What are Physical and Occupational Therapists?Physical Therapists (PTs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) are doctoral- and master's-level health professionals, respectively, specializing in helping patients regain movement, manage pain, and achieve functional independence. PTs focus on restoring gross motor function, mobility, and reducing pain after injury, illness, or surgery. OTs focus on adapting the environment and teaching patients skills to participate in daily activities (occupations) like dressing, eating, bathing, and working.
Typical Education
Both require a graduate-level degree from an accredited program: Physical Therapists must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, while Occupational Therapists must earn a Master’s degree (MOT/MSOT) or a Doctoral degree (OTD).
Salary Range in the United States
The typical median annual salary (May 2022) for Physical Therapists was $99,710, with the annual wages ranging from $72,260 (10th percentile) to $130,870 (90th percentile). The median annual salary (May 2024) for Occupational Therapists was $98,340, with the annual wages ranging from $67,090 (10th percentile) to $129,830 (90th percentile).
Day in the Life
How to Become Physical and Occupational Therapists
- Obtain a Bachelor's Degree: Complete a four-year undergraduate degree, often focusing on prerequisite coursework in biology, anatomy, physiology, and psychology.
- Gain Observation Hours: Complete hundreds of required observation/volunteer hours in multiple clinical settings (e.g., orthopedic, pediatric, hospital) for both PT and OT school applications.
- Complete Professional Graduate Degree: Enroll in and graduate from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE for DPT) or the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE for MOT/OTD). This typically takes 2.5 to 3 years.
- Pass National Licensure Exam: Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) for PTs or the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT) exam for OTs.
- Obtain State Licensure: Secure the required state license to practice. Many therapists may also pursue an optional residency or fellowship to specialize in an advanced area (e.g., Hand Therapy, Sports, Neurology).
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Essential Skills
- Clinical Reasoning and Assessment: The ability to analyze patient movement patterns (PT) or functional task performance (OT) and develop a differential diagnosis and evidence-based treatment plan.
- Empathy and Motivational Interviewing: Skillfully building rapport with patients who are often in pain or frustrated, and employing motivational techniques to encourage consistent participation in their recovery plan.
- Manual Dexterity and Physical Stamina: Possessing the physical ability to perform manual therapy techniques, transfer patients, and demonstrate therapeutic exercises over a full workday.
- Adaptability and Creativity: For OTs, creatively adapting tools, environments, and tasks to enable a patient to perform their desired daily activities. For PTs, adapting exercises to different levels of patient function.
- Documentation and Communication: Maintaining precise, defensible legal documentation of all treatments and progress in the Electronic Health Record (EHR) and clearly communicating findings to physicians and care team members.
Key Responsibilities
- Initial Evaluation and Goal Setting: Conducting a thorough assessment of a patient's movement, strength, or functional status, and establishing measurable, time-bound, patient-centered goals.
- Developing Individualized Treatment Plans: Creating and executing specific interventions, which may include therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, gait training (PT), or training in activities of daily living (ADLs) and use of adaptive equipment (OT).
- Patient Education and Home Programs: Instructing patients and their families on self-management strategies, proper body mechanics, use of assistive devices, and creating customized home exercise or activity programs to ensure continuity of care.
- Documentation and Progress Monitoring: Regularly updating the patient's medical record with accurate descriptions of treatment, objective measurements of progress, and justifying the necessity of ongoing therapy to payers.
- Interprofessional Collaboration: Working closely with physicians, nurses, social workers, and other therapists to coordinate care, participate in discharge planning, and ensure a smooth continuum of patient treatment.
Five Common Interview Questions
- "Can you explain the difference between Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy, and why you chose your specific discipline?"
- Description: This tests your understanding of the distinct, yet often overlapping, scopes of practice and confirms your passion and commitment to your chosen field.
- "Describe a time you treated a patient whose progress plateaued. What strategies did you implement to overcome this challenge?"
- Description: This assesses your clinical problem-solving skills, creativity, resilience, and reliance on evidence-based practice when standard interventions are insufficient.
- "Tell me about a time you disagreed with a physician or another therapist regarding a patient's treatment plan or discharge disposition."
- Description: This evaluates your professionalism, communication skills, and ability to advocate assertively and respectfully for a patient's best interests within a healthcare team.
- "How do you approach a new patient who is clearly resistant or unmotivated to participate in therapy?"
- Description: This probes your motivational skills, empathy, and ability to build rapport and find patient-centered methods to encourage active participation.
- "What is your philosophy on the use of modalities (e.g., heat, ice, ultrasound) versus therapeutic exercise and activity?"
- Description: This reveals your clinical orientation—whether you prioritize active, function-focused treatments (preferred in modern therapy) or rely heavily on passive, adjunctive modalities.
Questions?
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