Job Outlook

Physical therapists work in private practice, outpatient rehabilitation centers, schools, hospitals, home health care services and nursing care facilities. Employment of physical therapists is expected to grow by 15 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The increasing older adult population will drive growth, as will changes to restrictions on the reimbursement of physical therapy services. Recent changes to health care and insurance regulations are expected to generate millions of new patients seeking physical therapy. Studies by both the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago and the Wall Street Journal’s Career Journal show physical therapists achieve some of the highest levels of job satisfaction in the country.

Physical therapists report the second-highest levels of job satisfaction in the country, according to the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center.

Student Outcomes

Elon University and the School of Health Sciences are committed to the professional success of all physical therapy students and graduates. That success is measured through a variety of different methods. Program evaluation includes graduation rates, licensure examination pass rates on the National Physical Therapy Examination as provided by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and employment placement.

Student Graduation Rates

The graduation rate for the classes of 2021 to 2022 is 98.9 percent.

FSBPT-NPTE Pass Rate

The first-time pass rate for our students who graduated in December 2022, is 90.9 percent (2022 national average: 84.8 percent; updated on 11/20/2023)

Two-year averages: Our students have an ultimate pass rate of 96.59 percent (2021, 2022) on the national licensing exam for physical therapists. Elon’s average 2-year first-time pass rate for recent classes (2021, 2022) is 87.5 percent.

Employment Placement

100 percent of Elon’s recent graduates (2-year average; Classes of 2021-2022) are employed within one year of passing the licensure examination.

Physical Therapy Employment Resources

The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Elon University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomic Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: capteonline.org. If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 336-278-6400 or email dpteprogram@elon.edu.