Career Path

Physical therapist
What is a Physical Therapist?
Physical therapists help patients suffering from injury or disease to
restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit
permanent physical disabilities. In addition, they promote patients' overall
fitness and health.

Risks:
- Failure to properly supervise the patient.
- Poor or improper technique.
- Injury from manipulation.
- Burns or other heat injuries from the use
of hot packs.
- Stretching or exercise injuries.
Step 1: Graduate High School

The first step to my career path is to graduate highschool and earn a

highschool diploma to gain access to future education.

- Maintain good
grades
- Participate in
extracurriculars
- Take SAT’s
Step 2: Go to College

To become a Physical Therapist, its required to graduate 4 years of

College with a bachelors degree for admission. The bachelors degree can be
in classes such as anatomy, physiology, biology, chemistry and physics. All
programs after college offer a DPT (doctor of physical therapy) program that
typically lasts 3 years. The estimated time of education needed is about 7
years. Employers are looking into these graduated classes in order to be
hired.
Step 3: After College
Where to find work:
- Hospitals
After gaining all the
- Private practices required education, I can look
- Outpatient clinics for employers who can hire me
- home health agencies to start my journey of being a
- Schools Physical Therapist.
- Sports and fitness facilities
- Nursing homes
Largest Employer:
- General Medical and
surgical hospitals
Salary

After taking all steps to becoming a Physical Therapist, the starting salary
would start at about $66,685. With 10 years of experience, the salary would
increase to an estimated $88,880. The need for physical therapists is predicted
to grow 22% within the next 10 years.

Pennsylvania North Carolina

New York $84,391 $68,566
$97,890