Physical Therapist

A physical therapist (also referred to as PT) works with people of all ages who have difficulty with motor function due to accident or illness. This is a fast-growing career within the healthcare sector offering diverse and challenging responsibility. Before you find out what Physical Therapist education requirements and training involve, let me first show you what the career entails.

Career Overview

Physical therapists treat people of all age groups—infants to the elderly—who have chronic physical disabilities that limit their ability to move and perform various functional activities. Patients include those who have back and neck injuries, arthritis, paralysis from stroke, multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, sprains, fractures, as well as cerebral palsy and spina bifida.

Physical therapists perform a physical examination of each patient and develop treatment plans. The goal is to minimize pain, restore mobility and functionality, and prevent further injury.

Treatment may consist of therapeutic exercise, functional re-training (e.g. regaining manual dexterity), the use of assistive and adaptive devices, as well as electrotherapeutic equipment to stimulate muscle strength.

Physical therapists often collaborate with a variety of other healthcare providers, such as doctors, nurses, occupational therapists social workers, and speech-language pathologists.

Career Outlook

This is a career with a bright future! As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate of growth for physical therapists is expected to be 30 percent through 2018, a rate that is much faster than that for most other occupations.

This growth arises from a few factors:

· Changes in reimbursement policy will increase patient access to rehabilitative services thus increasing the demand for physical therapists.
· The elderly and Baby Boomer demographic are two groups particularly prone to falls, stroke, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that will require therapeutic services.
· Advances in medical technology are also resulting in improved long-term outcomes for premature infants and trauma victims who will then need rehabilitative care.
· The federally regulated Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees that disabled students have access to special accommodations and therapeutic services so they may continue in school.

Physical Therapist Education Requirements and Training

The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the accreditation body of The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), accredits entry-level education programs in physical therapy. Currently, CAPTE accredits 212 physical therapy programs throughout the United States. Of the 212 accredited programs, 203 are accredited doctoral-level programs and 9 are master’s level programs. Both degree programs prepare students to sit for the national licensing exam in all 50 states. As per APTA, “The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) will require all programs to offer the DPT degree effective December 31, 2015.”

Upon graduation from a doctoral program you will be granted the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.

Upon graduation from a master’s program you will be granted the Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) or Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) degree.

Coursework in physical therapy programs includes anatomy and physiology, biology, cellular histology (microbiology), neuroanatomy, biomechanics (muscle structure and movement), exercise physiology, pharmacology, psychology, radiology and /imaging, and clinical treatment planning.

Clinically-based courses include a review of therapeutic modalities, medical screening and physical examinations, diagnostic procedures, evaluation of treatment outcomes, and laboratory testing. In addition to classroom and laboratory work, students will also participate in supervised clinical training.

Visit the Web site of either APTA or the CAPTE to identify an accredited program in your state.

Specialty areas

Physical therapists may become board certified in one of several clinical specialty areas through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABTS). Through specialization physical therapists are able to build on their education by broadening their knowledge and skill set with regard to a particular area of practice. As per APTA, physical therapists may purse specialization in the following areas:

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
Clinical Electrophysiology
Geriatrics
Neurology
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Sports Physical Therapy
Women’s Health

Licensure

All states have regulations in place regarding the practice of physical therapy, although eligibility for certification varies by state. In general, requirements include graduation from a physical therapy program accredited by CAPTE; passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE); and fulfilling any specific state requirements, such as special jurisprudence exams.

The licensing and jurisprudence exams are administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT).

Eligibility to site for the NPTE:

As per the FSBPT, the licensing authority of your state will individually determine eligibility requirements to sit for the NPTE. You should review the material distributed by the licensing authority where you intend to apply for licensure to ensure you are eligible before applying to take the test. It is a somewhat costly process so best to first determine that you meet all requirements. Visit the Web site of the FSBPT to learn how to contact your state licensing authority.

Registering for the NPTE

The computer-based PT and PTA examinations are administered by FSBPT through Prometric. FSBPT will score your examination and then send to the licensing authority of your state. Individual licensing make all final decisions regarding licensure or certification. As per the FSBPT, “One commonality among U.S. licensing authorities is that, effective July 1996, all licensing authorities adopted FSBPT’s criterion-referenced passing point, so that the minimum passing score is now the same in all jurisdictions.”

Registration process for he NPTE

1. Determine that you meet your state’s requirements to sit for the exam.

2. If eligible, complete the application from your state licensing authority.

3. Your state licensing authority will review your application and make a decision regarding your eligibility.

4. Once you are deemed eligible to sit for the exam you will receive an Authorization to Test letter (ATT) from the FSBPT. The ATT will be sent by the FSBPT when the licensing authority of your state confirms that you are eligible to test. The ATT letter will also be available online under the “Status of My Request” tab on the FSBT Web site.

5. To register for the test you will need to provide your social security number or alternative identification number (AIN) available by application on the FSBPT Web site.

6. Pay the registration fee of $370. Credit/debit card Visa or MasterCard are accepted.

7. The ATT letter will provide instruction in how to contact the testing vendor Prometric to schedule a day and time to sit for the exam.

8. Review the FSBPT Candidate Handbook available on the agency’s Web site. The Handbook provides such information as test construction, what to expect on test day score reporting, etc. The FSBPT Web site also has practice tests you may review in preparation for the actual exam.

The FSBPT currently offers jurisprudence exams in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Nebraska, and Ohio.

Jurisprudence exam fees:

Alabama: $50.

Arizona: $50.

California: $30.

District of Columbia $50.

Florida: $50.

Georgia: $35.

Nebraska: $50.

Ohio: $50

Median Physical Therapist salary ranges in select regional areas.

Los Angeles, CA	$81,725
Boulder, CO	$76,515
Boca Raton FL	$73,165
Atlanta, GA	$74,579
New York, NY	$88,349
Dallas, TX	$74,207

How to Become a Physical Therapist

Physical therapists treat patients of all ages who have difficulty with moving and performing physical activities due to illness or injury. This is a highly challenging and responsible role within the healthcare field offering attractive salaries and excellent long-term career prospects.

Before you find out how to become a Physical Therapist, let me first show you what the career entails.

Physical Therapist Scope of practice

The primary role of physical therapists is to examine each patient and develop a treatment plan that will reduce pain, restore functionality, promote mobility, and prevent further disability. They develop wellness programs to foster a healthier and more active lifestyle. According to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapists provide care to over 750,000 patients every day in the United States.

In today’s cost-conscious healthcare environment, physical therapy is being called on more and more often as an alternative to expensive surgical procedures. Therapeutic exercises and functional retraining are the primary methods of physical therapy treatment. Depending on the severity of the injury or disability, physical therapists may “manipulate” (move the limb within a certain range of motion)) or massage a muscle to stimulate blood flow and restore function. Physical therapists may also use electrotherapy, ultrasound (high-frequency sound waves that emit heat).

Although physical therapists do work in hospitals, more than 80% work in other settings such as private practice, home health agencies, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, sports complexes, rehabilitation hospitals, and corporate health departments.

Conditions that physical therapists treat include:

Arthritis

Back Pain

Fractures and Sprains

Dislocations

Headaches

Osteoporosis

Stroke

Sports Injuries

Traumatic Brain Injury

Career Satisfaction

A recent survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center showed that physical therapists report one of the highest job satisfaction ratings in the country. The survey showed that more than 75 percent of physical therapists who took part in the poll reported that they were “very satisfied’ with their career. Indeed, physical therapists were second only to members of the clergy in terms of overall job satisfaction and the only healthcare workers to make it into the top 5.

How To Become a Physical Therapist : Education &Training

As per APTA, all physical therapists must possess a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapist program before being eligible to sit for the national exam that will grant them the right to practice within their state.

Physical therapist degrees on currently offered on two levels:

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Degree
Master of Physical Therapy Degree (MPT)

The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the accreditation body of The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), accredits entry-level education programs in physical therapy. Currently, CAPTE accredits 212 physical therapy programs throughout the United States. Of the 212 accredited programs, 203 are accredited doctoral-level programs and 9 are master’s level programs. Both degree programs prepare students to sit for the national licensing exam in all 50 states. As per APTA, “The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) will require all programs to offer the DPT degree effective December 31, 2015.”

As per APTA, curriculum requirements include biology/anatomy, cellular histology, physiology, exercise physiology, biomechanics, kinesiology, neuroscience, pharmacology, pathology, behavioral sciences, communication, ethics/values, management sciences, finance, sociology, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice, cardiovascular and pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, and musculoskeletal. Eighty percent (80%) of the DPT curriculum comprises classroom (didactic) and lab study and the remaining 20 percent (20%) is dedicated to clinical education. PT students spend on average 27.5 weeks in their final clinical experience.

Admission requirements

Most DPT/MPT physical therapists programs will require a bachelor’s degree for entry. Some programs offer a 3+3 option in which 3 years of pre-professional physical therapy undergraduate coursework must be satisfactorily completed before the student can be admitted into the 3 year professional portion of the program.

A few physical therapy programs recruit students direct from high school who evidence strong interest in pursuing a career in the field. High school students who are accepted into these programs are guaranteed admittance into the professional portion of the 3+3 year program pending successful completion of prerequisite courses at the undergraduate level and any other specific requirements (such as maintaining a minimum GPA).

Selecting the best program for your needs

As you begin to research schools, keep in mind that you will only be eligible to sit for the national licensure examination if you have graduated from a physical therapists program that has been accredited by CAPTE. Once you have identified accredited programs you should consider the following factors when narrowing down your choices:

Program structure and curriculum
Types of clinical education and training opportunities (e.g. types of clinical settings that the school has affiliations with).
Faculty composition and cohesiveness (have they been published; how long have they been teaching; clinical specialty area?)
Student demographics (e.g. would you feel comfortable mixing with the student body?)
Facilities (e.g. classroom, laboratories, library)
Campus setting (e.g., do you prefer to study at a rural, urban, suburban campus?)
Geographic location and distance from home/family (do you want to study away from home or do you wish to commute to campus every day?)
Size of the university (would you be more comfortable in a smaller setting where you can stand out or would you prefer the anonymity of a larger campus?)
Size of PT program’s entering class
Licensure pass rates
Job placement statistics
Admission requirements
Cost and financial aid opportunities (are there scholarship opportunities, does the school employ teaching assistants?)
Extracurricular activities (you want to balance your study with social outings so try and find out if the school offers activities in which you have an interest)

Licensure as a Physical Therapist

All 50 states and the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands mandate that physical therapists obtain licensure to practice. Each state maintains its own standards for certification and licensure must be renewed on a periodic basis with the majority of states requiring continuing education as a requirement of renewal. Physical therapists must practice within the scope of practice as defined by their state.

One of the main tools that most states use to determine whether to grant licensure is the National Physical Therapy exam (NPTE) administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). As per the FSBPT, the licensing authority of your state will individually determine eligibility requirements to sit for the NPTE. You should review the material distributed by the licensing authority where you intend to apply for licensure to ensure you are eligible before applying to take the test. It is a somewhat costly process so best to first determine that you meet all requirements. Visit the Web site of the FSBPT to learn how to contact your state licensing authority.

The NPTE is a competency-based test that covers theory and practice of physical therapy, examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, and injury prevention.

Post-Graduate Clinical Study

Licensed physical therapists may wish to pursue a residency or fellowship program to advance their knowledge and skill set.

Clinical Residency: A clinical residency offers clinical and didactic (instructional) education to significantly advance the physical therapist resident’s skill-set in providing patient care within a defined area of practice. The fellowship provides ongoing opportunities for clinical supervision and mentoring.
Clinical Fellowship: This program also offers clinical and didactic learning experiences but is geared toward physical therapists that are able to evidence clinical expertise prior to commencing the fellowship.This expertise must be in a clinical practice area related to the practice focus of the fellowship. As per APTA a fellowship program must offer a curriculum that:

1. Is focused, with advanced clinical and didactic instruction within a subspecialty area of practice;

2. Is intensive and includes extensive mentored clinical experience; and,

3. Provides a sufficient and appropriate patient population to create an environment for advanced clinical skill building.

Specialty Certification: Physical therapists have the opportunity to specialize through the American Board of Physical Therapy (ABPTS). Specialization allows physical therapist to build on an existing base of knowledge to gain deeper insight with regard to one mode of treatment. Specialty certification is voluntary and physical therapists are not required to be certified to practice in any one area. Physical therapists may become board-certified in one of the following specialty areas:

Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
Clinical Electrophysiology
Geriatrics
Neurology
Orthopedics
Pediatrics
Sports Physical Therapy
Women’s Health

Earnings of physical therapists

There are currently more than 175,000 physical therapists licensed to practice in the United States. As per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistic, the median salary for a physical therapist is $80,000. Earnings will be dependent on your title, years of experience, degree level, geographic location, and type of setting in which you work.