Physical and Occupational Therapist
A Master's Degree in Physical and Occupation Therapy opens the door to an exciting career prospect as a
physical therapist, one of the fastest growing fields in the healthcare industry.
About the Physical and Occupational Therapy field:
Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts employment opportunities in this field will increase much faster than average due to the aging of the "baby boomer" generation and the increase in average life span: "Job opportunities should be good, particularly in acute hospital, rehabilitation, and orthopedic settings."
A doctoral degree provides even further growth in this field beyond the master's degree. A bachelor's degree can be pursued to acquire a position as a physical therapist assistant. According to reports from Salary.com, physical therapists range between $60,000 and $80,000 a year, while a physical therapist assistant ranges from $35,000 to $50,000 a year.
About the job responsibilities of the Physical and Occupational Therapist:
Physical therapists improve the mobility of their patients, relieve pain and tension, and prevent or limit permanent physical disability due to injury, disease, age, and accidents. They are responsible for maintaining, restoring, and promoting physical health. Patient types include: accident victims; individuals with disabling conditions as severe as arthritis and heart disease; those suffering from lower-back pain; and those born with conditions, such as cerebral palsy.
A physical therapist works hand-in-hand with other physicians, dentists, nurses, educators, social workers, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.
Occupational therapists are physical therapists that specialize specifically in work-related and lifestyle injuries. They help patients improve their abilities in their living and working environments. They are assigned to individuals that have mental, physical, developmental, and emotional conditions.
One out of five physical therapists work part-time, and one out of three occupational therapists work part-time. Both therapist types need licensing. Both therapists also could specialize in a specific age group or disability.
About degrees in Physical and Occupational Therapy:
A degree in Physical and Occupational Therapy equips the student to perform medical skills that improve physical health, like testing patients' strength, motion, and balance through exercise. Physical therapy students will be taught the appropriate treatments to diagnose specific physical conditions and the anticipated outcome of different physical ailments. They are also taught how to use electrical stimulation, hot packs and cold compresses, ultrasound, traction and deep-tissue massage, and how to coach patients in the use of crutches, prostheses, and wheelchairs. For prospective students interested in the expanding and rewarding field of physical and occupational therapy, Ashworth College provides a certification as a Physical Therapy Assistant/Aide for students that are interested in the introductory aspects of the field. Boston University offers a Master's Degree in Occupational Therapy and a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) for someone that is moving from a Bachelor's Degree to the next educational level. The DPT is a specific degree similar to a Master's Degree with an additional doctoral curriculum and focus.