There are several physical therapy programs in Washington that you can choose to enroll in. it is important to remember that, if you wish to become a physical therapist, that you attend a program that is offered within your own state, in this case, in Washington. This is because different states tend to have different rules and regulations controlling physical therapists and, by attending a school within your own state which is accredited, you stand a higher chance of meeting all of the educational and other requirements for becoming licensed as a physical therapist in that state.
How To Become A Physical Therapist In Washington
In order to be a physical therapist in this state you must be licensed by the Washington State Department of Health Board of Physical Therapy. Before you can be licensed you must meet the following requirements:
- You must have either a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy, or
- A bachelor’s degree in any field followed by a graduate degree in physical therapy
However it is interesting to note that in reality you will need to get a master’s or doctorate degree as bachelor’s degree programs for physical therapist in Washington are no longer accredited by CAPTE, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, and it is necessary to complete a program accredited by this body before you can become a registered and licensed physical therapist in this state. Consequently the educational requirements to be a physical therapist in Washington are currently fairly stringent.
To apply for licensure as a physical therapist in Washington you must:
- Complete and submit an application form (forms can be downloaded at http://www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/Professions/Physical_Therapy).
- Along with your application form you will need to pay an application fee to the board of $100. This is non-refundable.
- In addition to the application fee you will need to submit a passport sized photograph of yourself to the Board.
- Prior to submitting the application, applicants must take and pass with a score of 100% the Washington State jurisprudence exam for physical therapy. This is a requirement as it proves that you are fully aware of the legal aspects involved in being a physical therapist in Washington and therefore proves that you are able to adequately perform your role.
- You need to have completed a required seven-hour training course in AIDS prevention, transmission, and treatment.
- Applicants in Washington also need to provide proof of their education in the form of an official transcript with the date of their graduation included.
- After submitting all of this information you must apply to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). This will cost you $350.
Continuing education is also required as proof of your continuing competency as a physical therapist in the state of Washington. These requirements will differ from state to state. Consequently you need to have a full understanding of the requirements in your state well ahead of time.
List Of Physical Therapy Programs In Washington
In order to become a physical therapist in Washington you have to either complete a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or complete a bachelor’s degree in another major, followed by a specialization in physical therapy. However the educational requirements for this line of work have become more stringent over the years and it is now necessary to hold a master’s degree in physical therapy or a doctorate in physical therapy in the state of Washington in order to be allowed to become registered as a professional physical therapist in this state. Consequently most physical therapy programs in Washington offer one of the latter degree options rather than a bachelor’s degree program for potential physical therapy students.
There are three main physical therapy programs in Washington that you will be able to enroll in as a student with an interest in pursuing this career:
Eastern Washington University
Location: Spokane, WA
Degree: Masters
Website: http://www.ewu.edu/cshe/programs/physical-therapy.xml
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 310 North Riverpoint Blvd., Box T, Spokane, WA 99202
Phone: 509-828-1354
Fax: 509-828-1389
Email: ddickerson@ewu.edu
University of Puget Sound
Location: Tacoma, WA
Degree: Doctorate
Website: http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/graduate/school-of-physical-therapy/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 1500 N. Warner St., CMB 1070, Tacoma, WA 98416
Phone: 253-879-3281
Fax: 253-879-2933
Email: pt@pugetsound.edu
University of Washington
Location: Seattle, WA
Degree: Doctorate
Website: http://rehab.washington.edu/education/degree/pt/
Accrediting Agency: Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
Contact Information: 1959 NE Pacific Street, Suite BB-928, Seattle, WA 98195
Phone: 206-598-5333
Fax: 206-685-3244
Email: gleep@uw.edu
Although the options may not seem many or diverse, they are fairly good quality and most students who enroll in these programs feel fully equipped to begin a career as a physical therapist once they have graduated.
Because becoming a physical therapist is an advanced qualification you need to be prepared to devote many years of your life to achieving this educational end. In addition hard work and dedication will be required and the cost of many physical therapy programs in Washington can be quite expensive for the average student. In the long run, however, you will be preparing for a solid and rewarding career within the ever expanding health care profession where you will always be guaranteed of being able to find employment.
Salary
According to physicaltherapycareer.net there are 3840 physical therapists currently employed in Washington and they are being paid around $35.43an hour and $73,690 a year. However the actual salary that you may end up earning will depend on a variety of factors. One of these factors is the specific city within Washington where you choose to work. According to cbsalary.com these are the salary amounts that you can expect in the various cities within the state of Washington:
- In Bellevue you can expect to earn about $71, 564 a year
- In Therapist Redmond you can expect to earn about $71, 564 a year
- In Therapist Bellingham you can expect to earn about $70, 400 a year
- In Therapist Richland you can expect to earn about $62, 465 a year
- In Therapist Bremerton you can expect to earn about $69, 327 a year
- In Therapist Seattle you can expect to earn about $71, 564 a year
- In Therapist Everett you can expect to earn about $71, 564 a year
- In Therapist Spokane you can expect to earn about $66, 137 a year
- In Therapist Kennewick you can expect to earn about $62, 465 a year
- In Therapist Tacoma you can expect to earn about $67, 982 a year
- In Therapist Olympia you can expect to earn about $63, 990 a year
- In Therapist Yakima you can expect to earn about $75, 144 a year
- In Therapist Pasco you can expect to earn about $62, 465 a year
There are a number of other factors that may too play a part in the salary that you earn, including the industry that you work in and the employer that you work for as a physical therapist in Washington.
Career Outlook
The career outlook for physical therapist in Washington is extremely good. This is because, in this state, the incidence of heart disease as well as strokes has increased significantly over the last short period of time. Individuals recovering from such medical incidents often require the assistance of a physical therapist. This means that there is a marked increase in the demand for physical therapists within this state, making it an excellent career to pursue in this particular part of the country. In addition physical therapy forms part of the health care industry, and industry that is always stable, even in the face of economic difficulties. In addition this is the industry that is consistently expected to grow at a faster rate than any other industry at the moment. What this essentially means for physical therapists is job security. Physical therapists in Washington also have the option of entering private practice. This can be an extremely lucrative endeavor if you are able to establish yourself quickly and easily in this regard. physical therapy is a career that comes with a great degree of professional respect. In general, as more and more people begin to accept the benefits of physical therapy, the industry is growing in its own right.
Although there are only 3 physical therapy programs in Washington to choose from, they are all of good quality, and there are a number of employment opportunities for individuals with this qualification within the state of Washington. In addition physical therapists in this state are eligible for a fairly good remuneration package. Before embarking on this career path due consideration must be given to your ability to complete the training requirements adequately as well as whether or not you meet the personality requirements for the job. In order to make a success of a career you need to have the right attitude and approach to the topics involved.