Learn how to become a physical therapist in Florida: Education and salary
Over 22 million people call the Sunshine State home. Among them, there are over 16,000 physical therapists says the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Throughout Florida, physical therapists are employed in locations such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing facilities, physical therapy centers and private practices.
Physical therapists make a difference in the lives of patients throughout Florida. Amber Pische, DPT, a former assistant orthopedics instructor at the University of Miami’s Physical Therapy Department, said that making connections with patients is one of the most rewarding parts of a physical therapy career.
“I always knew I’d be seeing patients on a regular basis, but I’ve been able to develop some real friendships,” Pishe said. “You know, when you see people two or three hours a week for several months in a row, you really care for them. You really want them to do their best. It’s not just a job, you’re really invested in your patients and their success.”
It takes a doctoral degree, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) to work as a physical therapist in Florida. Physical therapists in the state also need to pass both a national and a state-level exam before they can practice.
You’ll need to earn a DPT degree to work as a physical therapist in Florida. This means your first step will be earning a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. There isn’t a specific undergraduate degree required, but most physical therapy doctorate programs will have prerequisites.
Often, it can help to pick a healthcare, social services or biology bachelor’s degree to serve as the foundation of your education. No matter what, it’s a good idea to make sure your undergraduate coursework includes:
Statistics
Biology
Human anatomy
Chemistry
Psychology
Many universities that offer doctoral degrees in physical therapy also offer undergraduate programs for aspiring physical therapists. These programs can be a great option for students who are committed to a physical therapy career. They can help students make sure they’ve earned any needed prerequisites and completed any other requirements before applying to the graduate program. They might also offer career guidance and fieldwork opportunities.
In addition to your bachelor’s degree, PT programs in Florida will typically ask for:
Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores: The exact scores you’ll need depend on the school you’re applying to. Some schools look for specific numbers, while others look for students that fall in certain ranges, such as the top 50% of test takers.
Volunteer hours: You’ll need experience before you can apply to a PT program. The exact number of hours can vary, but it’s common for programs to require at least 100 hours of hours of volunteer experience as a PT in a nursing home, clinic, rehabilitation center or other facility.
Letter of recommendation: Most programs will ask for at least one letter of recommendation from a former professor or employer.
Background check: You’ll be asked to complete a background check along with your admissions paperwork.
“People don’t always realize that physical therapists have very extensive schooling. We all get a doctorate degree now. That’s normally three years of graduate school and seven years of college in total,” said Pische.
What you’ll study in a PT program
A graduate degree in physical therapy typically takes about three years of full-time study. The exact courses you’ll take will depend on your school, but you can count on your program covering these topics:
Your degree will also include supervised clinical practice hours at a local healthcare facility.
Exam and FL licensing requirements
You’ll still have several steps to take after you earn your DPT degree. The first step will be applying for your physical therapy license with the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. You can do this by creating an online account via the Florida Department of Health MQA Online Services portal. After you’ve created an account, you can fill out and submit an application. You’ll need to pay a fee of $180 along with your application. You’ll also need to contact your school’s registrar to request that they send an official transcript to the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. The board will review your application and respond within 15 days.
Once your application is approved, you can take the first of two exams that are required in Florida. You’ll need to register with the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT) to take the exams. You can then take your required exams:
The National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE)—This 250-question multiple-choice exam tests your knowledge of physical therapy concepts. It costs $485, and you’ll need to schedule a time to sit for your exam.
Florida Laws and Rules Exam (Jurisprudence Exam)—The Jurisprudence exam is specific to Florida and tests your knowledge of the laws and regulations of the state. This 50-question multiple-choice test costs $65.
CE for physical therapists in Florida
Physical therapists in Florida are required to renew their licenses every two years. In order to renew your license, you’ll need at least 24 hours of continuing education (CE) every two years. For your first renewal, at least one of those CEs will need to be about HIV/AIDs. You’ll need at least two hours dedicated to the prevention of medical errors in every renewal error. Florida allows a maximum of 12 hours to be completed through home study courses.
The Florida Board of Physical Therapy uses a system called CEbroker to track CE hours for professionals in the state. Physical therapists can create a CEbroker account to keep track of their CEs, make sure they’re on track for renewal, and see what courses they’ve already taken. CEbroker can also be used to submit new information about new CEs once they’re completed.
“[After graduation], there is still more knowledge to gain and there are still a lot of courses we need to take. So we have CE requirements to fulfill. CEs also ensure you’re reading the latest research and staying on top of the current issues,” explained Pische.
Legal considerations for physical therapists in Florida
Florida doesn’t have physical therapist license reciprocity with any other state. However, you can apply for licensure by endorsement if you have a license in another state and took the NPTE. To receive licensure by endorsement, you’ll need to submit transcripts from your educational program, your NPTE scores and verification of license to the Florida Board of Physical Therapy. You’ll also need to fill out an application and pay a fee of $180.
The board will review your application and respond within 15 days. After your application is approved, you can take the Florida Jurisprudence Exam. You’ll need to pass the exam before you can practice in the state.
Professional conduct and ethical guidelines
Florida regulations set clear guidelines for physical therapists. The Florida Board of Physical Therapy lists specific prohibited acts, such as:
Practicing with no license or a suspended license
Misrepresenting your license or expertise
Treating patients with methods that do not fall under the physical therapy scope of practice
Making or filing a report or record you know to be false
Engaging in sexual misconduct
These acts can result in a physical therapist having their license suspended or revoked entirely. They are numerous other violations that can lead to loss of license. The board also states that a license can be revoked for “failing to maintain acceptable standards of physical therapy.”
“The performance of physical therapy assessments and the treatment of any disability, injury, disease, or other health condition of human beings, or the prevention of such disability, injury, disease, or other health condition, and the rehabilitation of such disability, injury, disease, or other health condition by alleviating impairments, functional movement limitations, and disabilities by designing, implementing, and modifying treatment interventions through therapeutic exercise; functional movement training in self-management and in-home, community, or work integration or reintegration; manual therapy; massage; airway clearance techniques; maintaining and restoring the integumentary system and wound care; physical agent or modality; mechanical or electrotherapeutic modality; patient-related instruction; the use of apparatus and equipment in the application of such treatment, prevention, or rehabilitation; the performance of tests of neuromuscular functions as an aid to the diagnosis or treatment of any human condition; or the performance of electromyography as an aid to the diagnosis of any human condition only upon compliance with the criteria set forth by the Board of Medicine.”
The state separates the roles of physical therapists and doctors. It also states that physical therapists are unable to perform any type of chiropractic care. A full definition of physical therapy and its scope in Florida can be explored in Chapter 486 of the Florida State Statutes.
Insurance and liability
Physical therapists in Florida aren’t required to have insurance, and lawsuits against physical therapists are relatively rare. However, professional liability insurance can be a good idea for healthcare professionals, even if you work for a hospital or a large healthcare provider. You can shop for policies in your area and compare prices to see if one makes sense for you.
If you’re thinking about opening your own physical therapy office, you’ll need to check with your local county or city. Small business liability insurance is typically handled on the local level. The exact rules and requirements will vary.
Working as a physical therapist in Florida
Physical therapist salary in Florida
Physical therapists in Florida earned a median annual PT salary of $98,880 in 2023. That’s slightly lower than the national median of $101,020. However, where you live in Florida can make a difference in your salary. For instance, physical therapists in the Orlando metro area earned a median salary of $100,080, outpacing the national average.
Additionally, Florida’s overall cost of living ranks in the middle of the pack nationally, coming in at about 24th. This means that physical therapists might find that housing, healthcare, food, utilities and other essentials are less expensive in Florida than in some other states.
Median salaries in major metro areas throughout Florida look like this:
Physical Therapists
10%$60,430
25%$80,130
50%$98,880Median
75%$106,460
90%$123,700
Median Hourly Wage$48
Job growth10.9%
Total Employment17,050
Metro area
Median Salary
Bottom 10%
Top 10%
Wildwood-The Villages, FL
$108,280
$77,050
$125,030
Naples-Marco Island, FL
$106,040
$81,720
$123,700
Homosassa Springs, FL
$102,790
$71,780
$134,940
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL
$102,250
$69,980
$132,480
Port St. Lucie, FL
$101,640
$76,000
$133,580
North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL
$101,070
$72,010
$128,700
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
$100,740
$76,880
$118,700
Punta Gorda, FL
$100,110
$75,790
$125,470
Gainesville, FL
$99,240
$74,470
$120,640
Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL
$98,550
$76,480
$120,820
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) 2024 median salary; projected job growth through 2034. Actual salaries vary depending on location, level of education, years of experience, work environment, and other factors. Salaries may differ even more for those who are self-employed or work part time.
Job outlook and finding employment opportunities in Florida
Florida is filled with job opportunities for physical therapists. The BLS reports that Florida employs the 4th highest number of physical therapists in the nation. The Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach metro area alone employs 5,430 physical therapists, making it the 5th highest metro area for employment in the U.S.
Physical therapy roles nationwide are predicted to grow by 10.9% in the next decade. As is true for most healthcare jobs, a major factor in this growth is the retirement and aging of the large baby boomer generation. The median age in Florida is already 42.7, about four years above the national median of 38.8. Florida’s Sumter Country has a median age of 68.3, the highest of any county in the nation. These unique demographics could mean that demand for healthcare professionals, including physical therapists, will be especially high in Florida.
Industry trends and resources
One of the best ways to stay up to date on the latest industry trends and developments in Florida is to be involved with local and professional associations and organizations. In Florida, the Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA) is a great place to start. They offer a wealth of resources, including CE courses, events, job listings, local chapters and grants.
Beyond the FPTA, you can check out:
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA):
Over 95,00 physical therapists, physical therapy assistants, and students across the country are APTA members. This large organization offers industry news, career development resources, volunteer opportunities and more.
Florida Physical Therapy Association (FPTA):
The Florida Physical Therapy Association is the sole professional healthcare organization that represents the interests of practicing physical therapists and physical therapist assistants in the state of Florida.
Find PT programs in Florida
An education is the foundation of any physical therapy career. Choosing the right school can prepare you for licensure, your exams and professional practice. If you’re interested in stepping into a physical therapy career in Florida, finding a program is the first step. When you’re ready to get started, our Find Schools button can help you compare schools.
