As anyone who's ever suffered a major injury or illness knows, there are many times when the actual illness is over, but that doesn't mean one's fully recovered. Full recovery can take months, even years. While a doctor is never really out of the picture, that's when the physical therapist comes to the fore. Many of those therapists will have entered into this career through college courses online.
Sometimes referred to as simply PTs, physical therapists are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move as they would like in their daily lives. Physical therapists develop individual plans using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Physical therapists practice in hospitals, outpatient clinics and private offices. Their jobs can be physically demanding, because therapists may have to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists move heavy equipment and patients to help them turn, stand, or walk. Most full-time physical therapists work a 40-hour week. Many work evenings and weekends.
Today's entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Among the undergraduate courses one should take include anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics. From there, it's time to either see if one can get a job at a hospital or clinic or go straight on for one's Master's degree in physical therapy. Either way, sooner or later a PT has to get hands-on training before going for certification.
There are over 200 accredited physical therapist programs, both from on campus schools and online colleges. Currently, only graduate degree physical therapist programs are accredited. Master's degree programs typically are two to two-and-a-half years in length, while doctoral degree programs last three years. Passing the National Physical Therapy Examination and fulfilling state requirements such as jurisprudence exams are also required. A number of states require continuing education as a condition of maintaining licensure.
A fully registered physical therapist averages slightly over $73,000 a year, depending on where they work. It can go a bit over $100,000 if one finds the right position and location. Because most therapists work for health-care institutions, their jobs come with excellent health coverage and possible savings and continued education programs.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates physical therapy as one of the fastest growing professions in the country. There are currently over 180,000 in the U.S., with a need for another 54,000 (30%) within the next decade.
Because of the acute shortage of PTs in the U.S., there are a considerable number of grants and scholarships out there for college courses online and traditional college for those interested in the field. One should consult with their school's financial aid and/or career counselor about what's out there in the way of medical degree programs and financial aid. From the looks of things, as long as there are extreme illnesses, there will be a need for physical therapists for some time to come.
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