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Whenever one recuperates from a major illness, they must go through a period of therapy. This is the time when one starts seeing a specially trained health care pro, called the physical therapist, as much as their doctor. With the availability of college courses online, many of these therapists will have earned their degree in a way that allowed them some great hands-on training.

Sometimes referred to as simply PTs, physical therapists are healthcare professionals who diagnose and treat individuals of all ages who have medical problems or other health-related conditions that limit their abilities to move as they would like in their daily lives. Physical therapists develop individual plans using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.

A PTs job can be quite physically demanding. Their occupation can involve workouts as strenuous as what they put their patients through, often having to stoop, kneel, crouch, lift, and stand for long periods. In addition, physical therapists sometimes need to move heavy equipment and patients as part of their therapies. It can also be during odd hours, to better confirm with a patient’s personal schedule. As such, it’s not uncommon for a PT to need his or her own therapist to work the kinks out of a day’s work.

Today’s entrants to this profession need a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited physical therapy program. Among the undergraduate courses one should take include anatomy, biology, chemistry, physics, social science, mathematics, and statistics. From there, it’s time to either see if one can get a job at a hospital or clinic or go straight on for one’s Master’s degree in physical therapy. Either way, sooner or later a PT has to get hands-on training before going for certification.

The Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapist Association, the official certification body of the physical therapy field, recognizes slightly over 200 programs, both brick and mortar and online colleges, for a degree. Currently, one must have at minimum a Master’s degree to practice, which takes approximately two to two-and-a-half years after getting one’s Bachelor’s. They also administer the National Physical Therapy Examination, which must be taken after graduating. A number of states require continuing education as a condition of maintaining licensure, so many PTs keep an account with an online college to stay abreast of their field.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary of a physical therapist is slightly over $73,000 a year. It’s not uncommon to earn over $100,000. The benefits usually include health coverage, possible savings and continued education programs. They usually are employed by hospitals, clinics and other major health care institutions. Sooner or later, many therapists set up their own business, either their own facility or moving into home health care.

According to the Bureau, there are over 180,000 therapists as of 2018. The U.S. needs another 54,000 before the decade is over. As such, it’s been rated one of quickest growing occupations at the moment.

There is an incredible amount of financial aid for students taking their distance education degree and attending traditional college, so consult your school’s financial aid counselor about it. These and other medical college are worth exploring as a way to enter a fascinating field that really helps people. As it stands, as long as there is a need for therapy, there will be a need for therapists with the right training from proper college degree.