What Do Outpatient Physical Therapists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for outpatient physical therapists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what outpatient physical therapists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Outpatient Physical Therapists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about outpatient physical therapists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Outpatient Physical Therapists assist physical therapists in providing physical therapy treatments and procedures. May, in accordance with state laws, assist in the development of treatment plans, carry out routine functions, document the progress of treatment, and modify specific treatments in accordance with patient status and within the scope of treatment plans established by a physical therapist. Generally requires formal training.
Popular Job Titles For Outpatient Physical Therapists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Physical Therapist Assistants
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physical Therapy Technicians
- Chiropractic Assistants
- Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants
- Home Health Physical Therapists
- Chiropractic Assistants/Receptionists
- Licensed Physical Therapist Assistants
- Travel Physical Therapists
- Outpatient Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapists
- Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistants
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for outpatient physical therapists can be found.
Best Industries for Outpatient Physical Therapists
Outpatient Physical Therapists Jobs By Industry
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 47.2%
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 14.5%
- Home Health Care Services: 11.4%
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 9%
- Offices of Physicians: 5.5%
- Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals: 3.3%
- Other: 9.1%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of outpatient physical therapists can be found working in the Offices of Other Health Practitioners sector. In 2023, about 47.2% of all jobs for outpatient physical therapists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include General Medical and Surgical Hospitals (14.5%), Home Health Care Services (11.4%), Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities) (9%), Offices of Physicians (5.5%) and Specialty (except Psychiatric and Substance Abuse) Hospitals (3.3%).
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Certificates & Microcredentials for Outpatient Physical Therapists
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What Do Outpatient Physical Therapists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what outpatient physical therapists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work outpatient physical therapists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that outpatient physical therapists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for outpatient physical therapists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Outpatient Physical Therapists
Based on 74,256 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Outpatient Physical Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | 56,898 | 77% |
| Rehabilitation | 21,547 | 29% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,053 | 22% |
| Home Health Care | 9,941 | 13% |
| Patient Treatment | 9,400 | 13% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Outpatient Physical Therapists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 17,481 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 8,564 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 6,651 | 9% |
| Writing | 5,747 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 5,413 | 7% |
Based on 74,256 job postings related to outpatient physical therapists, physical therapy was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 77% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for rehabilitation, treatment planning, home health care, patient treatment and billing were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for outpatient physical therapists, followed by customer service, scheduling, writing, multitasking and interpersonal communications.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapy | 56,898 | 77% |
| Rehabilitation | 21,547 | 29% |
| Treatment Planning | 16,053 | 22% |
| Home Health Care | 9,941 | 13% |
| Patient Treatment | 9,400 | 13% |
| Billing | 5,828 | 8% |
| Exercise Therapy | 5,616 | 8% |
| Infection Control | 5,388 | 7% |
| Patient Assistance | 5,109 | 7% |
| Medical Records | 4,939 | 7% |
| Orthopedics | 4,627 | 6% |
| Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) | 4,224 | 6% |
| Geriatrics | 4,109 | 6% |
| Patient Education And Counseling | 4,080 | 5% |
| Case Management | 3,589 | 5% |
| Manual Therapy | 3,248 | 4% |
| Nursing | 3,169 | 4% |
| Patient Preparation | 3,023 | 4% |
| Quality Improvement | 2,924 | 4% |
| Clinical Documentation | 2,725 | 4% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 17,481 | 24% |
| Customer Service | 8,564 | 12% |
| Scheduling | 6,651 | 9% |
| Writing | 5,747 | 8% |
| Multitasking | 5,413 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 5,375 | 7% |
| Detail Oriented | 5,172 | 7% |
| English Language | 5,036 | 7% |
| Computer Literacy | 4,824 | 6% |
| Organizational Skills | 4,527 | 6% |
| Compassion | 3,990 | 5% |
| Coordinating | 3,682 | 5% |
| Planning | 3,647 | 5% |
| Management | 3,331 | 4% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 3,218 | 4% |
| Professionalism | 3,144 | 4% |
| Mentorship | 3,142 | 4% |
| Lifting Ability | 2,844 | 4% |
| Operations | 2,842 | 4% |
| Problem Solving | 2,552 | 3% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Outpatient Physical Therapists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 222,550 | 54% |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 87,734 | 21.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 13,595 | 3.3% |
| Chiropractic Assistants | 11,656 | 2.8% |
| Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants | 9,542 | 2.3% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was physical therapist assistants, with 27,236 unique job postings. Physical therapy assistants were second, with 5,313 postings, followed by physical therapy technicians, chiropractic assistants and home health physical therapy assistants.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to outpatient physical therapists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Physical Therapist Assistants | 222,550 | 54% |
| Physical Therapy Assistants | 87,734 | 21.3% |
| Physical Therapy Technicians | 13,595 | 3.3% |
| Chiropractic Assistants | 11,656 | 2.8% |
| Home Health Physical Therapy Assistants | 9,542 | 2.3% |
| Home Health Physical Therapists | 14,452 | 3.5% |
| Chiropractic Assistants/Receptionists | 5,269 | 1.3% |
| Licensed Physical Therapist Assistants | 9,468 | 2.3% |
| Travel Physical Therapists | 10,494 | 2.5% |
| Outpatient Physical Therapists | 6,350 | 1.5% |
| Physical Therapists | 3,140 | 0.8% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapy Assistants | 3,076 | 0.7% |
| Front Desk/Chiropractic Assistants | 1,549 | 0.4% |
| Licensed Physical Therapy Assistants | 5,291 | 1.3% |
| Chiropractic Office Assistants | 820 | 0.2% |
| Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Assistants | 959 | 0.2% |
| Travel Physical Therapist Assistants | 995 | 0.2% |
| Outpatient Orthopedics Physical Therapists | 3,216 | 0.8% |
| Skilled Nursing Facility Physical Therapists | 1,157 | 0.3% |
| Inpatient Physical Therapists | 478 | 0.1% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for outpatient physical therapists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for outpatient physical therapists.
How much do outpatient physical therapists make?
Outpatient Physical Therapists: How do you become one?
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