Physical Therapy is Booming in North Carolina 

By  //  August 1, 2019

Some rotator cuff tears can be managed non-operatively with shoulder strengthening as an integral element of physical therapy.

The career outlook for a physical therapist in North Carolina and across the U.S. is healthy with one of the fastest rates of growth on record.

Becoming a physical therapist is not an easy option with a degree needed along with licensure in the state you wish to work in. However, for those who do not want to spend their time and money trying to obtain a degree, there are other opportunities in this profession to explore, including the chance to become a physical therapy assistant.

Choosing to become a PTA is a good option for those looking to enter this field with a high school diploma and the ability to train at an accredited community college to allow them to become a licensed PTA.

Why are there so many opportunities on North Carolina

Physical therapists and PTAs usually do their work together working as a team to help those going through rehabilitation from an injury or affected by a long term medical condition.

The rise of the PT and PTA in the last few decades is large because of the age of the population that is growing as the population of the U.S. lives longer. Baby boomers are living longer and trying to stay healthier as they age with around 16 percent of the population of over nine million in North Carolina aged 65 or over.

This aging population is looking for improved health as they age and is usually more active than previous generations. All these factors have come together to see an increase in the number of PTs and PTAs training in The Carolinas.

Projected PT and PTA growth rate

Once you have made the decision to become a PT or PTA, you will have to look at how easy it will be to get a job in your area of the U.S. Firstly, the number of physical therapists and physical therapy assistants is expected to continue growing in the coming decade.

For physical therapists, the rate of growth reported across the U.S. is far higher than the national average at 28 percent between 2016 and 2026. The number of physical therapy assistants taking up new positions across the U.S. will grow at an even faster rate by 2026 with 30 percent more professionals added to its ranks. 

A major factor in the high number of PTAs training to enter the profession in the late 2010s is the high median entry pay for a newly qualified individual. A PTA in the U.S. can expect a median pay of over $40,000 with more than 42,000 jobs added across the U.S. in the next decade.

Becoming licensed and certified

Each state in the U.S. requires its physical therapists and physical therapy assistants to undergo the correct level of training at accredited schools and obtain a license to work in that state.

For Physical Therapy Assistants in North Carolina, an associate’s degree from an accredited college is the first requirement before a license must be obtained following the completion of your degree.

One of the bonuses of training to be a physical therapist in North Carolina is the ability to move to partner states where your license and degree will be recognized by the authorities.

Physical Therapists undergo far more stringent and time-consuming with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree needed for all to work in any U.S. state. Once you have completed your degree a license is needed to work and partake in the national median average pay for this role of more than $80,000.

Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read MagazineRelated Story:
Enjoy Space Coast Daily, Brevard County’s Best and Most Read Magazine

CLICK HERE FOR BREVARD COUNTY NEWS