How to Enter the Physical Therapist Job Market
Physical therapists are commonly employed in orthopedic settings working with sports or orthopedic conditions, in schools working with the physically challenged student, in nursing homes working with the deconditioned geriatric population, in rehabilitation centers, or in the private home health setting.As a new grad out of school, the best place to start looking for a physical therapy position would be a teaching institution or clinic with several therapists already on staff. The reason for this is that it would allow the new graduate to grow and develop skills, share their own, fresh academic knowledge, and develop their confidence level while being around a more experienced staff. This can most easily be done through internship relationships formed during their academic years.
Other common places to start to get their foot in the door are healthcare staffing agencies which commonly place the therapist in a variety of settings. This can be good if the therapist is looking for a variety of experiences to obtain before settling down in one environment. Often, therapists who go this route develop a variety of skills and enjoy the challenge of new settings.
Healthcare staffing agencies generally must comply with several government regulations before placing any therapists in an institution. This mandates that the candidate must complete training regarding OSHA regulations concerning fire, equipment safety, handling chemicals and possible spills, HIPAA guidelines, and standards of care across the continuum of life and culture before being sent out on an assignment. Agencies must now also comply with regulations concerning the health of the potential therapy candidates, and must obtain vaccination and TB test records from their applicant. Most staffing agencies and even some employers require completion of a pre-employment physical and drug screen before the applicant begins their assignment.
Healthcare recruiting is also a big business in this country. Healthcare recruiters commonly receive lists of healthcare needs throughout the country and then search the web for those who have posted their resumes in order to match a client with a physical therapist searching for a job. This is not always convenient for the candidate, however, because they are often bombarded by mail from recruiters who post physical therapist job openings throughout the country or, if they do happen to find an opening in the state where the candidate resides, it is often several hours away from their home.
Other common ways to obtain employment is through word of mouth or through networking amongst other physical therapists. Once employed, physical therapists can enjoy a satisfying career that entails interaction with others, analysis of biomechanical or posture problems, and the application of their years of rigorous academic training to resolve their patientṣ€™ restrictions, hopefully restoring function and independence to those they serve. Continued success in the field is ensured through patient satisfaction and attainment of the aforementioned goals.