Allied Health Fields

Pictures: www.acp.edu/images/PA1.pn, sprintphysicaltherapy.com

Physical Therapy: best info comes from APTA http://www.apta.org/

Pictures:www.fitlife.com,www.wju.edu, www.unlimitedperformance.org

Job Description
Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to the very oldest, who have medical problems or other healthrelated conditions that limit their abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. PTs examine each individual and develop a plan using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellnessoriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. http://www.apta.org/PTCareers/Roleof aPT/

Other Specialties
Some physical therapists seek advanced certification in a clinical specialty such as orthopedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary, pediatric, geriatric or sports physical therapy. Others are certified in electrophysiological testing and measurement. http://www.diversityalliedhealth.co m/features/01-08-04j.htm
Picture: www.med.nyu.edu/hjd/harkness/images/Clinical%...

Where do PTs Practice?

Hospitals Outpatient clinics or offices Inpatient rehabilitation facilities Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities Homes Education or research centers Schools Hospices Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments Fitness centers and sports training facilities

Picture: www.potreropt.com/Images/PotreroPT008.jpg

You can be me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r35FQT3u0J4&feature=related

Picture: www.sfsu.edu

Job Outlook
Changes to restrictions on reimbursement for physical therapy services by third-party payers will increase patient access to services and, thus, increase demand. The increasing elderly population will drive growth in the demand for physical therapy services. The elderly population is particularly vulnerable to chronic and debilitating conditions that require therapeutic services. Also, the baby-boom generation is entering the prime age for heart attacks and strokes, increasing the demand for cardiac and physical rehabilitation. Medical and technological developments will permit a greater percentage of trauma victims and newborns with birth defects to survive, creating additional demand for rehabilitative care. In addition, growth may result from advances in medical technology and the use of evidence-base practices, which could permit the treatment of an increasing number of disabling conditions that were untreatable in the past. http://healthguideusa.org/careers/physical_therapist _job_outlook.htm

Average Annual Salaries in the Healthcare Fields (http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm

NTL AV Physician Assistants Physical Therapists PT Assistants PT Aids Occupational Therapists $89,470 79,830 51,110 25,190 74,970 CALIF AV 94,900 86,890 57,270 27,520 84,350

OT Assistants
OT Aids Chiropractors Dietitians Dietetic Technician Registered Nurses Athletic Trainers Cardiovascular technicians Podiatrist Family Practice MDs Surgical MDs

52,150
31,770 78,780 55,460 29,200 69,110 44,640 52,160 133,870 177,330 231,550

61,010
32,650 75,700 66,690 36,590 90,860 48,640 59,730 129,820 174,530 216,350

Accredited PT School in California

Azusa Pacific UniversityCAYCalifornia State University, FresnoCAYCalifornia State University, Long BeachCAYCalifornia State University, NorthridgeCAYCalifornia State University, SacramentoCAYChapman UniversityCAYLoma Linda UniversityCAYMount St. Mary's CollegeCAYSamuel Merritt UniversityCAYUniversity of California, San Francisco/San Francisco State UniversityCAYUniversity of Southern CaliforniaCAYUniversity of the PacificCAYWestern University of Health Sciences

2012 Edition of U.S. News and World Report rankings

Health: Physical Therapy (Master's/Doctorate) Rank/SchoolAverage assessment score (5.0 = highest)1. University of Southern California University of Delaware University of Pittsburgh
Picture: stan.uio.no http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduateschools/top-health-schools/physical-therapy-rankings

Typical Prerequisites
Are there prerequisite courses for PT programs? Prerequisites vary among programs. To be safe, check with the programs that you are interested in to see the specific requirements. An APTA survey of schools found that more than 50% of PT programs require courses such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, statistics, psychology, and general biology. Other courses that may be required include English, social science, humanities, computers, medical terminology, exercise physiology, human development, kinesiology, organic chemistry, research methods, cell biology, and pathology. Go to this website for typical prerequisites: http://www.ptcas.org/PTCAS_Courses_2011_12_FINAL_forApplicants. pdf

Prerequisites
http://www.ptcas.org/Directory.html This website from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has admission information on all PT schools in the nation!