October is National Physical Therapy Month (PT Month), and it’s the perfect time to flex your career muscles, stretch your skills, and set new goals. So, what better way to level up than with biggest advancement opportunities for your physical therapist career?
To celebrate PT Month, explore seven physical therapist advancement opportunities to boost your career, expand your skills, and maybe even increase your salary!
When is PT Month?
National Physical Therapy Month (PT Month) is every October. It’s a great time for PTs, PTAs, and future PTs to work on their professional development and hit new career milestones.
Physical Therapist Advancement Opportunities: How to Level Up Your PT Career
Just as you assess your patient’s needs and set goals for their recovery, do the same for your career! Craft a career “treatment plan” to achieve your professional objectives. To help, let’s look at some physical therapist advancement opportunities to grow your career this PT Month:
1. Explore Continuing Education Opportunities
Each state has its own continuing education requirements. However, use these requirements not just to “meet the minimum,” but to strategically advance your physical therapist career!
Get clear on your PT career goals and find courses, webinars, and training opportunities that align with them. The APTA (American Physical Therapy Association) Learning Center is a great place to start this PT Month. They offer CE credits in a variety of categories, including:
- Acute Care
- Aquatics
- Cardiovascular
- Wound Management
- Leadership and Innovation
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Private Practice
- Mental Health
- DEI
- Telehealth, and more!
2. Get a PT Certification
Looking to give your PT career a major boost? Becoming a board-certified specialist is one of the best physical therapist advancement opportunities to do that. PT certifications not only support your patient care skills, but it also strengthens your resume and increases your earning potential.
Become Board-Certified
You can become board-certified through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) in 10 different specialties:
- Cardiovascular & Pulmonary
- Clinical Electrophysiology
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Sports
- Women’s Health
- Wound Management
How to Become a Board-Certified PT
To begin, you’ll need to have completed a certain number of patient care hours. Each specialty has its own additional requirements, such as specific projects or reports. After meeting these requirements, you’ll need to pass a specialty-specific exam.
Overall, the process takes 5 steps:
- Check the next round of dates and deadlines for certification.
- Review specialty-specific requirements.
- Apply for a specific specialty.
- Study and pass the exam.
- Celebrate your new certification!
Get Certified Through Advanced Proficiency Pathways
The APTA also offers a program called Advanced Proficiency Pathways. This is an assessment-based certificate program you can join to prove you have “advanced proficiency” in one of 8 different areas:
- Acute Care
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
- Geriatrics
- Neurology
- Oncology
- Orthopedics
- Pediatrics
- Wound Management
3. Consider Shifting to More In-Demand PT Settings
Looking to shift gears in your career? Advance as a physical therapist by exploring settings and opportunities that are in high demand, such as:
- Home Health
- Skilled Nursing Facilities/Long-Term Care Centers
- Acute Care
- Outpatient Clinics
- Private Practices
- Schools
- PRN/Per Diem
4. Prepare for Advanced PT Roles
Every facility has its own pathway for growth. At some hospitals, you might start as a staff PT, climb the ladder to a lead or senior PT, or even become a manager or director. Different facilities have different titles for “levels” of therapists, such as Staff Physical Therapist I-III, Senior PT I-II, Program Specialist, Assistant Supervisor, Director, and more.
Talk with your facility to understand their growth path. If your current facility doesn’t offer these physical therapist advancement opportunities, consider exploring other facilities where you can grow.
5. Become a Travel PT
Becoming a travel PT is one of the most exciting ways to expand your career horizons.
As a travel PT, you’ll work temporary contracts in different cities and states across the U.S., experiencing new places, accelerating your skill development, and potentially earning more than the average staff PT.
6. Join an APTA Chapter, Section, and/or Academy
Becoming a member of the APTA is a great way to connect with your fellow PTs. Membership gives you access to events, networking opportunities, and other physical therapist advancement opportunities locally. Your state’s chapter is a perfect place to start.
On top of this, ATPA sections and academies are groups you can join based on topics and interests. Depending on the section or academy, you can be a part of research opportunities, courses, conferences, and other physical therapist advancement opportunities.
Some sections and academies include:
- Acute care
- Aquatics
- Cardiovascular and Pulmonary
- Clinical Electrophysiology and Wound Management Profile
- Education Profile
- Federal
- Geriatrics
- Hand and Upper Extremity
- And more
7. Increase or Expand Your Skill Set
To truly stretch your PT career, also focus on:
- Strengthening your existing skills to become an expert.
- Expanding your PT skill set to address gaps and become well-rounded.
- All the above!
When planning your CE, take a close look at the descriptions for the PT jobs you’re aiming for. Are there any skills they require that you’re missing? Time to fill in the gaps and build on them!
Pro Tip: Connect with your manager or mentor to explore new projects and tasks beyond your current scope. Express your enthusiasm for stepping up and uncover exciting new opportunities for advancement!
How to Find Physical Therapist Advancement Opportunities
Lastly, the best way to advance your physical therapist career is to always be open to new opportunities. This PT Month, unlock new career heights with CareerStaff! With 30+ years of expertise, we’ll help you land the perfect PT job—whether local, travel, or per diem.
Quick apply now to discover exciting roles and boost your career or search jobs nationwide today.