What is Physical Therapy?
Physical therapists (PTs) evaluate physical disabilities and injuries and help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent disabilities. PT responsibilities include planning, evaluation, administration, and modification of treatment. PTs advise and educate their patients and provide therapeutic and preventive care.
PTs may advance their careers by becoming board-certified clinical specialists through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Becoming board-certified is not mandatory. Certification areas include:
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
- Clinical Electrophysiology
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Sports Physical Therapy
- Women’s Health
Work Setting
Physical therapists (PTs) work in various settings, including private practice, outpatient rehabilitation centers, hospitals, clinics, sports facilities, skilled nursing facilities, community and government health agencies, and home health agencies. Although most are practitioners, some PTs conduct research or teach in higher education.
Related Careers
Occupational therapy, rehabilitation counseling, sports medicine, athletic training, and personal training.
Physical Therapy vs. Occupational Therapy
Both Physical Therapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) interact with patients and have the ultimate goal of providing them with as much assistance as possible to recover from injuries and/or to live as productively and independently as possible.
- OT is concerned with improving the client’s performance in daily activities and optimizing their independence.
- OTs consider the patient not only based on their injuries, but how that disability could affect their developmental, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral abilities.
- PT focuses on improving the client’s body movement.
- PTs are more direct in treating the physical source of the problem.
Information is compiled from the following webpage: all Allied Health Schools. Please note that these are just some notable differences between the fields and are not intended to be comprehensive. It is important to double check with certain schools regarding pre-requisites and program specifics.
| CATEGORY | OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST (OT) | PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) |
| Total Post High School Education | 6-7.5 years | 7+ years |
| Prerequisite Education | B.A. or B.S. if applying to doctoral-level programs; some master-level programs also require it; nonetheless, a bachelor's degree is strongly recommended |
B.A. or B.S. is highly recommended
|
| Direct Contact with Patients | May be required or recommended |
Required (30 - 200+ hours) and letters of recommendation may be required from licensed PTs
|
| Entrance Exam | GRE | GRE |
| Application Timeline | Standard | Accelerated |
| Residency | Optional (0.75 -1 year) |
Optional (0.75 - 3 years)
|
| Fellowship | None |
Optional (0.5 - 3 years)
|
| Degree or Certification Awarded | Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) |
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
|
| Salary (US National Average May 2014) | $80,000 | $83,940 |
| Financial Aid | WICHE-eligible | WICHE-eligible |
| Job Duties | Help patients with daily living skills and self-care tasks (i.e., "occupations") such as getting dressed
Support patients with memory loss or other cognitive issues Make recommendations about adaptive equipment Advise architects and contractors about patients' accessibility needs |
Diagnose physical problems restricting movement because of an illness or injury Use exercises and other techniques to ease pain and boost mobility and muscle strength Develop fitness and wellness programs aimed at preventing injuries and encouraging a more active lifestyle |