PHYSICAL THERAPY

By: Shawn Brown

I. WHY DO I WANT TO PURSUE THIS CAREER?

I want to pursue physical therapy because I like to help people and I job shadowed it when I was in middle school

II. INTRODUCTION: CAREER CHOICE JOB DESCRIPTION

Diagnose Set up a plan for the patient Use different exercises Evaluate a patients progress

III. INTERESTS/SKILLS/HIGH SCHOOL STUDIES REQUIRED

High School Studies Biology Chemistry Anatomy and Physiology

Compassion. Physical therapists are often drawn

to the profession in part by a desire to help people. They work with people who are in pain and must have empathy to help their patients. Detail oriented. Like other healthcare providers, physical therapists should have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patients problem, evaluate treatments, and provide safe, effective care. Dexterity. Physical therapists should be comfortable using their hands to provide manual therapy and therapeutic exercises. Interpersonal skills. Because physical therapists spend their time interacting with patients, they should enjoy working with people. They must be able to explain treatment programs, educate their patients, and listen to the patients concerns to provide effective therapy. Physical stamina. Physical therapists spend much of their time on their feet, moving as they work with their patients. They should enjoy physical activity.

Skills or Qualities

IV. ROUTE: DEGREE(S)/YEARS OF STUDY REQUIRED

Physical therapists are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Physical therapy programs usually award a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, although a small number award a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Doctoral programs typically last 3 years; MPT programs require 2 to 3 years of study. Most programs, either DPT or MPT, require a bachelors degree for admission, and many require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry.

V. TOP STATE AND NATIONAL COLLEGE/PROGRAMS/ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Northwestern University Southern California University Ohio State University San Francisco State University

VI. CONCLUSION: INCOME POTENTIAL/PROJECTED JOB MARKET

The median annual wage of physical therapists was $76,310 in May 2010. The median annual wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $53,620, and the top 10 percent earned more than $107,920. Physical therapists who own their own practice or who are partners in owning their practice must provide their own benefits and those of their employees. Most physical therapists work full time. About 29 percent worked part time in 2010