As a result of rapidly growing needs in the medical and healthcare industries - particularly in the numerous rehabilitative fields - physical therapists are on the go. - Adira Vinograd's Research Paper
With an aging population that continues to experience longer life expectancy, as well as continued advancements in these types of therapies, licensed professionals with physical therapy training not only have a great job outlook right now, but are said to have one of the most personally satisfying, rewarding positions of all professions.
For those who have what it takes, including the deep desire to help people, it is a career of choice, even though becoming a physical therapist does take a lot of hard work and involve a substantial college career first.
Having the Right Physiotherapy Training
Education and training varies from country to country, although in all cases a physical therapist will obtain a postgraduate degree and receive doctoral credentials.
Depending on the concentration of the programs and their specific curriculums, these degree programs can be between 4 to 8 years in their entirety, and dependent on each country's laws regarding physiotherapists.
To become licensed physical therapist in the US, students must get yourself a postgraduate degree in physiotherapy, usually awarded today as Doctor in Physical Therapy (DPT).
This involves 4 years of undergraduate school with a focus on those courses that can aid acceptance in to the very competitive physical therapy programs, then between 3 and 4 years of graduate school, including required externships. Graduated PTs are required to be licensed in order to practice, so they must pass a board run, state-issued licensing examination before they can legally seek employment.
Enrollment to many programs is normally restricted, with most programs receiving much more applicants than will be accepted.
Acceptance into the best physical rehabilitation degree programs is very selective and in most cases involves many different qualifications including academic scores, already having completed certain general educational courses in English, math and the sciences, having taken some specific prerequisite courses to prepare students for their education in physiotherapy, numerous hours of volunteer work and clinical observation and many more.
Most programs recommend that students begin focusing on their qualifications around using the more advanced English, science and math courses in secondary school, which may qualify them for early admission into some programs that provide it.
Specialty Education for Physiotherapists
Continuing using their education, it is actually feasible for physiotherapists to take further physical therapy training by completing one of the available residencies, which will provide a more intense duration of training and education while working as an actual therapist, a sort of full time, doctoral working student.
Reisdencies are often available in a number of different settings including pulmonary and cardiovascular specialties, pediatrics, orthopedics, neurology and geriatrics sports medicine, women's health and wound care.
They can involve anything such as research, community service, teaching and much more, and usually take from 9 to 36 months to complete. Completing a residency inside a physiotherapy specialty lets you apply for board certification with all the American Board of Physical Rehabilitation Specialties (ABPTS).
To further continue their training, anyone who has completed a residency and is also then board certified may then finish a specialty fellowship. Currently, you will find specialties offered at hand therapy,neonatal and orthopedic, movement science and sports and athletics.
Fellowships are generally finished in 6 to 36 months and, upon reaching this most advanced degree of education and training, a PT is able to seek employment as being a specialist within the above-mentioned areas.
Salary Increases with Advanced Physical Therapy Training
According to the US Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, currently, the median income for physical therapists - the rate at which half of all PTs are paid - is approximately $77,000 annually.
Our prime-end range for salaries is around $110,000 or maybe more, annually. It really is estimated that only 10% of all licensed PTs, from a population of near 70,000 licensed individuals, take home earnings in this particular higher salary tier, almost all of that are either board certified specialists or have graduated a residency program enabling them to work in more competitive positions.
As with many healthcare careers, getting the best education and training is going to be paramount in finding the best employment opportunities afterward.
For all those looking to specialize training will likely be much more critical. One with many professional and personal benefits for the right person, though continuing education for higher qualifications in physical therapy is a long-term endeavor. - Adira Vinograd's Research Paper
