Physical Therapist — Outpatient, Hospital, Skilled Nursing, Home Health and Travel Roles, US Employers

Physical therapy is one of the few US healthcare professions where demand has outrun supply for over a decade. Clinics compete for candidates, and sign-on bonuses, continuing-education budgets and relocation support now appear routinely. But "there are lots of jobs" is not a plan: pay swings by tens of thousands of dollars by setting, and licensing is handled state by state, not nationally.

How it works

There is no national license. Every state licenses independently, and all of them require passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE), administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). You also need a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) from a CAPTE-accredited program, or a credential-evaluated foreign equivalent.

Requirements

• A DPT degree from a CAPTE-accredited program, or an evaluated foreign qualification
• A passing NPTE score, plus a state jurisprudence exam in most states
• A background check and BLS/CPR certification
• For foreign-trained PTs: a CGFNS VisaScreen or FCCPT Type I certificate for the visa

How the pay works

• BLS median. $102,760 a year, about $49.40 an hour (May 2025), with the bottom tenth near $74,420 and the top tenth near $132,500
• Setting drives it. Home health, skilled nursing and travel contracts pay highest; hospitals and entry outpatient roles sit lower

Before you apply

Note: licensing, exam and immigration rules are set by the state boards, FSBPT, FCCPT, CGFNS and USCIS — not by JobGader. Confirm current requirements with the board in the state where you intend to practise before applying.