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Career Information

The job outlook and the job requirements vary considerably
with each specialty of therapy and calls for a thorough
understanding. Find the information and resources you need to
further enhance your career here.

Physical Therapists

Job Description
 Physical therapists (PTs) provide services to individuals with
permanent or temporary disabling physical conditions  such as
arthritis, back pain, tendon and ligament problems, surgical
recovery and accident victims to help restore physical function,
improve mobility and chronic pain management. Depending on their
diagnosis, they develop the exercise routine and frequently use
heat, cold, electricity, sound, and water technologies to
relieve pain and stimulate muscles. Some physical therapists
specialize in sports therapy, orthopedics, or pediatrics while
others focus on rehabilitation caused by injuries. Physical
therapists work in various settings –hospitals, out-patient
clinics and hospices.

Education and Training
 A master’s degree or doctoral degree is required for a
physical therapist. Basic education typically starts with a
Bachelor of Science degree with a pre-med course in biology.
Clinical affiliation of about 200 to 300 hours in physical
Therapy clinics is required. Candidates become eligible to
practice upon passing the National Physical Therapist
Examination. Depending on the State licensing board, the PTs may
also require continuing education classes and attendance of
workshops to continue to maintain the status of their license.

Earnings
 According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the
average annual salary for physical therapists was $74,000, in
2008. According to the same statistics, the demand for physical
therapists is expected to grow 27% between 2006 and 2016.

Occupational Therapists

Job Description
 Occupational Therapists work closely with any one struggling
with simple tasks of everyday life, people with autism and other
developmental delays as well as the physically handicapped.
Occupational Therapy is defined by the American Occupational
Therapy Association as the “skilled treatment that helps
individuals achieve independence in all facets of their
lives”. Occupational therapists assist their patients in
performing and acquiring skills to do mundane daily activities
like writing, cooking and getting dressed. They help their
patients learn the skills that will help them lead less
dependent and satisfying lives.  Occupational therapists work in
hospitals, clinics, nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers,
schools and may also provide home health care services.

Education and Training
Occupational Therapists start their careers with a master’s
degree from an accredited educational program. Passing the
examination held by the National Board for Certification in
Occupational Therapy is required to obtain licensure as an
occupational therapist. Fieldwork is typically required.

Earnings
As with many fields, the income often varies with education and
experience. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the
median annual income of the occupational therapist was $ 67,920,
in 2008.

Speech Therapists

Job Description
 Speech –language pathologists and audiologists serve people
with speech disorders caused by stroke, traumatic brain injury,
cleft lips and palate, autism and other such developmental
disorders and have trouble communicating verbally. They also
provide language therapy for those who have limited social
skills and voice disorders such as inappropriate pitch or
difficulty with particular phonology. The treatment mainly
depends on the nature and severity of the disorder and often
requires instructive practices and drilling and, in some cases,
requires sign language to facilitate communication. Mostly,
Speech-language pathologists work in schools in special
education programs and help prepare the children diagnosed with
speech and language disorders face the challenges of the main
stream classes. They also work in clinics, and practice home
care.

Education and Training
Master degree in speech-language pathology is required. Passing
the national examination on speech-language pathology is
mandatory. Before operating as a licensed therapist, a candidate
must complete 400 hours of supervised field work. The
eligibility to work as a speech therapist in school varies
between different states.

Earnings
The median annual income for a speech therapist, according to
the U.S. Bureau of Statistics was $66,130 in 2008. The
audiologists had the median income of $65,500.  The speech
therapists employed by the hospitals earned significantly higher
than their counterparts working in schools.

Massage Therapists

Massage therapists serve clients who seek massage therapy for
rehabilitation purposes or relaxation. Massage therapy is used
as an alternate healthcare and holistic healing. The massage
therapist manipulates the soft tissue muscles of the body to
improve circulation, and relax the tired muscles. Massage
therapist may specialize in some of the nearly hundred types of
massage therapy approaches- Swedish massage, deep tissue
massage, reflexology, acupressure, sports massage, and
neuromuscular massage to name just a few. All these approaches
require different techniques of varying hand movements and
pressure level. Massage therapist chooses the approach best
suitable for the client. They work in wellness centers, spas,
resorts, health clubs, clinics and fitness centers.

Education and Training
The education standards and training requirements are different
in almost all the states. It is best to check the requirements
of the state and locality. Candidates are required to complete a
training program at an accredited school and pass the National
Certification Examination for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork.

Earning
The median annual income of the message therapist in the U.S is
estimated to be
$37,230, in 2008 and it varies dramatically state-to state. The
median salary for massage therapist in Alaska is $80,500 and in
Hawaii, the annual median salary is $42,380.