The Job Outlook For Physical Therapists in USA

If you’ve been following my blog, you’re aware that I completed my master’s degree in India and later moved to the US after getting married. Having navigated the complex US PT licensing process, I’ve assisted numerous foreign-trained PTs in understanding and completing this journey. In this post, I’ll shed light on the job outlook for physical therapists in the USA, especially for foreign-educated physical therapists in the US. I will also address some of the common questions I get about this topic. 

Education and Licensure: 

If you are a foreign-trained PT in the USA, you will need to obtain the following 2 documents: 

• A valid visa that legally allows you to work in the USA
• US physical therapy license

You can read about the process of obtaining a PT license here. 

Different work setups in the USA for PTs

When discussing the job outlook for physical therapists in the USA, it is imperative that we understand different work setups PTs can work in.

Outpatient Clinics: Outpatient setups can be of a private practice or outpatient clinic at the hospital. Here you will treat a diverse patient population with cases from different specializations including ortho, sports, neuro, pediatrics, women’s health, and cardiorespiratory. You will typically be working 40 hours a week with off on weekends. 

You can read about a day in a life of an outpatient PT in the US in this blog post

Hospital and Acute Care: This means working in inpatient rehabilitation at hospitals and acute care settings. The patient population can be diverse from different specialties. You will also be working with a lot of post-surgical patients. 

Corporate PT: Some of the big companies such as Apple and Google have PT clinics on campus for their employees. The work environment is similar to an outpatient setup. Typically involves musculoskeletal cases. 

Travel PT: If you are hired by a travel physical therapy company, you will get to travel to different locations across the USA, It is typically to cover for a full-time employee who is on a long leave of absence such as maternity leave. PTs usually work at one location for 13 weeks contract period.

Skilled Nursing Facilities: These facilities are designed to support elderly patients with rehab. This also involves memory care facilities and long-term care facilities. The caseload is often the geriatric population. 

School-Based PTs: PTs work with students with special needs in educational settings. You will primarily work with pediatric age groups and differently-abled students. 

Telehealth PT: US-based telerehabilitation startups such as Hinge Health, and Sword Health hire PTs to provide virtual care. Most of these companies require you to have a DPT degree. The role can be in person or remotely, depending on the job description. 

Home Health PT: This is similar to home visits in India. In the USA, PTs usually work with a company that assigns home visits to them. The patient population can be geriatric, post-surgical, or pediatrics. 

Expanding opportunities 

Residency programs for PTs

Physical therapy residency programs in the USA provide opportunities for licensed physical therapists to advance clinical skills and knowledge in specific areas of practice. These programs offer in-depth training, mentorship, and exposure within the specialized field of physical therapy such as orthopedic PT residency program or Neuro PT residency program. 

Typically spanning from nine months to a year, these residencies offer you the opportunity to work closely with experienced mentors and engage in intensive hands-on learning. They contribute to your professional growth. Many times these programs are sponsored by your employer if you are a full-time employee. 

Specialty certifications

You can choose to pursue specialty certifications to advance your professional skills and growth. To start, you’ll need to choose a specific area of specialization that aligns with your passion and career goals, such as sports therapy, geriatrics, or cardiovascular rehabilitation. The specialty certifications are offered by APTA, governed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). 

These programs often have specific eligibility criteria, which may include a certain number of years of clinical experience, completion of relevant coursework, and possibly letters of recommendation. Once eligible, you’ll need to prepare for and pass a comprehensive exam that evaluates your knowledge and skills in your chosen specialty. 

Salary of clinical PT 

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statics, the median annual wage of a physical therapist was $95,620 in May 2021. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $61,930, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $127,110. According to the salary.com average base salary of an entry-level physical therapist is $71,864.

Please note that salary can vary greatly depending on

• City and state in which you work
• Years of experience working as a PT in the USA
• Your work setup
• Full time vs part-time vs hourly shifts
• The company you work for etc.

Nonclinical avenues for physical therapists in the US

Beyond patient care, PTs can explore nonclinical roles like healthcare administration, insurance management, teaching, research, and sales. Your PT background equips you with skills applicable across various non-clinical paths.

To explore more about nonclinical careers, visit The Nonclinical PT. Whether in traditional or alternative roles, your expertise as a PT holds immense potential for impacting the field in diverse and meaningful ways.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the job outlook for physical therapists in the USA offers diverse opportunities. Being a physical therapist is about helping people and making a difference in their lives. So, as you start your journey in this field, know that your skills can take you far and you can have a big impact. Stay curious, keep learning, and explore all the exciting possibilities waiting for you in the world of physical therapy.