Performs professional physical therapy services. Performs initial assessments; plans and administers physical therapy; evaluates treatment goals and patient progress.

Under general direction, assesses patient condition; plans, administers, and evaluates physical therapy.

Confers with, and carries out physician's instructions regarding patient treatment and progress;

Assesses patient status; plans and implements treatment programs which include the use of physical agents, manual therapy, and therapeutic exercise;

Administers physical therapy to patients through use of physical, chemical, and other properties of heat, light, water, electricity, scientific massage, and therapeutic exercise;

Instructs and supervises patients engaged in gymnasium activity such as bicycle riding, crank rotation, prescribed exercise weight lifting, rowing machine usage, gait training, and body and extremity exercise;

Instructs patients or parents of hospitalized children in exercise and activity which is to be continued after returning home;

Consults with physicians, nurses, occupational therapists, and others regarding physical therapy program;

Writes initial evaluations, progress notes, discharge summaries, and home programs;

Instructs other team members in patient-specific therapy techniques;

Participates in research at the facility;

Makes home visits to evaluate the need for changes in patient's home environment and to instruct in home therapy;

Performs duties of Physical Therapist 1;

Performs related duties as required;

May supervise or direct the work of others.

Knowledge of: skeletal, muscular, and neural anatomy; theories, practices, and techniques of physical therapy including electrotherapy, hydrotherapy, actinotherapy, manual and electrical muscle testing, functional ability testing, massage muscle re education, therapeutic exercise, and other aspects of body mechanics as a means of therapy; equipment used in practice of physical therapy; evaluative report writing; methods of recording patient progress.

Ability to: establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, physicians, and staff; instruct patients and relatives in post therapy home exercise, and precautions.

Current Washington State license to practice as a Physical Therapist.

Persons legally authorized to work in the U.S. under federal law, including Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients, are eligible for employment unless prohibited by other state or federal law.

A Bachelor’s degree from a recognized school of physical therapy, or completion of a Physical Therapy program. 

                                                                            OR

Equivalent education/experience.

New class, consolidates 6130 Physical Therapist II, 57300 Physical Therapist 1; adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.

Revised Legal Requirements; effective June 6, 2024, due to adopted legislative action.