physical therapy programs Archives - Healthcare Careers Guide

Looking At Physical Therapy Programs In Washington

admin — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 06:59:01 +0000

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.

The post Looking At Physical Therapy Programs In Washington appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.

Looking At Physical Therapy Programs In North Carolina

admin — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:06:03 +0000

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.

The post Looking At Physical Therapy Programs In North Carolina appeared first on Healthcare Careers Guide.