Information Provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook
Physical Therapist
Employment is expected to increase much faster than the average, as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited functioning spurs demand for therapy services. Job opportunities should be particularly good in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings. After graduating from an accredited physical therapist educational program, therapists must pass a licensure exam before they can practice. Nearly 6 out of 10 physical therapists work in hospitals or in offices of physical therapists.
On average, Physical Therapists earn $ 66,200 per year.
Job Opportunities for Health Care Careers are
expected to:
Increase faster than average.
Kinesiotherapy/Kinesiotherapist
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors
Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Physical therapists need a masters degree from an accredited physical therapy program and a State license, requiring passing scores on national and State examinations. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, there were 209 accredited physical therapist education programs in 2007. Of the accredited programs, 43 offered masters degrees and 166 offered doctoral degrees.
Physical therapists held about 173,000 jobs in 2006. The number of jobs is greater than the number of practicing physical therapists because some physical therapists hold two or more jobs. For example, some may work in a private practice, but also work part time in another health care facility.
