Physical and occupational therapists play an essential role in helping patients heal from injuries, illnesses, or manage ongoing conditions. Also, essential to the practices are physical therapy assistants and occupational therapy assistants. PTAs and OTAs will help therapists and patients alike in terms of completing focused exercises that target strength, mobility, and rehabilitation.
Physical therapy and occupational therapy differ in terms of their objectives and focus. Physical therapists focus primarily on improving the overall function and mobility of injured/inhibited areas of the body. They work through these injuries by addressing movement and function, strengthening and rehabilitation, and also focus on pain management.
Occupational therapists work on helping patients perform daily activities of living. This can include dressing, cooking, bathing, and more, to strengthen a patient and improve his or her independence. Occupational therapists address a range of factors such as sensory, cognitive, psychological, or social ones, in addition to physical function.
PHYSICAL THERAPY
Main Article: How to Become a Physical Therapist
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It doesn’t matter if your patients are from a professional sports team or they are everyday postsurgical people, you are there to help them get back on their feet. Literally. Your patients will lean on you as you help them restore their mobility after an injury or surgery (or both). Because you’ll have patients coming to you for quite a while, you really get to know them well, which some physical therapists will admit is a nice perk of the career.
What Physical Therapists Do
When patients come in with a physical disability, injury, or disease that affects their mobility and causes pain, your goal is to help them achieve a better quality of life.
Responsibilities of physical therapists include:
- Examine the patient’s medical records
- Observe a patient’s movements and difficulties
- Create a plan of care with measurable outcomes
- Provide therapy in the form of exercises, stretching, massage, and more
- Evaluate patient progress and adjust plans as needed
- Communicate with other healthcare professionals
Education
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
- Enroll in a bachelor’s degree program where you’ll major in anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, biology, chemistry, or physics (or another related field). However, if you already know which doctoral program you plan to enroll in, then check with them to see which bachelor’s degrees are accepted.
- Find a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. There are around 230 programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
- Apply to schools through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service.
- The DPT programs take approximately three years to complete.
- Complete your 30 weeks of clinical (hands-on) work.
- Earn your license (all states require PTs to become licensed).
- After graduation, you have the option to apply to a resident program, which lasts a year. This will permit you to do a fellowship in an advanced area of physical therapy.
- Once you’ve gained some work experience, you can become a board-certified specialist. There are nine specialties you can consider including women’s health, orthopedics, sports, pediatric, and geriatrics, etc.
Job Outlook and Salary
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for physical therapists was $97,960, with the top 10 percent earning an average of $128,830 in 2022.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also predicts a positive job market for physical therapists. With an expected increased employment of 17 percent by 2031 (much faster than the national average), physical therapy appears to be a promising career path.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY
There are many reasons patients see occupational therapists, from illnesses through disabilities. You’ll work with them to improve their health and wellbeing through OT practices.
What Occupational Therapists Do
Responsibilities of occupational therapists include:
- Communicate with a patient about his or her related medical background.
- Evaluate the patient.
- Identify the goals and create a patient treatment plan to match.
- Help patients understand ways to improve their living conditions, making their homes conducive to their needs.
- Recommend and implement the use of special equipment such as walkers, wheelchairs, or other devices.
- Teach your patient how to use the needed devices.
- Record a patient’s progress for the treating medical staff and insurance billing.
- Communicate with other healthcare professionals.
Education
- Get your high school diploma.
- Complete your bachelor’s degree. Some graduation requirements include physiology, biology, and kinesiology.
- Perform hands-on work in an occupational therapy setting.
- Earn your Master of Occupational Therapy. This takes two to three years.
- Complete six months of a supervised fieldwork study program.
- Take and pass the national exam given by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT).
- Consider specializing in areas such as vision, pediatrics, geriatrics, or mental health.
Job Outlook and Salary
Once you graduate and pass the NBCOT, you can become a licensed OT. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the average salary for occupational therapists in 2022 was $92,800. Your salary can vary depending on your location, experience, and industry.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the employment growth of occupational therapists is expected to increase 14 percent by 2031, which is much faster than the national average.
PHYSICAL/OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS
As either a PTA or OTA, you’ll work with the therapists to assist patients along their treatment plans. Your job will be extremely hands-on as you guide your patients along their journey to a healthy and relatively pain-free life.
What Physical Therapy Assistants Do
Physical therapy assistants work under the supervision of their physical therapist to help patients throughout their care plan. They are directly involved in the therapeutic exercises that are provided to patients.
Education
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
- Go to a community college or trade school for the physical therapy assistant program.
- Enter a supervised hands-on clinical portion.
- After two years of full time school, you’ll graduate with your associate degree.
- Pass the licensing exam given through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
- You can choose to specialize in areas such as pediatrics, geriatrics, aquatic, and more.
Job Outlook and Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that physical therapy assistants made an average of $64,510 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also states that the career outlook is expected to increase 24 percent by 2031, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations.
What An Occupational Therapy Assistant Does
Occupational therapy assistants work under the supervision of an occupational therapist to help patients with their care plan. They are directly involved in the skills and exercises taught to patients — these skills can be used either at work or home.
Education
- Get your high school diploma or GED.
- Choose an accredited occupational therapy assistant program through a community college or trade school.
- Get your associate degree.
- Attend at least 16 weeks of hands-on fieldwork.
- Earn your license.
- Take continuing education to keep your license up to date.
- You can consider going back to school to advance your career by getting either a bachelor’s or master’s degree.
Job Outlook and Salary
Occupational therapy assistants, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, made an average of $66,280 in 2022. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also projects a growth rate of 25 percent by 2031 for occupational therapy assistants, which again, is much faster than the national average.