What will I do in this job?
If you choose to be Physical Therapists, you will provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. 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 have many tasks including:
- restoring, maintaining, and promoting overall fitness and health
- examining patients’ medical histories
- testing and measuring their strength, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration, and motor function
- determining a patients’ ability to be independent and reintegrate into the community or workplace after injury or illness
- developing treatment plans describing a treatment strategy, the purpose and anticipated outcome
- teaching patients to use assistive and adaptive devices
- documenting progress
- conducting periodic examinations
- modifying treatments when necessary
Will I need a special license?
If you plan to be a Physical Therapist a State license is required.
What type of education will I need?
All States require physical therapists to pass a licensure exam before they can practice. All physical therapist programs seeking accreditation are required to offer degrees at the master’s degree level and above.
Will I find a job?
Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2012. However, over the long run, the demand for physical therapists should continue to rise as growth in the number of individuals with disabilities or limited function spurs demand for therapy services.
How much will I make?
Median Salary: $57,330 (Ranges from $48,000- $70,000)
(2003-2004)
|
