Best Careers: Physical Therapist

The rundown:

As a physical therapist, you might be working in a clinic, hospital, or private office, and your patients could include an aging athlete, a recent accident victim, or a young person with lower back pain. It's your job to test and measure their coordination, muscle strength, range of motion, and motor function. From your examination, you must determine a strategy for treatment, so they can regain mobility, be relieved of pain, or learn to live with a disability. You may consult with other medical care providers, including physicians and social workers.

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The outlook:

Employment of physical therapists is poised to grow by more than 56,000 jobs, or 30 percent, between 2008 and 2018, according to the Labor Department That rate would be much faster than average. New treatments and therapies promise to expand the scope of therapy practices, and the aging baby boom generation will increase demand for rehab. Your prospects may be especially strong in rural areas.

Money:

Median annual earnings for physical therapists were $74,480 in 2009. The lowest-paid 10 percent earned about $52,170, while the highest-paid 10 percent made nearly $106,000.

Upward mobility:

Physical therapists may become educators or researchers, while others may eventually open their own practices. Higher pay generally comes with more years of experience.

Activity level:

High. This job involves constant moving and working with patients on physical exercises and treatment.

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Stress level:

Pretty low. Patients can become frustrated with their progress or pain, but physical therapy work environments tend to be pretty calm.

Education and preparation:

You'll need at least a master's degree from an accredited program and a state license—and perhaps more. Most students pursue a doctoral degree these days. Many schools offer only a doctorate of physical therapy (DPT), and many more states are requiring it. The doctoral program is three years, compared with two years for a master's. Once you've got your license, you may need to participate in continuing education courses to keep it. If you're interested in this kind of work with fewer years of education, consider becoming a physical therapist assistant.

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Real advice from real people about landing a job as a physical therapist:

Employers look for candidates who take a collaborative approach to treatment programs and have a commitment to continuing education, says physical therapist Dr. Jennifer Gamboa. "What I look for is people who are interested in problem solving," she says. "You need to be somebody who's proactive and who's willing to take responsibility for the whole patient." A desire to capitalize on the knowledge of more experienced PTs also stands out to hiring managers. "The therapist coming out of school today is extraordinarily well trained," says Gamboa. "But we're looking for somebody who's willing to learn, who asks good questions, and looks for multiple opinions and input."

Suggested job searches: Physical Therapist Assistant jobs | Occupational Therapist jobs | Traveling Physical Therapist jobs | Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant jobs