OUR MISSION
The School of Physical Therapy is dedicated to excellence and leadership in preparing future physical therapists with the knowledge, behavior, and skills required to function within the diverse roles of the contemporary health care environment. We prepare students to assume leadership roles as physical therapy professionals through autonomous and evidence-based practice, altruism, integrity and ethical conduct, and social and professional responsibility. We are committed to contribution to the body of knowledge in physical therapy through the research efforts of faculty and students. We strive to enrich the community through provision of physical therapy services to those in the region.
Ohio University Therapy Associates, the clinical practice encompassing physical therapy and hearing, speech-language therapy, enriches the mission by demonstrating a working model of self-di rected professionals and lifelong learners who provide physical therapy services to the community and learning experiences to students. The school values the contributions and participation of alumni and all clinical affiliates in program development, implementation, and evaluation.
HISTORY
The School of Physical Therapy began as a 2 year baccalaureate degree program and graduated its first class in June, 1986. In June, 1996, the school implemented a 3+3 (three years of prerequisites plus three years of physical therapy coursework) entry-level master’s degree (M.P.T.) program. The DPT was implemented in 2003 and the first transitional students (13) graduated in 2004, the first class on the new DPT curriculum graduated in 2006.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
According to the American Physical Therapy Association (apta.org), the most recent employment survey (performed in 2001) indicated that the unemployment rate for physical therapists was 1.1%. Since that time, a critical shortage in physical therapists has emerged; and in fact that shortage has primarily arisen in the years 2003-04. The reason for the shortage is most likely the decreased number of applicants to schools of physical therapy during the years 2000-2003.
Although the number of applicants is now increasing, the shortage exists because it takes 2-3 years to produce a physical therapist. The shortage is good news, of course, for the new graduate. Median salaries are reported as $59,500-$64,259 depending on the region of the country, according to the APTA. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates a mean annual salary for physical therapists at $60,520. New graduates are being offered anywhere from $50,000-60,000 to start. Many companies are offering sign-on bonuses to physical therapists and some companies or institutions are offering to pay outstanding educational loans in exchange for signing on. Recruiters send advertisements daily. We estimated that we received approximately 3 advertisements per day from companies seeking physical therapists over the past several months. So, it is a robust market for physical therapists!
The trend for need for physical therapists is expected to continue over the several years, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through 2010. This is due, in part, to the aging of America and the subsequent need of older individuals for the services of a physical therapist. Direct Access (the right of an individual to seek physical therapy care without a physician referral) is expected to increase the number of individuals seeking physical therapy at all ages. Therefore, the outlook for physical therapy as a profession is very bright, indeed.