A physical therapy job can be lucrative, but it’s easy to start feeling burnout or looking for ways to make more money while still doing something enjoyable. When it’s time to look into advancing a career, there are a few things that can be done. All of the following are excellent options, depending on the physical therapist’s own situation and desires, and can help significantly advance their career so they can continue to enjoy what they love while improving their pay, benefits, schedule, and more.
Look for a Clinic Manager or Director Job
A clinical manager or director is one way to go if you want a physical therapist job that pays better or provides better benefits. This is often a higher position within the company, so it includes more work but can include higher pay, additional vacation days, and more. It may be necessary to get further education and to take business management classes before taking on a job like this, but those who are looking to move up may want to look into it to see what it involves and if it might be a good option for them.
Look Into Niche Opportunities
Specialization can help increase pay or reduce working hours, as there is more of a demand for many different niches compared to a general physical therapist. Those who may want to consider specializing in something will want to take time to figure out which niche is best for them. This might be based on what they enjoy doing, the people they like to help, what they’re good at, and other factors. They may need to get additional certifications to start specializing.
Get Additional Certifications
Continued education is very important for a wide range of careers, including physical therapy. Those who want to make sure they can get a job they’ll love when they’re ready to start looking for something different may want to look into the different physical therapist certifications. By getting additional certifications, they’ll be better prepared for a wide range of positions and will have a better chance of being hired. Qualifications for certifications vary, so it is important to look into what they involve to find the right one to try.
Start a New Clinic
Those who are ready to be in charge may want to consider starting their own practice. It does take a lot of work to open a new clinic, but this provides the opportunity for a physical therapist to have more control over everything, from what services they provide to what hours they’re open. It is a good idea to take business management classes before opening a clinic, so take that into account before starting. It’s also a good idea to look into hiring assistance to ensure the opening goes as smoothly as possible and that the new clinic is successful.
If you’re ready to do more with your job and reach new goals, there are numerous ways to advance your career. Take the time to think about each one carefully to determine which one might be a good option and to find out what’s going to work best for your life right now. With the right steps, you’ll be able to do a lot more, bring in more money, and feel better about your career and your future.