Registered physical therapist vs student physical therapist

The differences between registered physical therapists and student physical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a student physical therapist has an average salary of $73,003, 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 student physical therapist are patients, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation.

Registered physical therapist vs student physical therapist overview

	Registered Physical Therapist	Student Physical Therapist
Yearly salary	$72,910	$73,003
Hourly rate	$35.05	$35.10
Growth rate	17%	17%
Number of jobs	85,771	92,101
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
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 student physical therapist do?

A student physical therapist assists physicians in handling patients in a medical facility or a similar setting. As students, they typically follow directives and work under the supervision of a physical therapist. Besides assisting in treating patients, a student may also perform various clerical tasks such as filing paperwork, producing reports, running errands, managing schedules, responding to inquiries, and answering calls and correspondence. They may also coordinate with other hospital personnel and attend meetings, all while adhering to the medical facility's policies and standards.

Registered physical therapist vs student physical therapist salary

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

	Registered Physical Therapist	Student Physical Therapist
Average salary	$72,910	$73,003
Salary range	Between $49,000 And $107,000	Between $54,000 And $97,000
Highest paying City	Richmond, CA	-
Highest paying state	California	-
Best paying company	Functional Pathways	-
Best paying industry	Health Care	-

Differences between registered physical therapist and student physical therapist education

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

	Registered Physical Therapist	Student Physical Therapist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 76%
Most common major	Physical Therapy	Kinesiology
Most common college	Duke University	Duke University

Registered physical therapist vs student physical therapist demographics

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

	Registered Physical Therapist	Student Physical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 33.8% Female, 66.2%	Male, 37.4% Female, 62.6%
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, 3.9% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 12.0% White, 72.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between registered physical therapist and student 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.

Student physical therapist example responsibilities.

Achieve high level of patients satisfaction due to sound clinical management, quality of care and compassion.
Evaluate and treat patients with total hip/total knee surgeries, status post CVA and spinal cord injuries.
Evaluate and treat patients with orthopedic conditions such as low back pain, cervical pain, post operative conditions.
Perform evaluations, provide patient treatment, supervise COTA
Develop ability to perform ICU mobility treatments with acutely ill patients.
Evaluate and treat patients in ICU implicating early mobilization to prevent further decline in cardiopulmonary compromise patients.

Registered physical therapist vs student physical therapist skills

Common registered physical therapist skills

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

Common student physical therapist skills

Patients, 31%
Occupational Therapy, 13%
Rehabilitation, 8%
Patient Care, 6%
Physical Therapy Assistants, 6%
Adaptive, 4%

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

Updated January 8, 2025

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