Physical Therapy Career Opportunities

Careers in Physical Therapy

Physical therapists (PTs) help a wide variety of patients, including accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions, such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries and cerebral palsy. PT’s provide services that restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities. They restore, maintain and promote overall fitness and health.

One of the benefits of being a physical therapist is the variety of job settings there are to choose from, including:

• General medical and hospitals. Many hospitals provide opportunities for specializations, such as acute care, wound care, orthopedics and geriatrics.
• Outpatient clinics. Outpatient clinics provide comprehensive care, pediatric care, sports medicine rehabilitation and much more.
• Rehabilitation hospitals. Physical therapists work on a team along with occupational, speech and recreational therapists to provide comprehensive patient therapy.
• Home health care services.; Physical therapists provide therapy in a patient’s home.
• Nursing care facilities, skilled nursing facilities and long term care facilities
• Private practice
• Assisted living and adult day care
• Veterinary clinics. Many veterinary clinics administer physical therapy for pets.
• Corporations. Many corporations employ physical therapists for employee health and wellness.
• Armed Services
• Sports teams. Sports teams from Little Leagues to professional teams employee physical therapists.
• School systems. School systems employ physical therapists to work with disabled students in special education classes and other programs, such as Head Start. Physical therapists who work in school systems often have the summers free when the students are on break.
• Universities