Physical Therapy

What To Expect

Physical therapy professionals develop programs for patients suffering from disease or injury in an attempt to help them improve mobility, restore function, or find relief from pain. In order to assist their patients, physical therapy professionals must assess the patient's range of motion, strength, coordination, respiration, and muscle performance. By determining the patient's abilities, the physical therapy professional is able to determine which forms of exercise are required to help improve the patient's physical capabilities.

Recommended Qualifications

In order to become a physical therapy professional, you must earn a minimum of a master's degree in the field. Many employers, however, require their physical therapy professionals to obtain a doctoral degree. In addition, physical therapy professionals must obtain a state license, which typically involves graduating from an accredited physical therapy program and successfully passing a state licensure exam. To work as a physical therapy assistant, on the other hand, an associate's degree or bachelor's degree may be adequate.