Physiatrist vs Physical therapist

Makes sense when you consider that a physiatrist is a licensed, board-certified medical doctor who has completed medical school and a required internship and residency.

To become a physiatrist takes between ten to 14 years and includes a four-year undergraduate program, along with four years in medical school and three to seven years in a residency program.

To become a physical therapist takes around six to eight years and includes a bachelor's and master's degree. A physical therapist must also pass an exam and apply for a state license.

As a physical medicine and rehabilitation practitioners, physiatrists also have the ability to prescribe medication and perform additional non-surgical therapies like injections, which physical therapists don't have.

Physical therapists use advanced tools like traction and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), but they must refer you to your physiatrist, who can administer prescription-level therapies.

Reflective of differences in educational credentials and scope of the job is the earning potential. A physiatrist earns nearly double that of a physical therapist, who earns a median national average of $91,010 a year.

The median national average for a physiatrist is $242,000 a year. Conversely, the job outlook for physiatrists is 12.5% over the next ten years compared to physical therapists, who are expected to grow by over 20% over the same time period.