Physical Therapy Schools

Schools by State for
Physical Therapists

What Kind of Person Has This Career?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Natural Abilities	% Choosing
Oral Comprehension	78%
Oral Expression	78%
Anticipating Problems	78%

Full List

Work Values	% Choosing
Relationships	95%
Achievement	78%
Recognition	78%

Full List

Areas of Personal Interest	% Choosing
Working And Communicating With People	100%
Mental Problem-Solving	78%
Hands-On Physical Work	56%

Work Style Characteristics	% Choosing
Concern For Others	89%
Dependability	86%
Integrity	85%

Full List

Which Skills and Knowledge are Needed for this Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Important Personal Skills	% Choosing
Active Listening	81%
Speaking	78%
Reading Comprehension	75%

Full List

Important Professional Knowledge	% Choosing
Medicine And Dentistry	88%
Therapy And Counseling	87%
Customer And Personal Service	86%

Full List

Which Activities and Situations Are Involved in Doing The Job?

(Numbers are % of people choosing the item.)

Common Work Conditions	% Choosing
Physical Proximity	97%
Face-To-Face Discussions	95%
Contact With Others	94%

Full List

Common Job Activities	% Choosing
Assisting And Caring For Others	93%
Making Decisions And Solving Problems	91%
Documenting/Recording Information	90%

Full List

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

Related Careers

• Massage Therapists
• Physical Therapist Assistants
• (All Careers)