Physical Therapy Schools in California

Guide to Physical Therapy Schools in California

The state of California is arguably one of the best in which to study physical therapy, with a higher number of physical therapy schools than any other state. One option is to attend a smaller university that focuses specifically on the health sciences, such as Western University of Health Sciences, or to attend one of the myriad state schools that have well-respected physical therapy programs. With either of these options, students also have the resource of the numerous hospitals in the state of California at their disposal. This allows them to receive training and experience prior to graduation, ensuring their job prospects.

There are also a number of professional physical therapy associations at students’ fingertips that can help with the logistics of getting into this career, as well as helping out with advice that may be needed. These include the California Physical Therapy Association and the Occupational Therapy Association of California, both of which are well-respected, long-standing institutions. The Physical Therapy Board of California is also a great resource, and can help students with their licensing needs. To practice physical therapy in California one must acquire not only a Master’s or Doctorate degree, but also be licensed by this ruling board.

California Physical Therapy Job Outlook and Salary

Once a student has fulfilled all the requirements for their choice of physical therapy schools in California, the next step is trying to find a job. Presently, this should not be difficult, and the difficulty will only decrease with time. The job prospect for physical therapists remains strong, as it is for all of those workers in the health care profession at the moment. This is due to a number of factors, mainly those relating to the high demand for health care as the population ages. There is a distinct shortage in California of qualified professionals, meaning there are always more job openings to fill than there are actual therapists. This will make employment fairly easy to find.

The average salary will depend on the location where the therapist is practicing their trade, be it in a home care setting or a larger hospital. Those practicing in larger cities such as Los Angeles or San Francisco will find a higher pay rate as well than those out in the suburbs, but in general, the pay is fair across the board. The median salary at the moment for physical therapists in California is $68,749, with a range from $59,361 to $79,533. This is only a sampling of salaries, as again in larger cities or hospitals the pay could be far higher.