There are a number of physical therapy programs in North Carolina that you could attend in order to become a physical therapist. Because rules can differ significantly form state to state it is important to always attend a school that is accredited by your own state. If not you may run the risk of not meeting the necessary training requirements to become a physical therapist later in life. In addition it is important that you ensure that the school you attend is in fact appropriately accredited in order to avoid wasting both your time and your money on a qualification that will get you nowhere.
How To Become A Physical Therapist In North Carolina
This is quite an intensive qualification as you are expected to hold multiple degrees in order to work as a physical therapist. Specifically you need to hold a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in physical therapy in order to be employed as such. There is also an examination that you will need to take, and the license that you receive as a result of passing that examination will most likely need to be renewed on a regular basis. There are a few specific criteria that must be met in the state of North Carolina specifically so ensure that you are aware of the prerequisites. As with any career there are a number of training and other steps that you will have to go through in order to become a physical therapist in North Carolina:
- The first step is to complete an undergraduate degree in a science based curriculum (although the specific major you take may not be important).
- You the need to complete a master’s degree from an approved and accredited program in North Carolina.
- You also have the option of going on to complete a doctorate degree which is advisable as it will increase your employment options, although it is far from being compulsory.
- You then need to complete the application process and take the national licensure examination offered through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
- Last but not least you must complete the application process for a North Carolina Physical Therapy license; the application, related information and fee schedule are easily found on the website at www.ncptboard.org.
- To do this you must provide proof of passing the national exam, personal information including your name, address, location and dates attended for your institution(s), degree(s) held, license(s) held, and expected place of employment.
List Of Physical Therapy Programs In North Carolina
The following is a comprehensive list of schools on offer in North Carolina:
Duke University
Location: Durham, NC
Degree: Doctorate
Website: http://dpt.duhs.duke.edu/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 2200 West Main Street, Suite B-230, Durham, NC 27705
Phone: 919-681-4380
Fax: 919-684-1846
Email: mike.landry@duke.edu
East Carolina University
Location: Greenville, NC
Degree: Doctorate
Website: http://www.ecu.edu/pt/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: Health Sciences Building, 2410B, Greenville, NC 27834
Phone: 252-744-6239
Email: gillandt@ecu.edu
Elon University
Location: Elon, NC
Degree: Doctorate
Website: http://www.elon.edu/e-web/academics/dpt/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: Gerald L. Francis Center 101B, 2085 Campus Box, Elon, NC 27244
Phone: 336-278-6350
Fax: N/A
Email: rogers@elon.edu
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/physical
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 321 S. Columbia Street, Bondurant Hall, Suite 3000, Chapel Hill, NC 27599
Phone: 919-966-4708
Fax: 919-966-3678
Email: eDPTUNCadmit@med.unc.edu
Western Carolina University
Location: Cullowhee, NC
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.wcu.edu/5951.asp
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 310 Moore Building, Cullowhee, NC 28723
Phone: 828-227-7070
Fax: 828-227-7071
Email: donaldson@wcu.edu
Winston-Salem State University
Location: Winston-Salem, NC
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.wssu.edu/school-health-sciences/departments/physical-therapy/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: FL Atkins Bldg., Room 331, 601 Martin L. King Jr. Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27110
Phone: 336-750-2190
Fax: 336-750-2192
Email: pattersonly@wssu.edu
As you can see there are quite a large number of schools that offer physical therapy programs in North Carolina to choose from. When selecting a school it is very important that you carefully consider all of the options that are presented to you. The decision you make at this point in your career could have a significant impact on your career moving forward as a physical therapist ion the future. The school that you choose should meet your personal ideals, but there are also a number of practical aspects that you must take into consideration when selecting a school. For example it is extremely important that the school you select is appropriately accredited, or else you may be wasting your time and your money by studying through that institution.
Salary
According to physicaltherpaycareer.net the average salary that you can earn as a physical therapist in North Carolina is about $74,450 a year. However, according to cbsalary.com, there are differences between cities within the same states. The website lists the following salaries for the various regions in North Carolina:
- In Asheville you can expect to earn around $71,535 a year
- In Lenoir you can expect to earn around $74, 853 a year
- In Chapel Hill you can expect to earn around $66,352 a year
- In Mooresville you can expect to earn around $77, 428 a year
- In Charlotte you can expect to earn around $73,810 a year
- In Morganton you can expect to earn around $74, 853 a year
- In Durham you can expect to earn around $66, 352 a year
- In Newton you can expect to earn around $$74, 853 a year
- In Gastonia you can expect to earn around $73, 810 a year
- In Raleigh you can expect to earn around $63, 192 a year
- In Goldsboro you can expect to earn around $67, 600 a year
- In Rock Hill you can expect to earn around $70, 888 a year
- In Greensboro you can expect to earn around $73, 107 a year
- In Rocky Mount you can expect to earn around $80, 264 a year
- In Greenville you can expect to earn around $64, 761 a year
- In Winston Salem you can expect to earn around $73, 453 a year
- In Hickory you can expect to earn around $74, 853 a year
- In Winston-Salem you can expect to earn around $70, 888 a year
- In High Point you can expect to earn around $73, 107 a year
Within North Carolina, then, the salary can differ significantly from city to city. However there are also a number of other influences that may have an effect on the salary that you are eligible to earn as a physical therapist within North Carolina. For example the industry that you work for may play a role as different industries place different price tags on physical therapists. The same goes for different employers. The level of experience and education that you have will also play a role. In some specific cases you may notice gender differences in terms of how much physical therapists are paid.
Career Outlook
Physical therapists are part of the healthcare industry and consequently they benefit from the job security and constant increases in jobs that characterize this industry. The field of physical therapy in the United States has seen steady growth in the last several years and future estimates state that this growth period will continue and by 2016 there will be 27 percent more physical therapists practicing nationwide than there are now. North Carolina currently employs approximately 3,700 physical therapists (2.6% of the healthcare workforce), with an average salary range of $29.99 per hour. These numbers are expected to increase along with the numbers of the entire nation, making North Carolina one of the best regions of the United States in which to complete a physical therapy program and to seek employment as a physical therapist as a result of that program. Physical therapy can also at times be seen as a form of preventative care, something which is also on the increase as there is a growing demand for preventative healthcare measures. Physical therapists have the opportunity to branch out and begin their own practices, something which can be very lucrative and result in even further career outlook options and opportunities.
Becoming a physical therapist in North Carolina seems to be a very wise career move to make. It must be noted, however, that there are states that have better opportunities in terms of the number of schools available. In addition there are states where you may stand the chance of being paid more as a physical therapy assistant than in others. It is important that you consider all of the parameters of the career before enrolling in any physical therapy programs in North Carolina. That being said, it is not a bad state in which to be a physical therapist.