Transitioning from being a student to a full-time clinician can be a challenging but rewarding process. As you begin your career as a physical therapist or rehabilitation professional, there are several things you can do to make sure you start your career off on the right foot.
Take a look at some of these recommendations as you transition from student to clinician and navigate the job search, interview, and hiring process of your first physical therapy job.
Complete the Requisite Education Requirements and Licensure
One of the most important things you can do get your career started is to first get the essentials out of the way, including your remaining coursework and subsequent license to practice. Once you’ve completed your DPT coursework, you’ll need to study hard to take and complete the NPTE.
We’ve compiled a list of helpful tips and tricks you can use as you work towards studying and successfully passing the NPTE.
Don’t Be Afraid to Start The Job Search Process Early
You might not realize it, but as you’re conducting your clinical rotations and getting to know others within the industry, you’re already forming your own opinions and conducting a job search.
Your clinical rotations are a great way to identify what you want in an employer, as you’ll be exposed to several different working environments, patient groups, care settings, and more. As you progress through your clinical rotations, don’t hesitate to ask your instructors for guidance, lean on those mentors, and figure out what your physical therapy career goals will be. Are you going to aspire to complete additional certification pathways, work towards clinic director partnership, or a mix of a bunch of things?
Once you’ve figured out what your physical therapy career goals will be, it’s time to start preparing for the job search and checking off all the boxes we’ve outlined in this guide on how you can effectively prepare for your physical therapy job search.
You’re Hired, Focus On Settling In
You’ve accepted your first physical therapy job and you’ve completed all the requisite steps, congratulations! As you make that jump from student to a clinician, this is where some of the groundwork you laid earlier will come into play.
Your first few weeks as a new hire will feel overwhelming, but the good news is that we’ve all gone through it and you’ll have a support network you can lean on. First and foremost, don’t hesitate to give yourself some grace. It will take some time to get familiar with all of the different processes for completing routine tasks, onboarding, gaining a new caseload, and getting into your new routine.
If you’ve accepted a role with one of the organizations you completed a clinical rotation in, your onboarding period might be a bit easier because you will already be familiar with many of the processes and procedures.
One of the main priorities as you begin your career and first few weeks as a new employee is to get acquainted with all the different processes and procedures you need to follow. Focus on settling in and getting accustomed to the routine.
Finalize Those Career Goals
Once you’ve become more accustomed to the full-time routine as a working clinician, the next thing to do is to finalize those career goals you started writing down and drafting earlier. Whether you’re an aspiring clinic director or you want to complete additional certification pathways, create an actionable plan that you can follow to start systematically working towards those goals.
At Upstream Rehabilitation, we’re passionate about helping clinicians progress throughout their physical therapy career with dedicated career tracks and a commitment to clinical excellence.
Aspire to be a Life-Long Learner
As a clinician, it’s important to remember that you have entered a profession where you will need to be a life-long learner. So don’t be afraid to
Lean On Your Mentors and Managers
Once you’ve finalized those career goals and have begun to work towards them, don’t hesitate to lean on your mentors, professional contacts, and managers. Your manager is there to help you succeed. If you’ve got questions or are faced with challenges, don’t hesitate to speak up and ask for additional clarity or support.
Practice Good Listening and Observation Skills
As a full-time clinician, some of the best learning and development opportunities will come from observing those clinicians you work with on a daily basis. You never know when you might learn how to deal with unique challenges or improve your clinical skills. Practice good listening and observation skills, you never know what you might learn.
Launch Your Career on the Right Foot with Upstream Rehabilitation
If you’re approaching the end of your clinical rotation or you’re a recent grad looking to make the jump to your first job, then Upstream Rehabilitation is the place for you. With over 1,200 locations across the country, we’re the largest outpatient physical therapy provider in the nation and we’re rapidly expanding. Whether you’re looking for an organization that’s committed to providing exceptional clinical outcomes or you’re passionate about different career tracks, certification pathways, and career opportunities, Upstream has what you’re looking for.
Browse and apply to one of our nationwide physical therapy job openings and join an organization that will help you launch your career on the right foot.
- “National Exam (NPTE) | FSBPT.” Www.fsbpt.org, www.fsbpt.org/Secondary-Pages/Exam-Candidates/National-Exam-NPTE.
