Physical Therapy Schools
Schools by State for
Physical Therapists
Career Highlights for
Physical Therapists
Training generally required for this career includes: Master's degree.
| Jobs and Salary | |
|---|---|
| Median Salary (2008) | $72,790 |
| Unemployment Vs. Other Jobs | Very Low |
| Jobs (2006) | 173,000 |
| Job Growth (2006-2016) | 27.1% |
| Jobs (2016 forecast) | 220,000 |
| Flexibility | |
|---|---|
| Working Part-Time | 23% |
| Self-Employed | 8% |
| Education of Current Workers | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor Degree or Higher | 89% |
| Some College | 9% |
| High School or Less | 2% |
What Kind of Person Has This Career?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Important Natural Abilities | |
|---|---|
| Oral Comprehension | ![]() |
| Oral Expression | ![]() |
| Anticipating Problems | ![]() |
| Work Values | |
|---|---|
| Relationships | ![]() |
| Achievement | ![]() |
| Recognition | ![]() |
| Areas of Personal Interest | |
|---|---|
| Working And Communicating With People | ![]() |
| Mental Problem-Solving | ![]() |
| Hands-On Physical Work | ![]() |
| Work Style Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Concern For Others | ![]() |
| Dependability | ![]() |
| Integrity | ![]() |
Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Important Personal Skills | |
|---|---|
| Active Listening | ![]() |
| Speaking | ![]() |
| Reading Comprehension | ![]() |
| Important Professional Knowledge | |
|---|---|
| Medicine And Dentistry | ![]() |
| Therapy And Counseling | ![]() |
| Customer And Personal Service | ![]() |
Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?
(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)
| Common Work Conditions | |
|---|---|
| Physical Proximity | ![]() |
| Face-To-Face Discussions | ![]() |
| Contact With Others | ![]() |
| Common Job Activities | |
|---|---|
| Assisting And Caring For Others | ![]() |
| Making Decisions And Solving Problems | ![]() |
| Documenting/Recording Information | ![]() |
Tools and Technologies Used by Some
Physical Therapists
- Accounting Software
- Action Games
- Analytical Or Scientific Software
Information Sources
BrainTrack's information on colleges and careers is drawn from many sources, including government databases, BrainTrack's own research, and results from original data analysis algorithms.

Physical Therapist Job Description
Career tips, salaries, and lists of schools.
For patients with disabling conditions or injuries, physical therapy plays a key role in their rehabilitation and recovery. Doctors prescribe physical therapy to help patients regain or preserve mobility and strength, relieve pain, and prevent long-term disability. Physical therapists specialize in the mechanics of the human body such as muscle performance, range of motion, balance and coordination, posture and motor function.
Responsibilities of a physical therapist can include:
- Establishing a treatment plan for a patient according to the doctor's prescription
- Combining different treatment modalities such as heat/cold therapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound and exercise
- Teaching patients how to use devices such as crutches, wheelchairs or prostheses
- Helping patients stretch and exercise
- Applying traction, massage, paraffin baths and other modalities
- Documenting the patient's progress
- Collaborating with occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, dentists and social workers
Physical therapists work in hospitals, private offices and medical clinics. They may specialize in sports medicine, orthopedics, cardiopulmonary physical therapy, neurology, pediatrics and geriatrics.
Physical Therapy Degrees and Physical Therapy Schools
Physical therapists hold a minimum of a two-year master's degree from a college or university that is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Many master's degree programs require volunteer experience in a hospital's or clinic's physical therapy department for admission.
Physical Therapy Classes
Physical therapy students divide their time between classes, lab and supervised hands-on practice. Classes usually cover:
- biology, physics and chemistry
- human growth and development
- biomechanics and neuroanatomy
- therapeutic procedures and examination techniques
- manifestations of disease
- areas of specialization
Online Physical Therapy Classes and Programs
Although on-campus programs may offer some classes online, the hands-on nature of physical therapy makes 100% online master's programs unsuitable.
Physical Therapist Requirements
Minimum requirements for physical therapists are:
- a master's degree in physical therapy from a school accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
- state and national licensure
How to Evaluate Physical Therapy Schools
When comparing master's degree programs, aspiring physical therapists should ask the following:
- State approval and accreditation - Is the program accredited by the APTA or CAPTE?
- Career goals and focus - What areas of specialization appeal to the student? With what types of clients, such as athletes, the disabled, children or the elderly does the student wish to work? Does the program offer comprehensive course offerings in these areas?
- Class size and experiential learning - Is the student-teacher ratio sufficiently small to enable productive interactions with teachers and fellow students? How is supervised clinical experience arranged? Are there lots of diverse opportunities from which to choose?
- Tuition and financial assistance - What financial aid opportunities (grants, scholarships, work study and loans) are available?
- Graduate success - How many program graduates obtain licensure and employment?
Example Job Titles for
Physical Therapists
(Titles per survey respondents and career experts.)
- Home Care Physical Therapist
- Kinesiotherapist
- Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant (LPTA)
- Outpatient Physical Therapist
- Pediatric Physical Therapist
- Physical Therapist (PT)
- Physiotherapist
- Pulmonary Physical Therapist
- Registered Physical Therapist (RPT)
- Rehabilitation Services Director
- Sports Physical Therapist
- Staff Physical Therapist
- Treatment Coordinator
Relevant Schools for Physical Therapists Which Respond Quickly to Info Requests Through This Site
School names link to detailed profiles. Use the Info from the School link to contact the school directly for more information. You may request information from as many schools as you like.
| School | Campuses | Awards | |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.T. Still University of Health Sciences | Online | Doctorate, Master | Info From School |
| Ashworth College | Online | Diploma | Info From School |
| Boston University Online | Online | Doctorate | Info From School |
| ICS Canada | Online | Diploma | Info From School |
| Utica College | Online | Doctorate, Master | Info From School |




