Physical Therapists: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of physical therapists about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for physical therapists to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of physical therapists expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for physical therapists.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Physical Therapists?
Do physical therapists need a degree? What kind of experience do physical therapists typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for physical therapists to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Physical Therapists
Jobs Postings for Physical Therapists By Education
- No Education Listed: 39,291 (78%)
- High School or GED: 5,922 (12%)
- Bachelor's degree: 2,680 (5%)
- Master's degree: 1,505 (3%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,240 (2%)
No education was listed by most employers of physical therapists. According to job data, no education was required for 78% of positions. In 12% of job listings a High School diploma or GED was required and in 5% of postings a bachelor's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Physical Therapists
Jobs Postings for Physical Therapists By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 10,038 (64%)
- 2-3 Years: 4,965 (32%)
- 4-6 Years: 525 (3%)
- 7-9 Years: 68 (0%)
- 10+ Years: 95 (1%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for physical therapists. In 64% of job postings for Physical Therapists, employers were looking for candidates with 0-1 years of experience. In 32% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience, while 4-6 years of experience was sought in 3% of job postings for physical therapists.
What Kind of Degree Do Physical Therapists Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for physical therapists, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 3 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective physical therapists, and in 2021 a total of 14,783 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective physical therapists.
Top Degree Programs for Physical Therapists
Top 5 Degree Programs for Physical Therapists (2021)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Physical Therapy Assistant. | 7,281 |
| Health/Medical Preparatory Programs, Other. | 4,010 |
| Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services, Other. | 3,492 |
Top Online College For Working Adults
Franklin University is a top choice for adults who need to balance school with busy lives. Founded in 1902 in Columbus, Ohio, Franklin's main focus has been serving adult students and tailoring education to fit their needs. Nonprofit and accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (hlcommission.org/800.621.7440), Franklin offers more than 50 affordable bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs — all available 100% online.
Certificates & Microcredentials for Physical Therapists
- Class Type: 100% Online
- Time To Complete: 3-4 months
- Cost: $4,000
What Skills Do Physical Therapists Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by physical therapists to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for physical therapists, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Physical Therapists
Based on 0 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Physical Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
Top 5 Common Skills for Physical Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 14,461 | 23% |
| Writing | 6,737 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,155 | 8% |
| English Language | 5,039 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 4,958 | 8% |
Based on 0 job postings related to physical therapists, was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with % of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communications was the most desired skill found in job postings for physical therapists, followed by writing, computer literacy, english language, customer service and scheduling.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communications | 14,461 | 23% |
| Writing | 6,737 | 11% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,155 | 8% |
| English Language | 5,039 | 8% |
| Customer Service | 4,958 | 8% |
| Scheduling | 4,886 | 8% |
| Coordinating | 4,303 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,296 | 7% |
| Lifting Ability | 3,912 | 6% |
| Management | 3,748 | 6% |
| Planning | 3,732 | 6% |
| Compassion | 3,238 | 5% |
| Detail Oriented | 3,152 | 5% |
| Organizational Skills | 3,053 | 5% |
| Problem Solving | 2,879 | 5% |
| Leadership | 2,835 | 5% |
| Time Management | 2,819 | 5% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 2,787 | 5% |
| Professionalism | 2,504 | 4% |
| Operations | 2,468 | 4% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about physical therapists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for physical therapists.
What do physical therapists do?
How much do physical therapists make?
All Occupations
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has compiled data for dozens of in-demand jobs. Explore our full catalog of occupation data by visiting the link below.