Assess, plan, organize, and participate in rehabilitative programs that improve mobility, relieve pain, increase strength, and improve or correct disabling conditions resulting from disease or injury.

Make a Difference

A Typical Day

  • Plan, prepare, or carry out individually designed programs of physical treatment to maintain, improve, or restore physical functioning, alleviate pain, or prevent physical dysfunction in patients.
  • Perform and document an initial exam, evaluating data to identify problems and determine a diagnosis prior to intervention.
  • Evaluate effects of treatment at various stages and adjust treatments to achieve maximum benefit.
  • Identify and document goals, anticipated progress, and plans for reevaluation.
 

Recommended Credentials

Doctoral degree and license (required to pass the State Board exam)

Education & Training

Regional employers often hire graduates of these programs.

 

Northwest Lower Michigan

 

Allied Health Program
— Grand Valley State University - Traverse City (NMC University Center)

You can complete any bachelor's degree as long as you fulfill prerequisites. 

Explore This Career

Try it before you buy it!

  • Take an AP Biology or AP Chemistry at your high school 
  • Join or start a Pre-Physical Therapy club at your college

The Local Advantage Learning Pathway

Pathway 1

Northwest Education Services (formerly TBAISD) Career Tech Center - Health Sciences 

Sci-Ma-Tech program at Traverse City Central and West High Schools

Pathway 2

Bachelor of Science in Allied Health or University Center - Grand Valley State University 

 

Sample Employers in Our Region

Click the logos below to learn more.

TIP

Contact one of these companies and ask for an informational interview, to see if you can job shadow, or to find out if they hire interns.

 

Sample Job Titles...

  • Inpatient Physical Therapist 
  • Home Health Physical Therapist
  • Outpatient Physical Therapist
  • Pediatric Physical Therapist
  • Neural Physical Therapist 
 

Hear It From The Pros

10-Year Job Growth Projections

9.4%
10-County Region
9%
Michigan
18%
U.S.

Employed Regionally

210
In 2021 (10-County Region)

Wage Range & Median 10-County Region

$60,680
$78,040 
$99,610

Annual Hires Regionally

20
In 2021

Other Regional Career Resources

Learn more about Physical Therapy at O*NET Online.

Related Careers

Click to explore.

Physical Therapy Assistant