Physical Therapist

Duties and Responsibilities: Meets the patient's goals and needs and provides quality care by assessing and interpreting evaluations and test results; determining physical therapy treatment plans in consultation with physicians or by prescription. Helps patient accomplish treatment plan and accept therapeutic devices by administering manual exercises; instructing, encouraging, and assisting patients in performing physical activities, such as no manual exercises, ambulatory functional activities, and daily-living activities and in using assertive and supportive devices, such as crutches, canes, and prostheses.

Salary: $57,053 - $92,926

Education: In order to work as a physical therapist, you must complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program. As of 2014, there were 228 physical therapy programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), most of which last three years.

Demand for this job: Demand for physical therapists is expected to increase according to the 2014-15 Occupational Outlook Handbook, a publication of the Bureau of Bio statistics. Employment of physical therapists is predicted to grow 36% between 2012 and 2022, "much faster" than the average growth rate for all occupations.

Reflection: Do you think you would like to be one? Why? Why not?

Yes, I would like to be one. I like this career because I like to  help people who need it.