Is It Hard to Become a Physical Therapist?

If you’re thinking about becoming a physical therapist, then it is natural to think about the question. It’s important to note that this occupation is in high demand. That demand means an overwhelming number of physical therapist positions are available for the taking. But it also means competition for those positions is fierce.

The profession of physical therapy is a well-paid job that provides lots of opportunities for future career advancement. However, with the length of the school and professional supervision, a graduate program can be a difficult process. Check out this article to see if the benefits outweigh the hassle.

Reason of The Query Is It Hard to Become a  Physical Therapist

  • It is not easy to become a physical therapist. One has to gain knowledge about the field, go through the process of becoming certified by a state board, and then get a job.
  • But some people might think it’s hard because it might be difficult to get through all the steps to become a physical therapist.
  • And there are many other people who turn away from the profession because they think that the workload is too much or the future pay isn’t as good as they think.
  • It is challenging to be a physical therapist as one will need to pass a grueling series of exams.
  • Because of high competition, it is becoming difficult day by day to get an opportunity for the PT program as well as jobs for physical therapists.

Yet, there should be positive and negative parts to every particular point in our life. If you have the determination of being a physical therapist then you can easily overcome these barriers to fill your dream. Besides, you have to struggle with your best following the right guideline.

Path to Becoming a Physical Therapist

Starting a career is a big decision. You need to think about the type of work you want to do, how much time is involved, and what your salary will be. Considering these points choosing the profession of physical therapy, there is good news: this is one of the highest-paid careers in America! But it is also competitive – so here are some tips on how to become a physical therapist.

Have to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in the related field

To become a physical therapist, you will need to enroll in an accredited doctoral degree program. To do this, students typically have to earn a bachelor’s degree in the field of health science and then go on to graduate school where they may also be required to take specific classes before moving onto their doctoral programs such as courses like biology, physics, and chemistry classes or anatomy 101-200 level coursework.

Have to complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree

If you’re looking to work as a physical therapist, it’s important that you complete your Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program. As of 2014, there were 228 accredited programs by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). Most DPT degrees take three years and are offered at colleges across America.

When applying for these programs through PTCAS-which is usually necessary-, applicants must meet certain criteria before being considered eligible with their application materials such as letters from supervisors about clinical experience or other information relating to academic performance. Getting into one of the many available schools across America which offer this type of education can be tough; however, with hard work and perseverance, anyone has an opportunity!

Have to Achieve a License to Practice

Licensure is a process that can vary depending on the state. For some, there may be additional criteria to meet in order to become and maintain licenses such as complying with training or background checks. To stay current within your profession you must complete continuing education courses every two years which will help keep you up-to-date on standards and trends of physical therapy!

Common Types of Physical Therapists

There are so many different types of physical therapists, each with their own area of expertise to help people live more comfortably in the world – some focus solely on injury recovery while others work as general practitioners for all sorts of ailments such as arthritis or chronic pain. Most of them are:

  • Pediatric Physical Therapy

Pediatric physical therapy is a vital tool for children. It helps to ensure that they develop into happy and healthy adults by addressing mobility problems early on in life. Pediatric physical therapists also help infants, toddlers, and adolescents with learning disabilities or other motor skill issues such as cerebral palsy which can impede their playtime activities like running around outside freely while interacting socially with others.

  • Rehabilitative Physical Therapy

Rehabilitative physical therapy is the type of rehabilitation that focuses on recovering from surgeries. The onset starts while you’re still in the hospital and continues until your discharge. Most, however, happens at home where complete mobility can be regained without any assistance needed to do so as well!

After getting injured, athletes and bodybuilders can experience muscle stiffness. This type of physical therapy helps them regain strength by doing regular mild exercise to reduce pain.

  • Neurological Physical Therapy

It takes a keen eye to find physical therapists in neurological PT. Considering that these types of patients are typically recovering from conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or strokes, it is essential for the therapist to be gentle and care about their well-being so they can recover fully. The process involves less intense exercises done gradually over time with an emphasis on autonomy at all times – this way healing doesn’t take too long!

  • Geriatric Physical Therapy

Elderly folk known as Geriatrics are people who have been alive for at least 65 years of age (and sometimes up to 85) often become less nimble and suffer from mobility-related issues, such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Geriatric physical therapy is a type of rehabilitation that tackles these problems by addressing natural movement ability and those due to musculoskeletal conditions like cancer.

  • Occupational Physical Therapy

Occupational physical therapy is the practice of teaching manual laborers about how to lift objects properly. It’s typically given after work-related injuries that are not accidents, and it helps people avoid being injured in the future.

One out of every five workplace injuries or illnesses can be a back injury due to improper lifting techniques; most often these are aggravated previous lower back problems caused by poor posture while working. Occupational therapists will also assist you in adopting proper postures for safe lifting as well as at-home living tasks such as carrying groceries from your car into your house.

Future of The Physical Therapist

Now, after completing a long journey when one becomes PT. One must have these questions about physical therapist salary, the future of physical therapists, how much do physical therapists make, etc. For them, there is such satisfying news that according to APTA the average salary of a physical therapist is $85,000. Moreover, The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that, in 2019, the median salary for physical therapists was $89,440. Physical therapy is expected to grow an average of 18% from now until 2029 which means there will be plenty of jobs available for those who want to enter this field!

Vertex

Is it hard to become a physical therapist? The answer is a resounding “no.” In fact, it is one of the most in-demand occupations that is experiencing significant growth and expansion. With such demand, there are many opportunities for people who want to work as physical therapists.

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