Physical therapy programs in Oklahoma may be few and far between, but there are a number of compelling reasons for becoming a physical therapist in this state. For one thing the salary is fairly impressive, even if it does fluctuate for a number of reasons. In addition the career outlook for physical therapists in this state is excellent. If a stable career is what you are looking for, becoming a physical therapist in Oklahoma is not one of the worst decisions you could make.
How To Become A Physical Therapist In Oklahoma
In order to become a physical therapist in Oklahoma you need to first earn an undergraduate degree. This is a basic requirement for entry into a postgraduate degree program that will allow you to practice as a physical therapist. Topics that you should cover in this undergraduate degree program to be fully prepared include:
- Anatomy courses
- Physiology courses
- Biology courses
- Mathematics courses
- Physics courses
- Chemistry courses
- Social science courses
You will then need to enter a doctor of physical therapy program. This is one of the minimum requirements involved in preparing for licensure in the state of Oklahoma. If we look at the qualification offered by the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center we can see that there are a number of prerequisite courses you will have to complete before you can enter this degree program:
- Statistics
- Anatomy
- Physics
- Physiology
- Developmental psychology
- Chemistry
Students in the advanced program at University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center study:
- Exercise science
- Orthopedic management
- Human movement
Oklahoma requires physical therapists pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to qualify for a license to practice in the state. This exam includes sections on:
- The musculoskeletal system
- The cardiac and pulmonary system
- The nervous and neuromuscular system
- The metabolic and endocrine system
- The gastrointestinal system
- Physical therapy devices and equipment
- Physical therapy techniques
In total you will need to answer 250 questions on the test. Once you have passed the test and become licensed you will need to renew your license once every two years in order to continue working as a physical therapist in Oklahoma. This involves 40 contact hours of continuing education.
List Of Physical Therapy Programs In Oklahoma
There are only two schools offering physical therapy programs in Oklahoma:
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Location: Oklahoma City, OK
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.ah.ouhsc.edu/rehab/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 1200 North Stonewall Avenue, Room 3092, Oklahoma City, OK 73126
Phone: 405-271-2131
Fax: 405-271-2432
Email: alliedhealth-info@ouhsc.edu
Langston University
Location: Langston, OK
Qualifications: Doctor of Physical Therapy, Transition DPT
Website: http://www.langston.edu/academics/physical_therapy.aspx
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: PO Box 1500, Langston, OK 73050
Phone: 405-466-3697
Fax: N/A
Email: LUpt@langston.edu
Although there are only two physical therapy programs in Oklahoma to choose from, you can be certain that these programs are of a high quality. Both are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education. When looking for a physical therapy program it is essential to ensure that it is properly accredited. If it is not accredited your qualification will not be much use to you and you will struggle to find employment. It is recommended that you apply to both of these programs when you begin your education as this will save you time in the long run. If both programs accept you, you will then need to analyze the tuition offered and decide which program is better. This could depend on which school is closer to you. It could also depend on what each school charges for tuition. If possible you should base your decision on which school you think is best equipped to prepare you for a career as a physical therapist rather than on which school is more convenient to get to or cheaper.
Salary
According to www.physicaltherapycareer.net there are 1820 physical therapists employed in Oklahoma who earn an average of $33.48 an hour and $69,630 a year. According to the following salaries can be earned in each of Oklahoma’s cities:
- In Enid you can expect to earn about $70, 026 a year as a physical therapist
- In Norman you can expect to earn about $65, 922 a year as a physical therapist
- In Lawton you can expect to earn about $88, 034 a year as a physical therapist
- In Oklahoma City you can expect to earn about $65, 922 a year as a physical therapist
- In Muskogee you can expect to earn about $77, 620 a year as a physical therapist
- In Tulsa you can expect to earn about $59, 351 a year as a physical therapist
According to www.alliedhealthworld.com the following salaries can be expected in the different parts of Oklahoma:
- In Oklahoma City you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year
- In Tulsa you can expect to earn about $65,000 a year
- In Norman you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year
- In Lawton you can expect to earn about $70,000 a year
- In Broken Arrow you can expect to earn about $66,000 a year
- In Edmond you can expect to earn about $74,000 a year
- In Midwest City you can expect to earn about $73,000 a year
Different sources give different estimates about how much physical therapists, who have completed physical therapy programs in Oklahoma, can expect to earn. This is because there are a number of important factors to take into account that play a big part in terms of your salary. As you can see from the numbers above, several sources agree that you will earn different salaries in different parts of the state, even if they cannot agree on the exact amounts that you will earn. If you choose to work in a city that has fewer physical therapists than most other cities, your skills will be in high demand and you will probably be able to ask for a higher salary. On the other hand if you work in a city where there are too many physical therapists you will earn less because the demand is lower. The actual employer that you work for will also play a role in how much you earn. For example there are a number of different industries you could work in as a physical therapist. Across the entire country the following salary averages have been observed in different industries:
- In Physical Therapy you can expect to earn $49,633 – $80,700 a year
- In Healthcare you can expect to earn $50,464 – $83,586 a year
- In Rehabilitation you can expect to earn $50,746 – $82,432 a year
- In Hospital you can expect to earn $51,937 – $85,976 a year
- In Home Health Care you can expect to earn $48,750 – $84,799 a year
Specific companies also pay different rates:
- At Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine you can expect to earn $40,268 – $79,463 a year
- At Gentiva Health Services, Inc. you can expect to earn $56,270 – $80,854 a year
- At Healthsouth Rehabilitation Hospital you can expect to earn $57,891 – $66,955 a year
- At Select Physical Therapy you can expect to earn $58,600 – $82,850 a year
- At Novacare Rehabilitation you can expect to earn $55,955 – $70,318 a year
Your gender may affect your salary. As a woman you can earn $57,701 – $71,562 as a physical therapist, and as a man you can earn $58,981 – $73,019 – these numbers are averages for the whole country. Your level of education is also crucial. With a Doctorate (PhD) you can earn $50,804 – $76,477 a year, with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) you can earn $51,327 – $76,787 a year, with a Bachelor’s Degree you can earn $49,566 – $91,077 a year, with a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) you can earn $58,373 – $88,282, and with a Bachelor of Science (BS / BSc), Physical Therapy you can earn $55,685 – $98,006 a year.
Career Outlook
It is interesting to note that, overall, the field of physical therapy in the United States is growing stronger. The unemployment rate is currently at 0.2%, which is lower than once was. It is also important to note that this unemployment rate is an expected to drop even lower during the next six years. In 2006, 172,900 physical therapists were employed in varying industries and that number is expected to increase by 27% by 2016, bringing the number of therapists in the field to just fewer than 220,000. This means that now is a good time to enter the field of physical therapy because the projected future for the profession looks extremely promising. According to www.alliedhealthworld.com, “Oklahoma had 2,160 physical therapists in 2006 and that number is estimated to rise by 17% to 2,530 during the same ten-year time-frame Moreover, since September 2009, Oklahoma’s unemployment rate was less than half of the national average, with only nine states having a lower rate”.
Although there are limited opportunities in terms of education for prospective physical therapists in Oklahoma, it is still an excellent state to be a physical therapist in due to the fantastic career outlook and impressive salaries available.