Physical Therapist

How To Become A Physical Therapist

A guide on how to become a physical therapist. Interested in a career as physiotherapist? Do you think you are suited to work in the challenging world of a physical therapist? In physical therapy, you deal with people afflicted with disease or who suffered from disability.

After assessment and diagnosis, as a physical therapist you will be responsible to devise a treatment program to help them restore function of the affected body parts, or to regain mobility. This is one health care career whose growth potential will continue to increase especially because it is a job that pays well and offers many opportunities for advancement.

Treatment modes employed by PTs are exercise and body manipulation. Not only do you need to be familiar with the human anatomy and physiology to better understand rehabilitation, but you need to learn an extensive set of skills necessary in putting together effective therapy programs.

If you've ever been to a rehabilitation clinic or witnessed a physical therapy session, you know that physiotherapists rely not just on their knowledge but employ a wide range of people skills to handle their patients, who are often in a lot of pain or who are barely able to move on their own. No wonder the average physical therapist salary can go for as much as $44.20 per hour with years of experience.

What Does It Take To Become A Physical Therapist

1. A master's degree is the minimum requirement. Unlike most allied health care careers where associate or bachelor degrees are sufficient to gain entry-level positions, you will need a minimum of a master's degree (two years) in physical therapy to practice. Or you can earn a doctoral degree that can be completed in three to four years. But before even qualifying for these post-graduate programs, you need undergraduate coursework with focus on the sciences - biology, chemistry, human anatomy and physics - and mathematics.

In choosing what school to attend for your physical therapy degree, make sure it is accredited by American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. In 2009, only 12 of the 212 accredited by the commission awarded master's degrees, while 200 programs were for doctoral degrees. Soon, the APTA said majority of the practicing PTs will hold a doctoral degree and the masteral courses will eventually be phased out.

2. Complete residency and choose which area to specialize on. You now need to put into practice what you learned from two to four years of schooling. It's a supervised residency at a hospital, rehabilitation clinic or other medical facilities that offer physical therapy programs. It is also here where you will choose which area of PT to focus on: acute care, rehabilitation and sports medicine. You will get hands-on training in the area of musculoskeletal physiotherapy, cardiopulmonary physiotherapy and neurological physiotherapy. Eventually, you will learn which area you want to specialize in and get further training for.

3. Pass licensing exams. Becoming a physical therapist requires highly skilled individuals that in order to practice you must first pass the state and national licensure examinations. All 50 states regulate the practice of physical therapy does this stringent requirement. In order to even qualify for the test, you must meet the requirements of your particularly state so be sure to check these and comply with them even prior to graduation. Once licensed, you are required to undergo continuing education in order to maintain your credentials.

4. Get certified. You want to be a clinical specialist? Then become board certified. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties administers this certification process. To qualify, you need to be licensed and complete at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice in your chosen specialty, and 25% of that time must have been in the last three years prior to the exam. The difference between a specialist from a regular licensed physical therapist is the career path that you can take in the future. If you are eying to be in the field of education or research, then get that board certification.

A physical therapist can earn as much as $88,000 annually, and the rewards in this career far outweigh the demands of the practice.

How To Become A Physical Therapist >