Registered physical therapist vs physical therapist

The differences between registered physical therapists and physical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physical therapist has an average salary of $73,070, which is higher than the $72,910 average annual salary of a registered physical therapist.

The top three skills for a registered physical therapist include patients, respiratory care and healthcare. The most important skills for a physical therapist are patients, rehabilitation, and home health.

Registered physical therapist vs physical therapist overview

	Registered Physical Therapist	Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$72,910	$73,070
Hourly rate	$35.05	$35.13
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	85,771	86,697
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	-	-

What does a registered physical therapist do?

A registered physical therapist restores a patient's function, alleviates pain, and prevents disabilities by planning and administering medically prescribed physical therapy. Their main job is to diagnose and treat patients who have health conditions that limit their ability to move and perform everyday activities. Their responsibilities include consulting with patients to learn and understand their physical conditions and administering massages to help in the healing process.

What does a physical therapist do?

Physical therapists are health care professionals who diagnose and treat patients with health conditions and limited ability to move and perform daily activities. They help in restoring physical function and mobility and teach how to properly use therapeutic exercise techniques. They also help promote overall wellness and encourage healthier and more active lifestyles. They design a recovery plan unique for every patient, provide treatment and therapy to help improve and manage their condition. They provide care to all kinds of individuals, from newborns to people at the end of their life.

Registered physical therapist vs physical therapist salary

Registered physical therapists and physical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Registered Physical Therapist	Physical Therapist
Average salary	$72,910	$73,070
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $107,000	Between $56,000 And $94,000
Highest paying City	Richmond, CA	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	California	California
Best paying company	Functional Pathways	Parkway
Best paying industry	Health Care	Professional

Differences between registered physical therapist and physical therapist education

There are a few differences between a registered physical therapist and a physical therapist in terms of educational background:

	Registered Physical Therapist	Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Physical Therapy
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Registered physical therapist vs physical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between registered physical therapists' and physical therapists' demographics:

	Registered Physical Therapist	Physical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 36.3% Female, 63.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 3.6% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.3% Asian, 15.0% White, 69.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 3.7% Unknown, 3.7% Hispanic or Latino, 7.5% Asian, 14.3% White, 70.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between registered physical therapist and physical therapist duties and responsibilities

Registered physical therapist example 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.
Operate and supervise oscillating traction for patients depending on insurance qualification.
Evaluate patients and work closely with other clinicians for determining need for and obtaining specialize equipment and/or orthotic devices.

Physical therapist example responsibilities.

Conduct in-services and train colleagues in effective techniques for safely managing the CVA patient.
Achieve high level of patients satisfaction due to sound clinical management, quality of care and compassion.
Perform physical therapy evaluation and treatment of orthopedic patients and supervise PTAs.
Progress patients' functional mobility during treatment sessions by modifying task, intensity, and adaptive equipment utilize.
Motivate patients to participate in treatment sessions by educating them on the benefits of early mobility following cardiac and thoracic surgery.
Experience include IFSP and IEP writing and implementation

Registered physical therapist vs physical therapist skills

Common registered physical therapist skills

Patients, 47%
Respiratory Care, 12%
Healthcare, 8%
PTA, 7%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Home Health, 6%

Common physical therapist skills

Patients, 30%
Rehabilitation, 15%
Home Health, 13%
Quality Care, 5%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Treatment Programs, 3%

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Healthcare Practitioner and Technical Industry
Registered Physical Therapist
Registered Physical Therapist vs Physical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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