The faculty member who teaches physical therapy in a PT program — covering theory, intervention practice, supervised clinical fieldwork, and the clinical reasoning PT practice requires. Half academic faculty, half practicing or recently practicing PT.
Most days tend to involve a blend of classroom teaching, lab supervision, and clinical placement coordination — leading didactic content, supervising students in lab on hands-on technique, and partnering with clinical sites that host placements. You'll often spend part of the time on scholarly work — research, case work, or curriculum development.
The harder part is often balancing teaching with continued clinical relevance — PT education is most valuable when faculty stay close to evolving practice. You'll typically work with cohorts moving toward licensure, while keeping content current with evolving evidence and the shifting scope of PT practice.
People who tend to thrive here are clinically grounded, patient teachers, and willing to invest in academic scholarship. The trade-off is the salary differential between academic and clinical PT practice and the cumulative work of teaching, scholarship, and service. If you find satisfaction in shaping the next generation of physical therapists, the work can carry quiet, durable impact.
Where this role sits in the broader career landscape — and where it can take you.
Roles like this one sit within a broader occupational category. The numbers below reflect that full landscape — helpful for context, but your specific experience will depend on level, specialty, and where you work.
The faculty member who teaches physical therapy in a PT program — covering theory, intervention practice, supervised clinical fieldwork, and the clinical reasoning PT practice requires. Half academic faculty, half practicing or recently practicing PT.
Median pay for a Physical Therapy Professor is about $106K nationally, with the field ranging roughly from $52K to $208K depending on experience, employer, and metro (BLS).
Core skills for this role include Instructing, Reading Comprehension, Speaking, Active Listening, and Writing.
Most people in this role hold a master's degree.
Employment in this field is projected to grow about 17.3% through 2034, with roughly 229,720 people working in it today (BLS).
Closely related roles include Physical Education Director, Health Teacher, and First Aid Teacher.
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