Physical Therapists

Occupational Description

Physical therapists restore mobility, alleviate pain and suffering, and work to prevent further injury for their patients. They test and measure the functions of the musculoskeletal, neurological, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems, and treat problems in these systems caused by illness, injury or birth defect. Physical therapists practice preventative, restorative, and rehabilitative treatment for their patients.

Personal Skills & Characteristics

Successful physical therapists enjoy working with people and helping others feel better, both physically and emotionally. Therapists need creativity and patience to determine a treatment plan for each client and help them achieve treatment goals. Physical therapists must also be committed to lifelong learning because new developments in technology and medicine require them to continually update their knowledge. A positive attitude and an outgoing personality will serve a therapist well in this field.

Employment

Physical therapists work in:

• hospitals
• private physical therapy offices
• community health centers
• corporate or industrial health centers
• sports facilities
• research institutions
• rehabilitation centers
• nursing homes
• home health agencies
• schools
• pediatric centers, and
• colleges and universities.

Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow 27 percent from 2006 to 2016, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. As the “baby boom” generation ages and more patients begin to require treatment for arthritis, stroke, heart disease, and other conditions common to older people, physical therapists will be needed to address this population. In addition, the nation is increasing its participation in sports and fitness activities, so more physical therapists will be needed to treat and help prevent knee, leg, back, shoulder, and other musculoskeletal injures. If enrollment in accredited therapy programs remains at the current level over the next decade, there will be more openings for physical therapists than qualified individuals to fill them.

Earnings

Median annual earnings of physical therapists were $70,536 in April 2009.  The middle 50 percent earned between $65,005 and $75,670.

Planning Ahead

Physical therapy programs have specific course requirements, so it is important to plan ahead to make sure you complete all the necessary prerequisites. You will also want to start gaining some hands-on clinical experiences with patients in health care settings or in the field of physical therapy as early as possible in your college career.

The Career Center has a team of pre-heath counselors to help students with a preparation and application timeline that fits their circumstances. Appointments may be scheduled with a pre-health counselor by calling 734/764-7460 or stopping by the office at 3200 Student Activities Building.

Educational Requirements

There are no uniform prerequisites for all physical therapy education programs, so it is important to contact each school. Some common course requirements are: biology, chemistry, & physics with corresponding lab work, human physiology & anatomy, kinesiology, English, math, abnormal & developmental psychology, and statistics. There is no preference for any particular baccalaureate major.

As of January 1, 2002, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) no longer accredits baccalaureate professional programs. Some programs are also making the transition from a master's degree to a doctoral program.

For general physical therapy requirement questions contact a pre-health academic advisor in LSA. For school specific questions, contact the schools directly.

Preparation Beyond The Classroom

Physical Therapy programs weigh applicants' prior exposure to the field very heavily. To gain a better understanding of what the PT profession entails, students should pursue various ways to gain exposure to and experience in the field. Students can volunteer at a physical therapy program, a local hospital, nursing home, or other care facility to gain experience in these work settings. Students can also look for volunteer opportunities or summer jobs at camps for the disabled. Paid part-time positions may be available as hospital orderlies or aides to a physical therapist.

Connect with U of M alumni for informational interviewing, networking, or job shadowing. Visit Alumni Networks at http://alumni.umich.edu/networking-tools

Application Process Overview

Students applying to physical therapy programs are strongly encouraged to initiate their application process one year prior to when they plan to begin their academic program.

Admission committees for physical therapy programs review credentials such as academic qualifications, GRE scores, transcripts, grade point average, letters of reference, a personal interview and health care or physical therapy volunteer work, or shadowing experiences. Keep in mind that these are general admissions criteria and other admissions requirements can vary from school to school. For information on requirements for admission to a specific physical therapy program, contact the office of admissions at each individual institution. For a list of accredited physical therapy programs visit: http://www.apta.org/AM/TemplateRedirect.cfm?template=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=31097

The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) allows applicants to use a single application and one set of materials to apply to multiple physical therapist programs. Information can be found online at www.ptcas.org.

Standardized Tests

Physical therapy programs usually require that you take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE is divided into the following sections: Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical Writing. Many schools look for a composite score of 1000 or higher on the verbal and quantitative sections. A computerized GRE is given year-round in various locations.

Reference Letters

Most physical therapy programs require at least one letter from a physical therapist and one from a science professor. Some programs may even require more than one letter from a licensed physical therapist. Applicants may also consider collecting letters from employers, research and health-related volunteer supervisors. Policies for letters of reference vary from school to school so be sure to check requirements with each individual school.

The Career Center’s Reference Letter Service (RLS) offers University of Michigan students and alumni/ae the opportunity to have letters of reference on file to use in support of their employment and continuing education efforts. Open a reference letter file with the RLS.

Personal Statement Information

Physical therapy programs will require a biographical essay indicating an interest in the program, exposure to physical therapy, and professional goals. If you need assistance getting started on your personal statement or would welcome feedback on your draft, please schedule an advising appointment at The Career Center by calling 734/764-7460.

Interviews

Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the scope of the profession of physical therapy. Gather interview tips through available literature and interview programs sponsored by The Career Center. Schedule a videotaped mock interview at The Career Center, 3200 SAB (734/764-7460) to gain practice and confidence.

Admissions Update

The number of students enrolled in APTA approved Physical Therapy programs during the 2007-2008 academic year was 20,193. Approximately 71 percent of the students enrolled were female and approximately 29 percent were male. In 2007, the average planned entering class size for PT programs was 39 students. An average of 144 applicants applied for each program and an average of 57 students were offered a place in the class. The average overall GPA of students enrolled for 2007 was 3.44.

Resources To Learn More

Links to Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. General information on physical therapy as a career is available from:

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), 1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1488, (703) 684-APTA (2782) or 1-800-999-APTA (2782), (703) 684-7343 (fax)
http://www.apta.org.

A Future in Physical Therapy—Online brochure from the APTA