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 (American Physical Therapy Association). 

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). It is a fast-paced, challenging profession that provides an opportunity for people entering the profession to engage in optimal patient care while working in a dynamic medical environment (ExploreHealthCareers.org).

To become an athletic trainer, you have to achieve a certain level of education. This education is completed in the areas of acute care of injury and illness, clinical examination and diagnosis, evidence-based practice, health care administration, prevention and health promotion, professional development and responsibility, psychosocial strategies and referral, and therapeutic interventions (ExploreHealthCareers.org). Once one has graduated with a bachelors or master’s degree from an accredited professional athletic training education program, one must take the BOC exam, or Board of Certification exam. The BOC certification is recognized by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies and is the only accredited certification program for athletic trainers. To be certified, one must demonstrate that he or she is capable of performing the required duties without threat of harm to the public. The areas of practice measured by the BOC are prevention, clinical evaluation and diagnosis, immediate and emergency care, treatment and rehabilitation, and organization and professional health and well-being (National Athletic Trainers’ Association). This certification, which is recognized by 48 states, plus the District of Columbia, is essential to have to be able to practice in the United States.

Becoming an athletic trainer is a very narrow pathway that does not have very many options. On the other hand, physical therapy has many different options; there are different types of degrees you can pursue on the path to physical therapy. Not only are there the different degrees, you can also become an athletic trainer, go to med school and still become a physical therapist. This shows that physical therapy is the better option because there are various different ways to reach the same goal, and even taking athletic training as a route, you can still become a physical therapist.

Athletic Trainers can be found in multiple different settings. Athletic Trainers work in educational settings, such as colleges, universities, elementary schools, and secondary schools. They can also be found in clinical settings such as hospitals, fitness centers, or physicians’ offices. Athletic Trainers also work for professional sports teams, the military, law enforcement, or performing artists. They might spend their time working outdoors on sports fields in all types of weather. Athletic trainers usually work full time, working evenings, weekends, or whenever the sporting event occurs, and may be required to travel (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). Other sources say that Athletic Trainers may be found in hospital emergency departments, occupational and industrial settings, and sports medicine clinics.

According to ExploreHealthCareers.org, the job prospects for athletic training is at a good rate right now. “According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is projected to grow 21% between 2014 and 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations” (ExploreHealthCareers.org). It is also recognized by the American Medical Association, Health Services Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services as a health care profession (ExploreHealthCareers.org). 

Although I feel that physical therapy is the better route to take than athletic training, there are a few points that can be made that contradict the claim. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, athletic trainers know and practice health care at the highest professional, ethical and quality standards in order to protect the public. Members of the NATA must agree to abide by the Association’s Code of Ethics, and the Board of Certification Inc. requires that all credential holders abide by the Standards of Practice (National Athletic Trainers’ Association).

According to the NATA, it is fact that athletic trainers provide the same or better outcomes in clinical settings as other providers. A comparative analysis was done on care provided by athletic trainers and physical therapists in a clinical setting, and the results show that athletic trainers provide the same levels of outcomes, value and patient satisfaction as physical therapists in a clinical setting (Ref: Reimbursement of Athletic Training by Albohm, MJ; Campbell, Konin, pp. 25). Also, patient satisfaction ratings are more than 96 percent when treatment is provided by athletic trainers. Although this number is high, athletic trainers are usually an alternative – not an additional – provider of physical medicine therapies (National Athletic Training Association).

The NATA also states it is a fact that nearly 70 percent of athletic trainers have a master’s or doctoral degree, meaning they are highly educated. This puts athletic trainers at the same level of competition as other health care providers because their education level is comparable. 

Although the education of an athletic trainer is comparable, they still cannot operate the same way as a physical therapist. Physical therapists still have more education, and are qualified to do more because of the rank and title they hold. Athletic trainers know a similar amount of information as a physical therapist, but can’t always act in the same way. 

Physical therapy is a career that has plenty of opportunity. 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). When it comes to education, there are a number of options to explore and choose from, and it all depends on how far or how much one is willing to do. They can be found in many different job settings, which is good because that means there is good use for physical therapists. The salary is nothing close to shabby, 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. Physical therapists have many job benefits, like being able to help people with their problems daily, job security, as well as a reported high job satisfaction rates. All of these factors are just a few reasons why physical therapy is a wonderful career route to take, by doing so, you are setting yourself up for a wonderful future that you can look forward to, as well be proud of.
