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To
be a successful Physical Therapist you should:
- Have strong interpersonal skills in order to successfully
educate patients about their treatments.
- Be compassionate and possess a desire to help patients
and patient's family.
- Enjoy applying movement science to everyday tasks.
- Have the ability to detect small changes in human
movement or function.
- Have the ability to use your body and hands skillfully.
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| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
The minimum educational requirement is a post-graduate
(master's or doctoral) degree in physical therapy from
an accredited physical therapist educational program. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required by the State of Connecticut. Prerequisites:
An approved Physical Therapy Program; National Physical
Therapy Examination or Current Certification by the American
Registry of Physical Therapists. |
| Where
can I get more information? American Physical
Therapy Association
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(800) 999-APTA www.apta.org
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| What
is the salary for this career? $43,680-$68,640
(Source: 2003 Connecticut Hospital Association
Compensation Survey) |
|
| What
will my job be like? Physical therapists,
or PTs, are health care professionals who evaluate and
treat people with health problems resulting from injury
or disease. PTs assess joint motion, muscle strength and
endurance, function of heart and lungs, and performance
of activities required in daily living, among other responsibilities.
Treatment includes therapeutic exercise, cardiovascular
endurance training, and training in activities of daily
living. More than 120,000 physical therapists are licensed
in the U.S. today, treating nearly 1 million people every
day.
PTs may specialize in many areas, and may obtain certification
as specialists in the treatment of:
- Cardiopulmonary Disease
- Clinical Electrophysiology
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Sports
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| Where
could I work? Physical therapists own and
manage their own clinics or are employed in hospitals,
rehabilitation centers, and extended care facilities such
as nursing homes, home health agencies, public and private
schools, and industry and private practices.
Most physical therapists work a 40-hour week, which may
include some evenings and weekends.
Other workplace settings:
- Physical Therapy Educational Programs
- Research Institutions
- Sports Facilities
|
| What
is the future of this career? Employment of
physical therapists is expected to grow faster than the
average through 2008. The demand for physical therapists
should continue to rise, as a result of growth in the
number of individuals with disabilities or limited function
requiring therapy services. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Quinnipiac College, Hamden
- Sacred Heart University, Fairfield
- University of Connecticut, Storrs
- University of Hartford, West Hartford
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