You have enjoyed a successful career as a physical therapist (PT) thus far. But, if your career has plateaued recently, now may be a good time to consider advancement opportunities.
Tips to Advance Your Career As a Physical Therapist
Here are three things you can do to grow your career as a PT.
1. Take Advantage of Continuing Education Opportunities
Sign up for continuing education courses. Also, attend healthcare conferences, webinars, and other events for PTs. Continuing education opportunities let you enhance your skillset and become a valuable candidate for new jobs. Plus, these opportunities can help you build your professional network and stay up to date about new jobs as they become available.
2. Pursue a Specialization
Consider a specialty certification in pediatrics, sports, or any other areas that piques your interest. Many specialty certification options are available. Meanwhile, each specialty certification you earn can open doors to new career opportunities.
3. Obtain PT Board Certification
Earn PT board certification from the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS). This requires you to complete at least 2,000 hours of clinical work or an APTA-accredited residency program in a specialty area. You will also need to pass a board certification exam. PT board certification can be tough to obtain. Yet, once you earn this certification, it can help you stand out from other candidates for the top PT jobs.
What Does It Take to Succeed As a Physical Therapist?
The tips above can help you grow your career as a PT. However, to thrive in your career, you need to possess the fundamental traits of successful PTs. These traits include:
1. Passion for Patient Care
PTs assist patients dealing with chronic illnesses, injuries, and conditions. They do everything in their power to help patients who may feel vulnerable or embarrassed due to their physical limitations. Furthermore, PTs act with compassion and empathy. They want patients to improve their health and commit the time, energy, and resources necessary to help them accomplish their therapy goals.
2. Communication
PTs must be able to communicate with patients of all ages and backgrounds. At the same time, they must be able to easy-to-understand terms and phrases to disseminate therapy information and instructions to patients. PTs are responsible for answering questions from patients and their families, too. Therefore, they must be good listeners who can provide an appropriate response to therapy queries.
3. Resilience
PTs must be able to manage the emotional and physical challenges of their day-to-day work. There may be times when stress can be overwhelming for PTs. Successful PTs remain calm, cool, and collected under pressure. They also continue to give their best effort, even in the most challenging moments.
Along with these traits, successful PTs strive for continuous improvement. That way, successful PTs can get better every day — and provide patients with the best support possible.
Explore New PT Career Opportunities
For those who want to accelerate their career advancement as a PT, Accurate Staffing can help. Our healthcare division can keep you informed about new career opportunities in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. To learn more, please contact us today.