How to Hire a Physical Therapist

Hiring a Physical Therapist

Physical therapy is a rapidly growing field, and if your practice is going to grow with it, that means hiring more physical therapists. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for physical therapists (PTs) is expected to increase by 17% over the next 10 years, which is much faster than average. This is because of the large number of aging baby boomers, who are more active later in life than previous generations, as well as an increase in chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity. And while high demand for PT services is good for business, if you don’t hire a quality team of therapists, it could hurt you in the long run.

So, what makes a good physical therapist? First and foremost is their ability to perform their job responsibilities.

Duties of a Physical Therapist

What does a physical therapist do? A lot, actually. PTs care for people who have been injured and need help rehabilitating. They treat all kinds of problems, like:

Amputations
Arthritis
Back and neck injuries
Injuries related to work and sports
Neurological disorders such as stroke
Sprains, strains, and fractures
And more

The day-to-day work of a physical therapist will depend on each patient. Since no one injury is the same as the next, PTs will need to be able to work with the patient to develop a personalized plan. For general PTs, that means they’ll need a wide skill set. However, some physical therapists will specialize in one or two types of injuries. Regardless of their specialty, the duties of a physical therapist will usually look like this:

Review patients’ medical history and notes from other healthcare workers
Observe patients’ motor functions and listen to their concerns in order to diagnose the issue
Develop personalized plans for patients, outlining goals and the expected outcomes of the plans
Enable better health and wellness and prevent further injury through the use of exercises, stretching maneuvers, and equipment
Evaluate a patient’s progress and modify the care plan as needed

Highest Education Level

Physical Therapists report having the following education background

Bachelor's Degree (33.7%)

Doctorate Degree (21.8%)

Master's Degree (21.1%)

Associate's Degree (15.3%)

High School or GED (3.9%)

Vocational Degree or Certification (3.3%)

Some College (0.6%)

Some High School (0.2%)

Licensing and Certification

Physical Therapists offer the following licenses and certifications
Qualifications / Skills

The following top skills are often required or desired to land a Physical Therapist position

Athletic Training, Doctorate, Occupational Therapy, Manual Therapy, Joint Mobilization, Outpatient Rehabilitation, Hand Therapy, Gait Training, Outpatient Orthopedics, Soft Tissue Mobilization, Vestibular Rehabilitation, Lymphedema, Therapeutic Exercise, Neuromuscular Therapy, Physical Therapy

Average Work Experience

Here's a breakdown of the years of experience offered by Physical Therapists

Less than 1 year (45.2%)

None (30.4%)

1-2 years (23.3%)

2-4 years (0.6%)

4-6 years (0.6%)

Qualifications to Be a Physical Therapist

In order for physical therapists to perform their job duties, there are certain qualifications to be a physical therapist they must meet. For example, all states require that PTs are licensed. That means they’ve passed the National Physical Therapy Examination administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Some states have additional requirements, and you can learn more on the FSBPT website.

If you’re hiring a PT specialist, they’ll also need to be certified by The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties. Specialist certification requires passing an exam and completing clinical work in the specialty area.

Physical Therapist Education Requirements

As part of the licensing requirements to be a physical therapist, the FSBPT mandates that all PTs have a bachelor’s degree and a Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT). DPT programs must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) and typically last three years, after which the PT will be able to apply to a clinical residency program. Recent graduates are a great talent pool to recruit from, and if you’re considering going this route, be sure to increase your hiring efforts around the time they’ll be graduating.

Soft Skills to Look for in a PT

Aside from the education and licensing requirements, there are also certain soft skills you should look for when hiring a physical therapist. Because they will be dealing with patients and their families all day, PTs must have good communication skills. They should also be empathetic, have lots of compassion, and a desire to help people.

Great PTs must have strong analytic and observational skills to diagnose a patient’s problem, evaluate treatments, and provide care. Solid time management skills are also necessary since PTs treat multiple patients each day while also still needing to complete administrative tasks.

Take a look at the other skills and qualifications employers look for when hiring a PT on the included charts.

Remember, PT salaries vary significantly by location, so use our free Salary Research Tool to find the right data for your area.

Sample Physical Therapist Job Posting

A competitive salary alone won’t be enough to attract the best physical therapist candidates. To really get them interested in your practice, you need a well-written and enticing job ad. Use the following sample physical therapist job posting to get started, and keep in mind the basics of what makes a great job ad when creating your own.

Physical Therapist

[Practice Name] is looking for a highly skilled and dedicated Physical Therapist (PT, DPT) to join our practice. We deliver high-quality, effective care in the [location] area and are committed to helping people on their road to recovery.

The Physical Therapist will be able to work with a wide variety of patients from all walks of life. You will be responsible for assessing and evaluating patient needs, developing a treatment plan, and help the patient become healthy again.

Responsibilities:

Review patients’ medical history, referrals, and other relevant notes
Diagnose patients by observing motor functions and listening to their concerns
Develop personalized plans for patients
Outline the patients’ goals and the expected outcomes of the plans
Conduct exercises, stretching maneuvers, and utilize equipment to enable better health and wellness and prevent further injury
Evaluate a patients’ progress and modify the care plan as needed
Communicate plan details to patient and their family

Requirements:

A Doctorate in Physical Therapy
Up-to-date licensure from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
Excellent observation and diagnostic abilities
Solid interpersonal and communication skills
Ability to juggle multiple tasks and patients

Benefits for Physical Therapists

Another way to attract top PT talent is to advertise your benefits package. Many states require physical therapists to continue their education in some form to maintain their license so offering tuition reimbursement is an extremely attractive perk. Career advancement opportunities are also popular, as is the ability to set their own hours, if possible.

Physical Therapist Interview Questions

The interview portion of the hiring process is the best way to narrow down your search for the best physical therapist candidate. Be sure to ask questions that reveal more about their processes and soft skills so you can determine if they are a good fit for your practice. Use these questions to get started: