Physical therapy is an essential part of the health and human service professions.
Along with other health care providers, physical therapists work to restore functional abilities to individuals permanently or temporarily disabled by illness, disease, trauma or inherited abnormalities. Career Opportunities Employment opportunities for physical therapy graduates are good, depending on geographical location and desired practice setting. Increased public awareness and the expansion of physical therapy practice into nontraditional health care environments have been responsible for a continuing number of career opportunities. After satisfactory completion of state licensure requirements, physical therapists may choose from a variety of job opportunities. The American Physical Therapy Association's specialty areas include orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, cardiopulmonary, community health, oncology and sports medicine.