For starters, let’s define the role of massage therapist in healthcare. Should you choose to become a massage therapist professional, you will be able to help people with the following problems:

-   back pain
-   arthritis
-   strains and sprains, other sports traumas
-   rehabilitation after injuries or surgeries
-   headaches and migraines
-   stress and fatigue

In order to become a massage therapist, you have to choose a suitable training program. Prior to that, try to find out what authority controls the work of massage therapists in your state or city. You will need to understand the main requirements of your state for practicing massage therapy. Note that differences between states is quite significant: some states require a certain form of licensing, others don’t have specific rules. Moreover, you should remember that sometimes your state doesn’t have any requirements, but your city might. The same concerns a type of massage: to practice a certain type of massage you may need license, while other types don’t have to be certified. Reputable schools and accredited programs can guide you in understanding whether you need a license: applying for such program, you can find out all the details through the school’s website and inside information packages that are specific to the program of study.

Look for the program that will not only provide education, but also help you with licensing (if needed). In addition, decide on a specific kind of massage you want to practice: whether it’s sports massage, or clinical massage, or maybe even animal massage. Most training programs offer a course of Swedish massage (around 500-600 hours are required, combining theoretical course and practice). It’s a good idea to learn several types of massage, starting from Swedish and then continuing your education. The more you know, the more you’ll be able to earn.

Great benefit of massage therapist training programs is their availability: they are not too expensive and you can choose the most suitable time for studying, easily combining work or college with massage program. You can choose even online massage therapy courses (theoretical part, practice is required anyway).

As was mentioned above, certification may not be mandatory depending on your state. However, it’s a good idea to become board certified: it will open more doors to you and make you a more valuable employee. Certification exam is administered by the US National Certification Board of Massage Therapy.

Becoming a massage therapist, you can look for a job or you can consider starting your own business. As you may guess, massage therapists who work independently can receive higher earnings, however, they are always concerned with clients search.

So the main thing you should remember about massage therapy education is state requirements. Look for the reputable massage therapy school that will help you with all these legal details, and after a while enjoy your work.

Still, when choosing a career in medicine note that education is long and expensive, and you have to devote really a lot of efforts to reach your goal. If you are not ready to spend more than 10 years in school, then why not consider physical therapist assistant career? It is connected with healthcare, the mission is the same – helping people, but education is not so long and costly. Of course, you will earn less than physiatrist or physical therapist, but you won’t have to take a student’s loan and then work to pay off your debt. If you are interested in numbers, check whether your expectations coincide with real physical therapist assistant salary.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2011, annual physical therapist assistant salary is around $51,110 on average, which means average hourly pay of $24,57. Would such salary satisfy you?

When studying the numbers of physical therapist assistant salary you must note that many factors will influence your earnings. Where, how, and how much you work – all this matters a lot. To be more specific, the main factors that can change your physical therapist assistant salary are experience, industry, and location. US Bureau provides statistics about industries and states that offer the highest physical therapist assistant salary:

Top Paying Industries

• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services – $75,680

• Home Health Care Services – $60,090

• Psychiatric and Substance Abuse Hospitals – $57,960

• Employment Services – $57,630

• Management of Companies and Enterprises – $56,610

Top Paying States

• Texas – $66,170

• New Jersey – $57,330

• California – $57,270

• Connecticut – $57,260

• Florida – $56,740

 Don’t expect to receive high physical therapist assistant salary from the start. Beginners earn less, still, few years of experience will bring you a desired income. Be patient, work hard, learn as much as you can – and you will be awarded with decent earnings. By the way, additional courses and certificates will help you to become a more valuable employee, and consequently earn more.

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy Specialty

Professionals in this field deal with people with cardiopulmonary diseases or patients after serious cardiac surgeries. Physical therapy procedures help to return to normal and full life much quicker as compared to simple “bed” recovery. So people with following problems should use physical therapy as a part of their treatment:

• heart attack
• heart failure
• angioplasty
• stent and coronary bypass surgery
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• chronic obstructive bronchitis
• emphysema
• asthma

Geriatric Physical Therapy

Elderly people have to face numerous disorders that are associated with the process of aging. But this doesn’t mean that one cannot get rid of these diseases or at least make the life easier and more pleasant. Physical therapy within this sub-specialty helps to deal with such problems as:

• arthritis
• osteoporosis
• Alzheimer’s disease
• joint replacement
• balance disorders

Neurologic Physical Therapy

This sub-specialty is considered to be the most complicated one. Neurological problems are hard to treat, therefore the whole team of healthcare practitioners works to help a patient. Physical therapy is indispensable part of treatment because it actually helps a person’s body to function properly again. Diseases that are treated by means of physical therapy in this field are

• amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
• multiple sclerosis
• cerebral palsy
• brain, spinal cord injuries
• Parkinson’s disease
• stroke

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Orthopedic physical therapists are focused on rehabilitation of patients after musculoskeletal system surgeries. If you have ever experienced sprains or fractures, you know how important are exercises that you make to improve mobility. Physical therapists use many different methods, like strength training, electrical stimulation, etc., to make patients recover after

• various sports injuries (sprains, fractures, tears)
• arthritis
• amputations
• post-operative joints

Actually there is a specific sub-specialty for multiple sports injuries which has a title Sports Physical Therapy. However, we can include the traumas treated and therapy procedures performed within this sub-area to Orthopedic Physical Therapy.

Pediatric Physical Therapy

As you may guess, physical therapists in this sub-specialty work with children that suffer from a variety of disorders and diseases affecting bones, muscles, and joints:

• developmental delays
• cerebral palsy
• birth defects like spina bifida
• torticollis
•  motor skills problems

Doctors in various physical therapy specialties deal with much broader range of disorders than those described above. Never underestimate the value and importance of a physical therapy.

This career path is made all the more appealing by the fact that though many students apply for, and train in, this field, there is always more demand for trained and accredited professionals than graduates to fill those positions. Consequently, physical therapists are highly sought after, and well recompensed for their work.

Below, we’ve outlined exactly what this means for those going into this well compensated profession. Please note that none of the numbers presented below account for benefit packages, which are much harder to calculate into census data due to influencing factors and widely differing corporate practices.

National Averages

According to the US News & World Report, the average annual salary of a physical therapist in 2009 was $74,480. And the salaries appear to be increasing from year to year as demand increases – in 2008 the national average was $72,790.

The rates vary, but higher salaries can be expected in fields where demand is increasing. This is especially true for physical therapists who work with seniors, a growing population with increasing problems to be cared for.

Factors Influencing Physical Therapist Salary

There are two major factors influencing the salary of physical therapists.

First, is the degree a physical therapist holds, with a high degree level resulting in better salaries through the attainment of greater or more demanding postings.

Second, is the level of clinical experience a practitioner has accrued. Starting salaries are not exactly anaemic in physical therapy, but as with any profession in the healthcare industry, the higher salaries go to those practitioners who have the relevant experience to provide better care.

Best Paying Industries

If you’re looking to work in a high-yield aspect of the physical therapy healthcare profession, you should look to work in one of the following areas, all of which pay top tier salaries to trained and accredited professionals (according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics):

• Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services
• Home Healthcare Services
• Individual and Family Services
• Office Administrative Services
• Nursing Care Facilities

Work Settings

As in any profession, the setting or environment in which you work determines both the nature of the tasks you are required to perform and the recompense you can expect for doing them. In physical therapy, many practitioners work in clinics, either for themselves or for other practitioners. And according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the earning potential for physical therapists employed in clinical settings is an average of $75,760 a year.

Other physical therapists choose to work in daycare environments, in military or recreational settings, and in some of the industries discussed in the preceding section. For each, the salaries vary widely, even within the same industry, but the vast majority of salaries are within the range of the national mean.

Physical Therapy Salary by Locaiton

Another influencing factor on the kind of annual salaries a physical therapist can earn is the location in which they work. Some States offer better average salaries than others;  below is a list of the highest paying States as regards physical therapist salaries – according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2009:

• Alaska – $87,410 a year
• Maryland – $86,190 a year
• Nevada – $85,360 a year
• New Jersey – $83,780 a year
• California – $83,740 a year

Another factor to consider when deciding in which State to practice is the fact that some States have a glut of physical therapists, while others have a need that is simply not being met. Generally, a State with a higher demand for physical therapists will offer higher salaries to lure needed practitioners away from other regions.

The preceding information should give you a good understanding of physical therapy salary expectations. Now, it’s time to look at what the career and tasks are like, as well as the educational requirements you’ll need to get trained, licensed, and start practicing.

When deciding on a Graduate level physical therapy school keep the following in mind. Whatever school you attend must be accredited by the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) or your degree will not allow you to attempt the licensing exams you’ll need to pass in order to practice. Use the APTA’s website at http://www.apta.org to make sure that any school you’re looking into is properly certified to grant you an accredited degree.

Once you get into a Graduate Degree program you’ll be dividing your time between theoretical studies, lab work, and supervised practice. The lab work and the clinical practice speak for themselves, but what kind of academic subjects can you expect to study during your Graduate Degree program? The following are common examples:

• Biology, Anatomy, Chemistry, Physics
• Human growth and development
• Diagnostic techniques
• Therapeutic procedures

In addition to these general subjects you can expect to study more specific courses that cover specialization specific information. Your specialization informs your choice of school as well, so that’s something to consider ahead of time.

Ultimately, the four major factors that affect your choice of physical therapy school to attend can be boiled down to the following:

Accreditation

Since the only way to qualify for your licensing exams is to have a degree from an APTA certified physical therapy schools, make sure you choose a legitimate University or College for your Graduate Degree.

Specialization

Many physical therapy schools cater to all specializations, some do not. Look for a school that caters specifically to your chosen specialization.

Practical Experience

Physical therapy schools that can offer immediate, on site clinical experience give their students a huge boost post graduation. Most top tier schools have training hospitals on their campuses, or nearby to facilitate this important step in a studying physical therapist’s development.

Financial Aid

Scholarships and bursaries come from government bodies and organizations to be sure, but don’t overlook the possibility of getting financial assistance from the school you attend. It never hurts to pay less of your tuition costs yourself.

Deciding where to take your Graduate level physical therapy degree is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the run up to becoming licensed to practice physical therapy as a trained professional. This decision will influence your future career, and either open the right doors, or shut them securely in your face. Choose wisely.

In that spirit, we present to you our selections for top physical therapy schools offering DPT degrees.

University of Southern California

U So Cal has everything you could want from a University. A fantastic location, access to great beaches, and one of the best physical therapist training programs in the US – their Biokinesiology Division has been around since 1945, and it’s one of the reasons U So Cal enjoys its stellar reputation. The University of Southern California also boasts one of the best physical therapy research divisions in the US, making it a popular destination for research and development oriented students and professionals, but U So Cal offers several degree programs for eager students:

• Doctor of Physical Therapy
• PhD in Biokinesiology
• MSc in Biokinesiology

As one of the top physical therapy schools, the University of Southern California offers enough diversity in its program structure to students pursuing all specializations. The school’s reputation provides an excellent boost to your career, and you’ll have the opportunity to gain real and valuable clinical experience while studying, through U So Cal’s on campus hospital.

University of Pittsburgh

Ranked the second best physical therapy school in the US by the US News & World Report, U Pittsburgh offers 3 year full time DPT degrees. Their degree programs cover the following physical therapy courses:

• Musculoskeletal
• Neuromuscular
• Integumentary
• Cardiopulmonary
• Geriatric
• Pediatric

In addition to their strong suite of general and specific knowledge studies, the degree programs offered by U of P provide great clinical experience through integration with and exposure to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, and its sister organization, the Centers for Rehab Services. Combined with their respected and highly competent faculty, U of P’s DPT programs prove that in the world of physical therapy education, there’s no shame in being second best.

Washington University – St. Louis

The Washington University’s physical therapy school is among the most respected in the country. Boasting two teaching hospitals, W U allows students to gain invaluable clinical experience in a controlled environment, backed by practicing faculty and a comprehensive suite of degree programs. Washington University offers its students the following degrees:

• DPT – Doctorate of Physical Therapy
• PP-DPT – The Post Professional Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy
• PhD – A Doctorate of Philosophy in Movement Science

Washington University`s strengths as a premier training ground are based equally as much on the future it offers its graduates, as on the wealth of its past successes – an astonishing sixteen Nobel Laureates have graduated from W U School of Medicine. A healthy precedent indeed.

Though the above schools are the best ranked physical therapy proving grounds as judged by the US News & World Report, they stand on their own merits and the quality of their programs, not merely outside accolades. They have proven through their graduates, and the success rate of their graduating alumni that their programs are strong, well structured, and provide a successful launch pad for a fantastic career. If you’re planning for a career in physical therapy, start at the top and apply for your Graduate Degree with one of these top tier schools.

Evaluate Your Skills

Physical therapists need to have a good grounding in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and the Physical Sciences. Before you begin undertaking your Undergraduate Degree, you need to invest some time into buffing up on any of the aforementioned subjects in which you are not entirely conversant. Some of the material is more for educational purposes than for practical use, but it’s all good knowledge to have, and it’s all academic if you can’t pass the courses required to complete your degree.

Another self-assessment you should be willing to undergo is asking yourself how comfortable you are with seeing others in pain. Physical therapy is a great way to help others, and give something back to the community in which you live or work, but you will be dealing with people in various states of pain and distress day in and day out. It is up to you to find a way to deal with their pain and still manage to motivate your charges to perform their recovery exercises – exercises that can be quite painful, especially for those just beginning to undergo treatment for serious injuries.

Gather Information

Once you’ve made up your mind to become a physical therapist, you’ll need to decide what branch of physical therapy most interests you. There are various specializations to work in, each with their own set of duties and challenges. The most commonly chosen specializations include:

• Geriatric Physical Therapy
• Sports Related Physical Therapy
• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• Orthopedic Physical Therapy
• Neurological Physical Therapy
• Degenerative Diseases
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Physical Therapy

To find out more about each of these specializations use the relevant sections of this website, or get in touch with the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), which is an invaluable resource for information relating to all aspects of physical therapy.

Choose Your Undergraduate Physical Therapy School

Though you need to acquire a Graduate Degree to practice as a licensed physical therapist, in order to get into that Graduate program you will need to plan carefully for your Undergraduate studies in order to get into the Graduate program of your choice.

You’ll need to study Biology, Anatomy, Chemistry, Physics, and Physical Sciences courses related to physical therapy in order to qualify for most Graduate Degree programs that will allow you to practice. Use the four years you’ll spend in your Undergraduate program to prepare strenuously for your Graduate Degree in order to get ahead of the competition.

Acquire Your Graduate Degree in Physical Therapy

A good Graduate program in physical therapy will teach you about cardiopulmonary physical therapy, neurological physical therapy, generalized physical therapy and psychosocial issues. It will also cover musculoskeletal disorders and the kinds of physical therapy related research that will be of use to you once you start practicing.

You should look for a program that covers all the above, as well as offers you the opportunity to do clinical or lab work as part of your Graduate Degree studies. This will let you gain invaluable experience dealing directly with patients, diagnosing and engaging in rehabilitation, by working directly with licensed professional therapists.

Your Graduate Degree will also prepare you for taking the National Physical Therapy Examination and testing for your State licensing, discussed below.

Get a State License

Once you’ve acquired your Graduate Degree you’ll need to pass two State license board examinations in order to acquire your license to practice as a physical therapist. You also need to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination before you can earn the right to undergo the licensed exams.

Each State has its own individual licensing requirements, so you’ll need to check into what specifically is required of you in addition to the two examinations your State will require you to pass. Contact the APTA (American Physical Therapy Association), or visit their website for a full list of State by State guidelines.

You will also need to renew your license every two years. It is advisable to undertake continuing education courses, or updating courses relating to physical therapy to make sure you stay on top of changes to all aspects of your vocation.

The foregoing is enough to get you started on the road to becoming a physical therapist, but for more information you should see the other sections of this website, specifically those detailing education and financial aid as you undertake your Undergraduate and Graduate degrees.

Students engaged in, or planning on, getting their degrees in practicing physical therapy need to plan for at least two tiers of education. Physical therapists require a Graduate Degree before they can try for their licensing exams, so you’ll need to find a way to pay for both an Undergraduate Degree and a Graduate Degree.

Specific numbers for the costs of your education depend on too many factors to address each individual’s needs, but taken as general totals, the following will hold true for most US students.

Information on Undergraduate Degrees is ubiquitous enough, and basic scholarships can help you defray enough of that cost that we can safely skip over it here. Instead, you should be more focused on the costs for a Graduate Degree. Whether you choose to pursue a Master’s Degree in Physical Therapy, or a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT), you can expect the 2-3 years you’ll spend studying to run approximately $13,000 if you’re studying in-State, and anywhere up to $42,000 if you’re studying out-of-State.

Additional expenses, such as lab fees, course related study materials like textbooks, and even liability insurance can all be applied to your educational costs as well. In this case you can expect to pay up to an additional $5,000 over the course of your Graduate Degree program.

You’ll also need to prepare for costs that will be incurred after your education is concluded. The National Physical Therapy Exam is paid for, as are your State licensing tests. Though the costs for taking the State licensing exams vary from State to State, and it’s worth remembering that you have to take at least two, the cost of the NPTE is fixed, nationally, at $370.

The above are really little more than guidelines as there will always be additional and unforeseen costs incurred in any educational situation. But, you have excellent resources available to you in the form of the APTA and other organizations that work with and support professional physical therapists, all of whom keep detailed information on the costs, requirements, and other information associated with becoming, and staying, a physical therapist.

For more information on avenues for funding your education, such as scholarships, and information on various physical therapy schools, use this website to find the information best suited to you. Plan ahead for your education to minimize unforeseen events and costs, and make sure that you set yourself on the right path for your career goals.

Undergraduate Degree

In order to begin your pursuit of a career as a physical therapist, the first thing you need to do is get your Undergraduate Degree. Though you can’t technically apply for your licensing without having your Graduate Degree already in hand, you still have to acquire your Undergraduate Degree first. A BSc, or Bachelor of Sciences, is preferable in this regard since that program of study will require you to cover course subjects like Physics, Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, and other Physical Sciences, which figure into the physical therapy Graduate Degree you’ll shortly be undertaking.

Experience

You can start getting experience in a clinical setting before you begin your Undergraduate Degree, but it’s easier to find volunteer, or in rare cases paid work, as a physical therapist – or more likely assisting a physical therapist – once you’ve completed an Undergraduate program. Volunteering in hospital is always a popular choice for getting immediate and tangible experience as a physical therapist.

If you find yourself having trouble getting experience as a physical therapist, you can hold off until your Graduate Degree since many Graduate programs in physical therapy involve clinical work as part of your training, but it’s still advisable to get your feet wet before you head into Graduate level studies.

Graduate Degree

With more than 200 schools across the US offering APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) accredited Graduate Degrees in physical therapy, you can choose the school whose location, programs, and entry requirements are best suited to you. And you will want to choose carefully, because Graduate Degree programs have a larger focus on lab work and practical classes than on the theoretical courses an Undergraduate program favors. Once you’ve completed your Graduate Degree and are seeking to work as a physical therapist, in a clinical environment or otherwise, the nature of your lab work and the reputation of the school from which you obtained your degree will greatly influence your chance of success.

Licensing

Once you have completed your Graduate Degree you can take the National Physical Therapy Examination, which is preparatory to your being able to take your State licensing exams. Each State requires you to take two separate licensing exams, though the requirements and type vary by State.

Continuing Education

Your license to practice physical therapy must be renewed every two years, which makes it imperative for you to undertake a course of continuing study while practicing in your field. This is also advisable in terms of improving your care and treatment of your patients, since practices change and new innovations lead to positive and effective change in the field. But, at the most mercenary level, if you’re not keeping up with changes in the field, you’re not going to pass revised licensing exams.

Though the steps to becoming a physical therapist is fairly intensive in terms of time put in, the five steps above are the entire basis of working toward that goal. It’s a fairly straightforward path, and one that you can prepare easily for with enough time and some dedication. If you need help preparing for any of the steps mentioned above, use the various sections of this website to do some more in-depth research, and plan for your future.

Also especially useful for physical therapists looking to upgrade their qualifications, but who simply don’t have the time to spare from their clinical duties, this is an ideal way to upgrade or improve their qualifications without abandoning their practice or clinical duties.

Most online physical therapy schools offer multiple degree types in physical therapy. Below are some of the better online schools available to you.

Utica College

Through Utica’s online degree program you can earn a Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy, with a program designed specifically for practicing professionals who already hold their Undergraduate or Graduate Degree in physical therapy. Utica’s program focuses on the following courses:

• Foundation of Autonomous Practice
• Prevention and Wellness
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Pharmacology and Pathophysiology
• Global Health Care Issues

A.T. Still University

Like Utica College, A.T. Still’s online physical therapy degree is offered as a Transitional Doctorate of Physical Therapy. The length of study involved depends on what degrees you already hold, your level of professional experience and clinical skill, and the time you can dedicate to the online degree program. Regardless of the length of study, A.T. Still’s online program includes the following courses of study:

• Pharmacology
• Radiology
• Evidence-Based Practice
• Differential Diagnosis

And while the following will not apply to most of you seeking your degree through A.T. Still, it is worth noting that the University accepts international students looking to acquire their physical therapist degree in the US, as well as local students. More information regarding this option can be found on the University’s website.

Boston University

Boston U offers a Doctorate through the B U College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. The DPT program offered through Boston University focuses on the analytic processes of diagnosis and prognosis as chief among the roles its physical therapist students fulfill. The online course is available to licensed physical therapists in the US, making it primarily a way for practicing therapists to boost their own level of clinical accreditation. The online program offers the same material as an on site program, ensuring that you are no less qualified than students attending a physical University’s physical therapy program.

Serving best as a way to enhance your knowledge, or further your academic qualifications, online physical therapy schools provide an invaluable outlet for those who for any number of reasons simply cannot attend a program in person, or through a physical campus. The schools mentioned above are by no means the only option available to you, and as with any physical therapy education, you will need to find the physical therapy school that is best suited for you.