What You Need To Do To Enter The Field Of Physical Therapy

If you have decided that you would love to start a career as a physical therapist, you will need to start making a list of all of the things that need to be done in order to achieve that goal. Should you find yourself at a loss, you will want to consider putting the following advice to good use.

Find The Right School To Attend

The school that you select can make all the difference when it comes to starting your new career after graduation. This is because some schools will have a better reputation than others. Then there are schools that dedicate more to helping their graduates with job placements, while others might just throw you to the wolves and wish you luck. When you are talking with the admission counselor at a school that you are interested in, you will want to remember to ask about their job placement assistance. Specifically ask what percentage of their graduates from the physical therapy program are placed with an employer right after graduation. If the percentage is low or they don't seem to know off hand, then you might want to consider another school. The schools that are proud of how well they help their graduating physical therapists will usually have those figures handy.

Apply For Internships

Depending on your state laws, you might be able to work as an intern at the office of a physical therapist while you are still in school. You might have to wait until you are closer to graduation, but it is still something you will want to take advantage of if it is an option for you. This is because working as an intern will give you the chance to see the inner workings of a physical therapy office or facility. The more you know, the more prepared you will be for employment once you have graduated. Your employer will know that they don't have to do any hand-holding during your first few weeks or months on the job.

Keep Up With Your Training

When you enter the field of physical therapy, you have to know that you are making a commitment to keep up with as much training as possible. This is to ensure that you are well aware of the latest advancements in the field and that you are well versed in any new techniques or exercises that have been shown to dramatically help patients. This is a commitment that you will undertake throughout your entire career.

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