Q: Can you become a physical therapist in 2 years?

Yes, you can become a physical therapist in 2 years. However, this is only true if you already have a bachelor's or master's degree. Once you have that, you must apply to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program to be eligible for the exam and license.

Q: Do physical therapists go to med school?

No, physical therapists do not need to go to med school. However, to become a physical therapist, you must complete a doctorate of physical therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.

Q: Is it worth it to be a physical therapist?

Yes, being a physical therapist is worth it. A physical therapist earns good money, has a flexible schedule, and has options to experience a lot of variability in the type of jobs they work in as a physical therapist. If that wasn't good enough, they also experience high levels of job satisfaction and overall health.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Physical Therapist?

Accepted Answer

It takes 3 years of professional experience to become a physical therapist. That is the time it takes to learn specific physical therapist skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 6 to 8 years years to become a physical therapist.

Question 2

Athletic trainer vs Physical therapist

Accepted Answer

Athletic trainers are healthcare professionals specializing in treating athletic and physically active individuals, while a physical therapist refers to a medical professional who helps injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

Question 3

Can you become a physical therapist assistant online?

Accepted Answer

No, you can not become a physical therapist online, however, there are physical therapy programs that work on a hybrid model of both in-person and online courses. All physical therapists must receive some form of in-person training and education to become physical therapists due to the hands-on nature of the job.

Question 4

Can you become a physical therapist in 2 years?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can become a physical therapist in 2 years. However, this is only true if you already have a bachelor's or master's degree. Once you have that, you must apply to a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program to be eligible for the exam and license.

Question 5

Chiropractor vs Physical therapist

Accepted Answer

A chiropractor is someone who attempts to correct spinal malalignment, believing that this is placing pressure on nerves, while a physical therapist often works to prevent injury through exercise programs and workout routines.

Question 6

Do physical therapists go to med school?

Accepted Answer

No, physical therapists do not need to go to med school. However, to become a physical therapist, you must complete a doctorate of physical therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam.

Question 7

How many years will it take to become a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

It will take between 6 to 7 years to become a physical therapist. First, you must earn a bachelor's degree (4-years), followed by a doctorate of physical therapy (2 to 3 years).

If you're a non-traditional student thinking about a career change, some DMT programs will take individuals with bachelor's degrees in unrelated fields (e.g., psychology, economics). Going this route usually takes three years to complete the program.

Question 8

How to get a physical therapy internship

Accepted Answer

To get a physical therapy internship, you need to craft your resume, network, and apply for physical therapy internships. Here are some details on these steps and others you can take to get a physical therapy internship:

Question 9

Is a physical therapy assistant a good job?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a physical therapy assistant is a good job as it pays well, you will be in high demand, and you will feel satisfaction in your work. Physical therapy assistants often are paid above average, and along with their paycheck, they are often offered great benefits for themselves and their families.

Physical therapy assistants are in high demand, which means that you will not have to worry about not finding a job, which allows you to be picky when choosing where you would like to work. Once you find your position, you will have job security. You will also often be able to have consistent hours to work.

Physical therapy assistants are often extremely satisfied with their work. One huge factor is that they can see the results of their work through the development of their patients. They also are able to help people work through challenges, which can be extremely rewarding. Helping others, and seeing that progress, is something that makes being a PTA a great job choice.

Question 10

Is it worth it to be a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a physical therapist is worth it. A physical therapist earns good money, has a flexible schedule, and has options to experience a lot of variability in the type of jobs they work in as a physical therapist. If that wasn't good enough, they also experience high levels of job satisfaction and overall health.

Question 11

Occupational therapist vs Physical therapist

Accepted Answer

Occupational therapists are individuals focused on improving the patient's ability to perform activities needed for daily living, while physical therapists help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

Question 12

Physiatrist vs Physical therapist

Accepted Answer

A physiatrist refers to a licensed doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, while a physical therapist refers to a licensed medical professional who helps injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

Question 13

Physical Therapist vs Physical Therapist Assistant

Accepted Answer

A physical therapist is a primary caregiver and planner to a patient recovering from a surgery or injury, while a physical therapist assistant assists the primary physical therapist with their duties.

Question 14

Physical therapist dress code

Accepted Answer

The dress code of a physical therapist typically involves wearing professional or medical-appropriate attire. The specific dress code of this profession also depends on the employer. However, here are some common expectations related to a physical therapist's dress code:

Question 15

Physiotherapist vs Physical therapist

Accepted Answer

A physiotherapist helps people who have experienced injury, illness, or disability by providing exercise routines, manual therapy, education, and advice, while a physical therapist is there to help injured or ill people improve movement and manage pain.

Question 16

What are the pros and cons of being a physical therapy assistant?

Accepted Answer

The pros and cons of being a physical therapy assistant relate to compensation and benefits, job security, and educational requirements. Here are the top pros and cons of being an occupational therapist:

Question 17

What is the career path for a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

The career path for a physical therapist involves jobs as an occupational therapist, physician assistant, and physical therapist. While the career path for a physical therapist is straightforward in terms of education, skills, training, and professional experience, there are some on and off-ramps to other careers in related medical fields.

Question 18

Why become a physical therapist

Accepted Answer

You should become a physical therapist because you get to help people recovering from injuries, physical therapists earn high salaries, and you get to form unique bonds with your patients. Here are some details on these reasons and others to become a physical therapist:

Question 19

Why do you want to be a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

You answer, "Why do you want to be a physical therapist" by focusing on your desire to help people. How you answer this question can help the interviewer understand your mindset about the position and your career path.

Question 20

How many vacation days do physical therapists get?

Accepted Answer

Typically, physical therapists get between 15 to 21 vacation days per year. This is, dependent on factors such as the employer's policies, the therapist's years of experience, and the country or state in which they work.

Question 21

What is a good starting salary for a Physical Therapist?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a physical therapist is $62,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a physical therapist in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for physical therapists is $75,776, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a physical therapist can vary by state.

Question 22

How much do physical therapists make starting out?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapists make around $67,000 a year starting out. However, the range in earning potential is vast, starting as low as $25,000 a year to as high as. $125,000 a year.

The top 90th percentile of entry-level positions for a physical therapist average over $104,000 a year, while the bottom 25th percentile earns $38,500 a year.

Question 23

What benefits do physical therapists get?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapists get a variety of benefits, including health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off, flexible scheduling, and many other great employee benefits. These types of benefits are typically reserved for physical therapists that work full-time for a specific company or hospital. Specific benefits will vary depending on the industry and employer.

Question 24

What is the highest-paying physical therapy speciality?

Accepted Answer

The highest-paying physical therapy speciality on average is neurology. According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, physical therapy professionals that specialize in this area tend to have the highest salaries in the field.

Question 25

Can a physical therapist make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a physical therapist. The chances of earning over $100k for a physical therapist are actually pretty good because the highest-paid physical therapist positions typically pay at least $91,000 per year. The average annual salary is $75,776 for physical therapist jobs. For example, physical therapists in California whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $123,000.

Question 26

Do physical therapists make good money?

Accepted Answer

Yes, physical therapists make good money. The average physical therapist makes around $90,000 a year. The best-paid 25 percent made $104,210 a year, while the lowest-paid 25 percent made $73,940 a year.

Question 27

Is physical therapist a good career?

Accepted Answer

Yes, being a physical therapist is a good career. Being a physical therapist is a good career because of the pay, work-life balance, variety of environments, and an in-demand career field. It is no wonder that physical therapists experience higher than average rates of overall job satisfaction.

Question 28

Who is the highest-paid physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

The highest-paid physical therapists are usually those working in sports. The average physical therapist, for example, makes around $90,000, while a sports physical therapist earns around $107,000 a year.

Question 29

What are the qualifications to be a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

The qualifications to be a physical therapist are an education in physical therapy, state licensure, and clinical experience. Here is a closer look at these physical therapist qualifications and others:

Question 30

What percentage of Physical Therapists are female?

Accepted Answer

62.4% of physical therapists are female in the United States. This is -1.2 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female physical therapists has increased by 0.4 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 68,993 female physical therapists in the U.S. and 41,573 male physical therapists in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 110,566 people with the specific job title of physical therapist and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 31

How long should a physical therapy resume be?

Accepted Answer

A physical therapy resume should be 1 to 2 pages. It largely depends on how much experience you have. Typically an entry-level or early-career resume is one page, while a more senior physical therapist typically requires two pages. Never anything beyond two pages.

Question 32

What is a physical therapist's job description?

Accepted Answer

A physical therapist's job description is someone who helps patients with injuries and chronic health conditions regain their range of motion, manage their pain, and improve their quality of life. Physical therapists work in various settings, ranging from private clinics and hospitals to work settings and sports facilities.

Question 33

What should a physical therapist put on a resume?

Accepted Answer

A physical therapist should highlight their medical skills and training related to helping patients gain mobility on their resume. The entire resume (from the profile summary to work experience to skills section) should flex your skills and achievements as a physical therapist to the hiring manager.

Question 34

What should a physician's resume look like?

Accepted Answer

A physician's CV should look like an extensive summary of your educational training and experience working as a physician. As a doctor, you understand the importance of precision, and your resume should be no different.

Question 35

What skills should a physical therapist have?

Accepted Answer

Skills that a physical therapist should have include the right combination of hard and soft skills related to body movement and patient care. A physical therapist is a movement expert dedicated to a patient's well-being through physical mobility.

Question 36

What is the demand for physical therapists?

Accepted Answer

The demand for physical therapists is projected to have a 33% growth from 2021 to 2031. The indicated growth is extremely faster than the average growth of all other occupations combined, which averages around a 4% growth rate in the next decade. This high demand for physical therapists is due to many different factors, such as:

Question 37

DPT vs. PT

Accepted Answer

The difference between DPT and PT is important in physical therapy and the medical field. While they both are physical therapists, their requirements and qualifications vary.

A DPT is a doctor of physical therapy, which means they hold a doctorate of physical therapy. A physical therapist is a licensed physical therapy professional that has completed an accredited program and typically holds a master's degree.

Question 38

How hard is it to become a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

It is fairly hard to become a physical therapist. It requires getting accepted to a highly competitive physical therapy program and years of advanced schooling. To work as a physical therapist, for instance, means completing a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

Question 39

How many hours do physical therapists work?

Accepted Answer

Most physical therapists work 40 hours per week. Their work hours generally range from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, but some may start earlier or work later in the evening to accommodate their patient's schedules.

Clinics usually try to have hours that accommodate the working public, so it is common to find practices that are open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Typically, the same physical therapist is not there for the entire duration of the day, instead, the shifts are split between 2 or more physical therapists.

Physical therapists who work in hospitals or nursing homes may need to work hours on the weekends or holidays to provide continuous patient care. Some therapists prefer to work 4, 10-hour days with their day starting at 8:00 am and ending at 6:30 pm.

This schedule allows the physical therapist to schedule patients on an interval basis since most patients require at least 2 sessions per week. In addition to the 40 hours spent providing care to patients, most full-time physical therapists will spend extra time doing notes and creating treatment plans.

Outpatient therapy clinics are known for having longer hours. If you are looking for more flexibility in your scheduling, working as a physical therapist in a home health setting may be something to consider. While the hours can vary, most home health therapists have their first patient at 8:00 am and end their day around 4:00 pm.

Question 40

How to reduce physical therapist burnout

Accepted Answer

To reduce physical therapist burnout, you must practice self-care, leave your work at work, and connect with colleagues for support. For a more detailed guide, look at these strategies in this guide:

Question 41

What are the best gifts for a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

Unique art pieces, personalized white coat hangers, or a personalized physical therapist tote are the best gifts for a physical therapist. Decor that your physical therapist can use in their office is always a welcome gift.

Question 42

What are the pros and cons of being a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

The high demand, great earning potential, and ability to work in a variety of settings are pros of being a physical therapist while the education requirements, financial burden, and physical demands of the job are cons.

Question 43

What does a physical therapist wear?

Accepted Answer

A physical therapist wears scrubs or exercise pants and a polo shirt. Most physical therapists that work in medical-related settings, such as hospitals or clinics, wear medical scrubs.

However, it is not uncommon for a physical therapist to wear workout gear instead of scrubs, depending on the facility they are working in.

Question 44

What is a typical day for a physical therapist?

Accepted Answer

A typical day for a physical therapist starts with an assessment of a patient's condition. The therapist may then suggest a course of treatment that includes exercise therapy as well as manual therapy techniques to help improve mobility and reduce pain.

Question 45

Who do physical therapists work with?

Accepted Answer

Physical therapists work with doctors, nurses, and other key healthcare professionals. Here is a closer look at the medical professionals that physical therapists work with:

Doctors. Physical therapists often collaborate with doctors, physicians, and other specialists to come up with appropriate treatment and recovery plans for patients experiencing a serious injury or those that are convalescing after a major medical procedure, such as surgery.

Frequently asked questions about physical therapists

Questions about becoming a physical therapist