What Will I Learn in a Physical and Occupational Therapy Degree Program?

As a physical and occupational therapy student, you'll learn how to help patients restore their mobility, work through injuries and overcome disabling conditions. The vast majority of jobs in physical and occupational therapy, aside from aiding and assisting, require degrees at the master's or doctoral level, so students should plan accordingly when choosing a school and setting career goals. Through these programs, students will take classes in biology, physics, anatomy, chemistry, biomechanics, human growth and development, examination techniques and social sciences. At the end of this course work, students should have learned enough about both the academic and clinical aspects of their work to pass a state licensing exam.

Physical Therpay Aide	Physical Therapy Cert.	Doctorate of Physical Ther.

What Can I Do With a Physical and Occupational Therapy Degree?

Most graduates in this degree program go on to work in hospitals and private clinics. Depending on the level of experience, grads can expect to work as aides, therapists and even management. Some therapists might also find themselves interested in more specific types of work, catering solely to the care of athletic injuries or helping the elderly maintain their mobility. Although many students will go on to work in existing medical facilities, some may open their own practices.

What Is the Career Outlook for Physical and Occupational Therapy Degree Students?

There is a growing need for qualified individuals to help patients through disability, pain management and injury recovery, and graduates from a physical and occupational therapy program can expect job prospects to be good in the coming years as the field grows faster than average. How much graduates of this program can expect to make depends largely on the degree level they choose to pursue. Those with an associate's will be qualified for aide and assistant positions that pay on average about $37,000 a year. Those with higher level degrees who have obtained a license from the state can expect to make about $60,000.