While unemployment rates around the country seem to be sky-rocketing, physical therapists are in increasing demand, and, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the physical therapy profession is expected to grow by 27% in the next 7 years. Business Week recently cited a survey conducted by SimplyHired.com, which ranks physical therapy as one of the top 3 careers in 29 of 40 metro areas.
As the baby boomer population ages, the need for physical and occupational therapists continues to increase. Julie Keysor, associate professor of physical therapy at Boston University, describes physical therapy as a profession with opportunity. She says, “The large U.S. population of aging baby boomers ensures demand for physical therapists - who, through one-on-one interaction, help patients reclaim musculoskeletal abilities impeded by illness, surgery, or injury - will stay strong.”
In 2008, the mean annual salary for physical therapists was reported at $74,000, but with the increased demand, salaries are also increasing. Physical therapists also receive “additional pay based on performance and productivity,” according to Jennifer Gamboa, owner of a physical therapy clinic in Virginia. Travel therapist jobs report even higher salaries with stronger benefits.
“Travel therapists enjoy forging new friendships and professional relationships in various geographic locations, earn up to 20 percent more than traditional permanent jobs and receive free private housing and free health insurance,” said Vice President of Recruitment, Mark Kay Hull, for The Joint Commission certified American Traveler Allied.”Gamboa explains that physical therapy is not a career for everyone. Physical therapists need to be able to reach out and form professional relationships with people who are in chronic pain and who can, therefore, be difficult to work with. Tolerance and patience are key traits for any physical therapist. Physical therapy is also an analytical field that requires therapists to examine and understand the puzzles that each patient presents.
In addition, Hull says that compassionate people with tolerance and patience are well suited for a career in Physical Therapy. These traits are essential to forming professional relationships with patients in chronic pain. Chronic pain can make even the most mild mannered seem very difficult. Physical Therapists must also easily be able to work closely with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds. The Physical Therapist must understand how the physical challenges of their patients affect the whole patient.
Those interested in beginning a physical therapy career should know that educational requirements for physical therapists are stringent. A three-year doctoral program is now the standard, and each state has its own licensing requirements beyond the National Physical Therapy Exam, which can sometimes dissuade potential physical therapists from starting their career. Those who have followed the physical therapy path, however, report high job satisfaction and good benefits.
For more information about physical therapy jobs, visit American Traveler Allied to sign up for to receive therapy job updates from the RSS feed.