How the Physical Therapy Major Prepares You for the Job Market
Physical therapy is the study of rehabilitating the body. Physical therapy majors have a drive to help patients overcome physical limitations so that patients may begin to enjoy a more independent and fulfilling life. Physical therapy majors take courses in statistics, ethics, aging, biomechanics, and other topics related to enhancing student understanding of the overall health profession and physical therapy-specific treatments and techniques. In addition to course work, students must also complete several sessions of outside clinical work in order to graduate. These outside work sessions enhance the learning experience so that students may also see professionals working in the field as well as participate in gaining hands-on work experience while also learning in the classrooms. This coupling of classroom education and real-world work gives students the practice they need to apply classroom techniques to real-life situations. All of these practices make physical therapy majors a valuable asset to the work force upon graduation.
Best Career Paths for Physical Therapy Majors
Physical therapy offers an entry into many rewarding careers in health care. The best career paths for physical therapy majors are:
- Physical Therapy. Physical therapists work with patients of all ages who need assistance in recovering function of injured body parts or help in coping with permanent conditions or disabilities. For example, physical therapists may work with helping those with a previously broken leg relearn how to walk, or they may work with the elderly in maintaining optimal use and function of their increasingly fragile bodies. Physical therapists often work with other health care professionals to develop the best course of treatment for individual patients. They must also work with patients one-on-one, taking detailed notes on the patientís progress and making changes to a therapy regime to suit the patientís needs. Physical therapists earn an average salary of $72,790 annually, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Chiropractics. Chiropractors work with patients suffering from musculoskeletal problems, such as back pain, arthritis, and other similar ailments. They specialize in the manual treatment of the spine, utilizing manual manipulation to relieve aches, pains, and other ailments. A chiropractorís work is based on the principle that spinal misalignment can interfere with patient health because it disrupts the nervous system. Spinal realignment, therefore, provides relief. Chiropractors assess each patient on an individual basis, determining the cause of each patientís condition and developing a unique treatment plan to cater to that patientís condition. Chiropractors earn an average salary of $66,490 annually, according to the Bureau.
How to Market Your Physical Therapy Degree
The best way to market your physical therapy degree to potential employers is to emphasize that your formal education provided you with valuable skills that can be applied to real-world situations. For example, you learned about the process and effects of aging during one of your courses, which in turn helped you to identify many possible afflictions that an elderly patient can have. Participating in outside clinical work also helped you to develop a keen sense of what it is like to work in the field. These points are important to stress to employers to have them understand the extent of your experience and knowledge as well as your capability to apply those skills in the field.
