Physical Therapists

Your first step in exploring this field could be to talk with a physical therapist in your community about the work. Your school counselor should be able to help you arrange for such an information interview—or perhaps even a job-shadowing opportunity. Hands-on experience is important to get because schools that you apply to will take this into consideration. This experience will also help you decide how well you like working with people who are sometimes in pain or confused. One possibility is to volunteer at a physical therapy program. If such an opening is not available, try volunteering at a local hospital, nursing home, or other care facility to gain experience working in these settings. You can also look for volunteer opportunities or summer jobs at camps for the disabled. Paid part-time positions may also be available as a hospital orderly or aide to a physical therapist.

Middle school, high school, and college students should consider joining HOSA-Future Health Professionals, a global membership organization for those who are interested in learning about health care careers, meeting others with the same interests, and developing their leadership skills. It has more than 260,000 members and offers scholarships, competitions, the HOSA eMagazine, and other resources. Learn more at https://hosa.org.