Physical therapy is among the best 100 jobs
US News & World
Report has
repeatedly included physical therapists among it's best 100 jobs in terms of
employment opportunity, good salary, manageable work-life balance, and job
security: 2013, 2012, and 2009. CNNMoney.com
also included physical therapists among its list of the top 10 "Fastest
Growing Jobs" in November 2012 and ranked the profession #4 out of 100
"Best Jobs in America" in 2010.
There is a high demand
for physical therapists in the workforce. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 39 percent
from 2010 to 2020, much faster than the average for all occupations. According
to APTA, with just a 0.2 percent unemployment rate, physical therapists are now
experiencing the best employment conditions since enactment of the Balanced
Budget Act of 1997. The need for PTs is expected to increase into the
foreseeable future as the U.S. population ages and the demand for physical
therapy services grows.
Physical therapists can work in a variety of settings including:
Hospitals
Schools
Nursing homes
Home health
Rehabilitation centers
Outpatient clinics
Educational institutions
As a graduate of UF's physical therapy program you will be ready to:
Practice autonomously as a professional therapist
Work as a general practitioner
Be dedicated to self-motivated, life-long learning
- Understand the value of service to the profession and to the community
- Act professionally, think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively.
- Appreciate awareness of individual needs, cultural differences and psychosocial factors, which may affect human function
Our Graduates
Are knowledgeable, have strong clinical experiences and are well prepared for entry level physical therapy positions
Work as generalist practitioners
Display a dedication to self-motivated, life-long learning
Are trained to be professional, think critically, solve problems and communicate effectively
Demonstrate an awareness of the value of service to the profession and to the community
Demonstrate an awareness of individual and cultural differences and psychosocial factors, which may affect human function
UF Employment Preparation for Doctor of
Physical Therapy Students
As
faculty in the doctor of physical therapy program, we work collaboratively
with Career Services to host an annual skills building
workshop to help students with resume writing, interviewing skills, an techniques for negotiating.
A job
fair welcoming local and regional employers provides the students with the
opportunity to practice networking skills and to research employment options
post-graduation.
College Central Network
Periodically the physical therapy program receives position announcements and requests for employees. In an effort to simplify the process
and make the information available to a wide audience all such information is sent to the career
services office and is posted online at
College Central Network. Log in and check it out. The site is open to students, alumni and employers.
Links from the American Physical Therapy Association to check out:
Physical Therapist (PT) Careers Overview
Hot spot for employment opportunities for physical therapists.
Offers many resources to help
assist students and physical therapists with career development options and
mentorship programs