You Can Work In The Physical Therapy Seattle Sector

By Daphne Bowen


Entering a medical program involves many steps and stages in terms of education and training. This is certainly the case for the physical therapy Seattle, WA sector of the bourgeoning healthcare field. It is a wonderful career, however, involving work with all kinds of patients who have body functions and physical disabilities.

PTs work with patients of all kinds including accident victims and those born with conditions like cerebral palsy and brain damage. There may be occasion to work with those with heart disease, arthritis, or other medical afflictions. Considerable skill is thus involved covering a wide range of specialties.

A skilled therapist understands and utilizes various tools and types of equipment, not to mention techniques such as electric stimulation or massage therapy. They are also well-versed in walkers, ultrasounds, prosthetics, leg braces, and wheelchairs among other mobility devices. Each patient's physical being is assessed and diagnosed before treatment is prescribed.

A good PT keeps documents and records so details can be shared with other staff. This way progress is charted for posterity and consultation. It is just one of many demands on the therapist's time. But participants wouldn't have it any other way. Thus it is a career that is sought by many.

At the higher level, the student pursues a master's degree and/or doctorate before taking qualifying exams for licensing. It is a matter of what kind of career the student wishes to pursue within the umbrella field, and there are 200 institutions in the US alone from which to choose.

A graduate program follows an undergraduate degree and entails a specific PT program. Entrance exams are often required in this very competitive arena such as the GRE or Graduate Record Exam. It goes without saying that all institutions should be accredited and recognized. All educational documentation must be presented, including English proficiency certification for foreign students.

To practice as a therapist, the student must take the NPTE or National Physical therapy Examination along with any state requirements as mandated by the state board. Foreign students also have to show an English proficiency certification. When all documents are presented and accepted, qualified candidates will have licensure granted. It is important to note that it is required for any post-professional programs.

In spite of the ample preparation to be a PT, the salary can run in the $80,000 range and more. It is a factor of location and level of the position. Wherever one starts, it is believed that the field is expanding enough to allow opportunity and advancement according to the American Physical Therapy Association. The Bureau of Labor Statistics corroborates this and offers the promising view that in a few years, the field will have grown by 30%. It is a career earmarked for success for those who have compassion and caring.




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