To become a physical therapist in the US, you need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree from an accredited program and a state licence. DPT programs typically last 3 years and usually require a bachelor's degree first, and every state requires you to pass a qualifying exam, the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), before you're licensed.
That means about seven years of study after high school for most people. The good news is that your bachelor's degree doesn't have to be in a narrow subject, as long as you cover the prerequisites.
This guide uses the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook and the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), both read on 26 October 2026. It's about the career route, not treatment advice.
Physical therapy careers in numbers
| Measure | BLS figure |
|---|---|
| Median pay (May 2025) | $102,760 a year, $49.40 an hour |
| Jobs in 2025 | 283,700 |
| Projected growth 2025 to 2035 | 12%, much faster than average |
| Openings each year | About 13,400 on average |
| Self-employed | About 4 in every 100 |
The pay figures are as of October 2026, from BLS's May 2025 survey.
Your path to a DPT and a licence
- Earn a bachelor's degree. BLS says it may be in recreation and fitness or a healthcare field, and you'll need prerequisite courses such as anatomy, chemistry and physics.
- Apply to an accredited DPT program. Programs typically last 3 years.
- Complete the coursework and clinical work. Expect biomechanics, neuroscience and pharmacology, plus supervised experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care.
- Pass the NPTE. FSBPT says the exam assesses entry-level competence after graduation from an accredited program.
- Meet your state's other licensing rules. Some states also require a law exam and a criminal background check.
- Keep your licence with continuing education, which is typically required.
The exam isn't the only test
Here's the detail that trips up new graduates. FSBPT says the NPTE is only one part of how licensing authorities judge you, and it tells candidates to contact their jurisdiction about extra requirements such as a jurisprudence exam or a jurisprudence assessment module. In plain terms, passing the national exam doesn't automatically mean you can practise in the state you want.
So before you book the NPTE, check your state board's list. If you might move, check the second state too, because the law exam is state-specific.
Residencies, fellowships and specialising
You can work as soon as you're licensed. If you want to specialise, BLS says clinical residencies typically last about 1 year, and a fellowship can follow in an advanced clinical area. After some work experience, you can also become a board-certified specialist in areas such as orthopedics, sports or geriatrics, which means passing another exam and doing clinical work in that specialty.
Where the best-paid physical therapists work
The setting changes your pay more than most people expect. Therapy offices employ the largest share, about 36 in every 100, but they pay the least of the four biggest settings.
| Industry | Median pay, May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Home healthcare services | $114,740 |
| Nursing and residential care facilities | $110,460 |
| Hospitals; state, local and private | $106,800 |
| Offices of physical, occupational and speech therapists, and audiologists | $97,160 |
So home health paid $114,740 at the median against $97,160 in therapy offices, as of October 2026. Home health also means driving between patients, so weigh the travel against the pay.
Choosing a DPT program
Since every DPT program has to be accredited for you to sit the NPTE, start there and then compare the practical things. Look at where the clinical placements happen, because that's where you'll get your first taste of acute care or orthopedics. Ask how the program supports students preparing for the national exam, and check the prerequisites against the courses you've already taken, so you're not adding a semester you didn't plan for.
If you're still an undergraduate, map your degree to those prerequisites now. Anatomy, chemistry and physics are the ones BLS names, and leaving one until the end is an easy way to push your application back a year.
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What the work demands of you
- Stamina: you're on your feet most of the day, demonstrating exercises and helping patients move.
- Care with lifting, because BLS notes therapists are vulnerable to back injuries from moving patients.
- Communication: you'll explain programs, motivate people and listen to their concerns.
- Time management, since you'll see several patients a day and still have notes to write.
Most physical therapists work full time, though part-time work is common, and some work evenings or weekends. If you later open your own clinic, it's worth reading up on physical therapy software and how other clinics use AI prompts for the admin side.
Is it the right fit?
If you like science, enjoy being active and want long-term relationships with patients, it's a strong fit. If you want a shorter route into the same field, physical therapist assistant roles exist too, and FSBPT runs a separate PTA version of the national exam.
My verdict
Physical therapy is a long road, roughly seven years, but it's one of the healthcare careers BLS expects to grow fastest, at 12% over the decade. Choose your undergraduate courses with the DPT prerequisites in mind from day one, and don't treat the NPTE as the finish line: check your state's law exam early. And if pay matters to you, look beyond therapy offices, because home health and nursing facilities pay more at the median.
Frequently asked questions
How many years does it take to become a physical therapist?
Usually about seven: a bachelor's degree followed by a Doctor of Physical Therapy program that typically lasts 3 years.
What exam do physical therapists take?
The National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), run by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Some states also require a law or jurisprudence exam.
Do you need a specific bachelor's degree for a DPT?
No single major is required. BLS says it may be in recreation and fitness or a healthcare field, and you'll need prerequisites such as anatomy, chemistry and physics.
How much do physical therapists earn?
BLS reports a median of $102,760 a year in May 2025, as of October 2026. Home healthcare services had the highest median of the top settings, at $114,740.
Is physical therapy a growing career?
Yes. BLS projects 12% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average, with about 13,400 openings a year.
Can physical therapists specialise?
Yes. After work experience, some become board-certified specialists in areas such as orthopedics, sports or geriatrics, which requires an exam and clinical work in the specialty.
