Physical Therapist

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Refer patients to other healthcare practitioners or health resources.
• Treat patients using physical therapy techniques.
• Record patient medical histories.
• Conduct research to increase knowledge about medical issues.
• Adjust prostheses or other assistive devices.
• Collaborate with healthcare professionals to plan or provide treatment.
• Fabricate medical devices.
• Communicate detailed medical information to patients or family members.
• Explain medical procedures or test results to patients or family members.
• Monitor patient progress or responses to treatments.

Typical Working Conditions

• Having face-to-face discussions.
• Close physical proximity with other people.
• Dealing with external customers.
• Working with a group or team.
• Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
• The freedom to determine tasks, priorities, and goals.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Responsibility for others’ health and safety.
• Exposure to disease or infections.

Tools & Technology used by Physical Therapists

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Physical Therapists

• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Being Aware of Others—Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
• Writing—Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Helping Others—Actively looking for ways to help people.
• Making Decisions—Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Coordinating with Others—Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Physical Therapists

• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Therapy and Counseling—Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Psychology—Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• Medicine and Dentistry—Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Biology—Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Clerical—Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
• Sociology and Anthropology—Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.
• Computers and Electronics—Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Social—Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
• Investigative—Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing very high growth compared to other careers. There will be a need for about 3,123 new Physical Therapists to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a Bachelors degree, but most professionals go on to earn graduate degrees.  This position does require a license.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Anatomy
• Chemistry
• Community Health
• Computer Applications
• Human Development
• Medical Ethics
• Nutrition
• Research Methods
• Safety and First Aid/CPR
• Sociology
• Statistics
• World Languages

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise