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What is a registered physical therapist and how to become one
A registered physical therapist's job ranges from diagnosing patients who have health challenges affecting their movement to helping injured people manage their pain and improve movement in the trouble areas. As a registered physical therapist, you have to assist people in restoring their physical mobility. To do this, you will schedule appointments with patients and monitor their improvements.
You will also help enhance patients' general well-being and increase the quality of their lives. Physical therapists can work in so many places, from hospitals, rehabilitation facilities, and nursing homes, to outpatient clinics and schools. However, becoming a physical therapist requires serious education and clinical experiences.
A bachelor's degree in a science-related field is usually the starting point. To practice, you need to obtain a master's degree or a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited physical therapist program. The median hourly pay for a Registered Physical Therapist is $44.08 an hour or $87,930 yearly.
What general advice would you give to a registered physical therapist?
Dr. Todd Roach D.C.
Assistant Professor of Biology, Aurora University
Avg. Salary $72,910
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth rate 17%
Growth rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.47%
Asian 15.02%
Black or African American 3.60%
Hispanic or Latino 7.31%
Unknown 3.72%
White 69.88%
Genderfemale 66.17%
male 33.83%
Age - 40American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 40Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity level is advanced
7 - challenging
Work life balance is good
6.4 - fair
Key steps to become a registered physical therapist
Explore registered physical therapist education requirements
Start to develop specific registered physical therapist skills
Skills Percentages Patients 46.69% Respiratory Care 11.87% Healthcare 7.75% PTA 7.28% Rehabilitation 5.89% Complete relevant registered physical therapist training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered physical therapists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a registered physical therapist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered physical therapist resumes.Research registered physical therapist duties and responsibilities
- Manage rehabilitation department and coordinate the rehabilitation program to the facility.
- Excel in ability to customize/adapt conventional physical therapy techniques to meet the specific needs of patients.
- Place orders for appropriate assistive devices, orthotics and prosthetics as per patient need.
- Administer rehabilitation therapies, which improve patient's mobility and movement.
Prepare your registered physical therapist resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your registered physical therapist resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a registered physical therapist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose from 10+ customizable registered physical therapist resume templates
Build a professional registered physical therapist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your registered physical therapist resume.
Apply for registered physical therapist jobs
Now it's time to start searching for a registered physical therapist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How did you land your first registered physical therapist job
Are you a registered physical therapist?
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Average registered physical therapist salary
The average registered physical therapist salary in the United States is $72,910 per year or $35 per hour. Registered physical therapist salaries range between $49,000 and $107,000 per year.
What am I worth?
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Updated January 8, 2025
