connections in the field of physical therapy will help you find a job faster. Many people will try to get a spot in the career that I want and for me to accomplish my goal, I must be a better candidate than the others.
In order to be successful in the profession as a physical therapist there are several prerequisites a person has to accomplish. One of the first prerequisites to become a physical therapist is you must graduate from a physical therapist educational program and obtain a master or doctoral degree. The master's degree programs for physical therapy typically are two to two and a half years in length, while doctoral degree programs usually last 3 years. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, students will complete supervised clinical experience to get a feel of the work environment. The coursework will include physics, biology and chemistry. Other additional coursework included during the physical therapy program is therapeutic procedures, biomechanics, examination techniques, human development, manifestations of disease, and neuroanatomy. You can specialize in one of those certain topics, which will concentrate more on a certain area. Students must also obtain a license in order to practice physical therapy. A license can be obtained by
Colleges with a medical department often have a master’s program for physical therapy. (“Physical Therapists”) Physical therapy students have a required amount of field work in order to complete a program. Each candidate must work in an accredited workplace for the field work assignments. This part of the program is extremely valuable and helpful for a new therapist entering the field. Working one on one can be difficult even with all of the educational tools. (Curtis 37)
The physical therapy profession is concerned with treating individuals of all ages. In the future, I plan on being able to comfort individuals undergoing physical therapy by being able to use my compassionate nature, caring, understanding, and the expertise that I will gain, while serving as their physical therapist. In doing the previously mentioned things, I hope to be considered as an important asset to society. I believe that people will be able to increase their viability by seeking my assistance.
Striving for excellence through determination is essentially beneficial for the student as well as classmates and patients. The end goal of a physical therapy program is to equip students with important knowledge about the field to effectively treat each patient in a safe and informative manner. A patient’s health and well-being is relied heavily upon the therapist’s knowledge while being treated. Optimizing each learning opportunity as a student is critical in becoming a professional and well-educated physical therapist upon
In the words of Field (2007), "physical therapists develop therapies and exercise modalities to help patients ease pain, recover from injuries or illness, or regain use of body parts." The relevance of physical therapy as a health care profession cannot hence be overstated. This is more so the case given that due to injuries, accidents, old age or disabilities; individuals could at some point need intervention designed to alleviate pain, improve mobility or even restore function.
Physical Therapy programs are presented as a master’s (MPT, MSPT, MS) or doctoral (DPT) degree from an accredited physical therapy program. In order to be admitted to a DPT, MPT, MSPT, or MS program you have to first either completely obtain, or have been working at least three years closer to an undergraduate baccalaureate accredited
Physical therapists are members of a health care team, specially trained to improve movement and flinction, relieve pain, and expand movement potential. Through evaluation and individualized treatment programs, physical therapists can both treat existing problems and provide preventive health care for people with a variety of needs (Physical Therapy-Improving 1). Physical therapists are very knowledgeable and skillful concerning the human body. Physical therapy is a complex, but rewarding field to pursue as a career. Specialization, working conditions, job outlook, salaries, and education requirements need to be taken into consideration when contemplating a career as a physical therapist.
A physical therapist works with many different people to reduce pain and improve flexibility. PT’s first evaluate a patient based on what happened to them. Later, they create a personalized treatment for the patient based on what happened to them. They work in clinics, hospitals, sports facilities and many more locations. The average pay of a physical therapist is $80,000 dollars a year which depends on experience and location. To become a physical therapist, you must get a four year undergraduate degree. Then you must get a graduate degree from a physical therapy program. Finally a PT must pass a national licensure exam to be able to practice. This career relates to sports medicine because many PT’s work with athletes that have gotten injured
Physical Therapist As a physical therapist one will evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients of all ages with disorders in order to help them move or function in their daily lives. A physical therapist will restore, maintain, and promote the physical well-being of an individual as well as prevent onset symptoms and progression of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities that may result from disease, disorders, conditions, or injuries. Educational Requirements To become a physical therapist you must attend pre-physical therapist school and obtain an undergraduate baccalaureate accredited degree. This usually takes a maximum of four years.
In the United States, professional (entry level) physical therapist programs only offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree to all new students who enroll. In order to be able to be a physical therapist in the US, one must obtain a bachelor’s degree from a 4 year institution. One must also earn a physical therapist degree from a CAPTE – an accredited physical therapist education program, and it is required that you pass a state licensure exam such as the GRE. (Guide).
The master’s degree program in physical therapy takes about two years to complete. This program includes both general science courses and clinical experience, which is overseen by a licensed P.T. After they have finished the master’s degree program, students must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination in order to graduate. Before they are able to practice, the future physical therapists must also pass the required state exams as well. Although it may seem as if their training is finished, physical therapists must take several continuing education courses to keep their credentials up to date (Education-Portal.com). Though the schooling necessary for this profession takes around six years and when a professional, one has to recertify his or her license each year, this task isn’t that big of a burden when one is able to help patients in
Although Physical Therapists specialize in the movement of the body, there is still a lot to cover. The education needed requires a lot because there is so much that deals with the mobility of the body. Physical Therapists go to school for about an average of several years. To become a physical therapist you first must receive a bachelor’s’ degree in a field that specializes in the body. In order to be eligible for the three year (DPT) program a person must have a bachelor’s degree in an area in the therapy field. When a person graduates from a (DPT) program they have to pass a state given test. Acquiring
Student’s will have to go through seven years of schooling to achieve their goal of becoming a Physical Therapist. When applicants start their journey of becoming a Physical Therapist, applicants must go through a bachelor 's degree program of 4 years and major in a health related field such as Anatomy, Physiology, Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. After completing 4 years of Bachelor 's program applicants should apply for a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. When applying for a D.P.T program competition can be very competitive because for certain D.P.T programs only 30 applicants out of 200 or more can get accepted. Stated from the website, “Learn How to Become”, “As of 2014, there were 228 physical therapy programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (C.A.P.T.E), most of which last 3 years”. When an applicant finally gets accepted into a D.P.T program students must complete a clinical internship in a certain area they wish to pursue with supervised experience. When applicants graduate from