Physical therapy is a desirable career that introduces a world of benefits. A physical therapist is someone who works as part of a rehabilitation team, providing hands-on therapy, stretching and exercise to help with movement for patients (Learn How to Become, 2017). They work in clinical settings like private offices, nursing homes, or hospitals. (Learn How to Become, 2017). It is a full-time job, where they work typical everyday business hours. 

When pursuing a career in physical therapy, there are different types of degrees you can obtain, and along with these degrees, there are different levels of practice you can do. With an Associate’s degree, which is a two-year degree, one will study basic medical sciences and gain hands-on experience in a clinical internship. With a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you will earn both degrees on an accelerated schedule. With a Direct Entry Master’s (MPT) degree, students will receive credit for liberal arts credits and combine preparation for licensure with advanced training in a master’s specialty area. This degree usually takes two to three years to complete, with the first year being dedicated to entry-level coursework and the last year to clinical practice. A Direct Entry Doctorate, or DPT program will help prepare graduates with bachelor’s degrees in other fields for entry into the profession. This degree usually takes three years. Finally, a Transitional DPT is a two-year doctorate program developed for practicing PTs who want to “bridge the gap” between their certificate, bachelor’s, or master’s degrees and earn their Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. 

Physical therapy is a career that can take place in multiple settings. A Physical therapist working in acute care would work with individuals who are admitted into a hospital for short-term patient care for reasons such as illness, surgery, accident, or trauma recovery. A physical therapist can work in a two different types of rehab settings: in a rehabilitation hospital, physical therapists work with patients to provide intense therapy to improve the person’s ability to care for themselves, and in sub-acute rehabilitation, physical therapy is provided to individuals who are admitted to a special hospital that provides medical and/or rehabilitation care, which is less intense. A physical therapist in an extended care facility would provide care to individuals admitted to a facility such as a nursing home, and provides long-term nursing care, rehabilitation, etc. This physical therapist is similar to one who works in a home health setting or a hospice setting. A physical therapist in a private practice, or an outpatient clinic, provide orthopedic care for injuries or impairments, usually by appointment in an office or clinic. A wellness and prevention, or sports and fitness physical therapist is there to help prevent illness and injury and help the individual promote a healthy lifestyle. Physical therapists in an occupational environment provide care to individuals to help them return to work, enhance employee health, improve safety, and increase productivity. Physical therapists who work for the local, state, and federal government provide care to civilians and military personnel. They are employed by federal agencies, including the Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA), Department of Defense, and Indian Health Service (IHS) (American Physical Therapy Association).

The salary of a physical therapist is nothing to be ashamed of. The median salary for a physical therapist, projected by the American Physical Therapists Association in 2017, is $85,000. In 2015, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that the median annual wage for physical therapists was $83,940, or $39.61 per hour; however, the top 10 percent of physical therapists earned more than $116,090 (Learn How to Become, 2017). In 2011, according to the NATA Salary Survey, the national average salary for a full-time position was $51,483, up from $44,235 in 2008 (National Athletic Training Association, 2011). A video on the salary of athletic trainers’ states that the median salary of an athletic trainer is $20.25 per hour; the lowest 10% earn $12.48 per hour, and the upper 10% earn more than $31.00 per hour (Health Care Salary Online, 2014).

Physical therapy can be used for problems other than your everyday injury. When dealing with other everyday health issues like obesity, physical therapists are believed to be more fit for treatment because of the amount of knowledge they have. Physical therapists have knowledge on pathology, pharmacotherapy, and exercise physiology, which can lead to a more comprehensive evaluation and improved care and treatment of obesity at the community level, especially in children and adolescents with increased health care needs (Hansen, et al, 2016). “Healthy People 2010 identified overweight and obesity as 1 of 10 leading health indicators and called for a reduction in the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese, but the United States has made little progress toward the target goal.” This proves that childhood obesity is a problem, and gives physical therapists the opportunity to step in and help fix the problem.

Physical therapy is a career that has many job benefits. Physical therapists have the chance to make a difference in people’s lives. “Being a physical therapist is very rewarding. You will work with patients one-on-one, see them progress through treatment, and know that you are really making a difference in their lives,” said APTA spokesperson Meredith Harris, PT, DPT, EdD. Job security is another major benefit to the job. The demand for physical therapists is rising due to the aging American population. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for physical therapists is expected to spike upward by an astonishing 34% between 2014 and 2024, which is a higher rate than usual. The fact that you can be your own boss is also an appealing aspect of this career. Physical therapists have one of the highest job-satisfaction levels in the country, ranked as having one of “The Ten Happiest Jobs,” by Forbes in 2013 and 2011. CNNMoney.com gave physical therapists a grade of “A” in Personal Satisfaction in 2012, as well as in its “Benefit to Society” categories.

Although I feel that physical therapy is the better career path to take, I know there are other arguments that can be made against the claim. Although physical therapy requires more education, athletic training covers a wider span of services, and can also be found in many different settings.  

An Athletic trainer is a multi-skilled health care professional who collaborates with physicians to provide preventative services, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions; they work under the direction of a physician as prescribed by state licensure statutes (National Athletic Training Association, 2017). Athletic Training is made up of the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions (National Athletic Training Association, 2017).
