by our College Data Analytics TeamIf you are interested in helping people heal using both medical and therapeutic methods, consider a career in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. These professionals work to improve the physical, emotion, or mental well-being of their patients.
Students in this major learn how to use art forms to help with emotional stress or mental disorders, recreational activities to improve physical and emotional health, exercises to decrease pain, and other skills to help patients improve their overall well-being. Classes in health, psychology, social work, therapy, anatomy and physiology, and health and aging will provide students with the skills to work closely with others and aid them with any necessary rehabilitation or therapy.
Possible concentrations you may choose from are Art, Dance, or Music Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Therapeutic Recreation, Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and more.
Studying Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions covers Rehabilitation And Therapeutic Professions. Read on to learn the important information every rehabilitation & therapeutic professions major should know — including career paths, salary data, the skills you will develop, and the best colleges offering rehabilitation & therapeutic professions programs.
In the U.S., rehabilitation & therapeutic professions is a popular field of study, with 29,603 degrees awarded annually.
Our 2026 Best Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions Schools ranking analyzes these 547 schools to determine the best overall colleges for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of rehabilitation & therapeutic professions programs later in this article.
Coursework for Rehabilitation & Therapeutic Professions emphasize a specific mix of skills, knowledge, and abilities — derived from O*NET surveys of workers in the occupations rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates commonly enter.
Professionals must listen to their patients to understand what they want and need to overcome obstacles. This means professionals should have excellent listening skills along with compassion for those dealing with pain or stress. Communication and interpersonal skills will allow you to work closely with patients and other health professionals to ensure you are doing all you can to help your patient. Students interested in this field will also often work with individuals with special needs.
A career in Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions is often a full time position. Professionals work in a variety of locations from offices to recreation centers to physical therapy gyms. Although professionals hold normal work hours, some people work nights or weekends to accommodate their patients' schedules.
Most Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions professionals must earn at least a master's degree along with certification so they may practice. Some professionals decide to pursue their doctorate so they may open their own practice.
The skill set developed in a rehabilitation & therapeutic professions program reflects the day-to-day work of related occupations:
According to O*NET, a rehabilitation & therapeutic professions major emphasizes the following knowledge areas:
There are several rehabilitation & therapeutic professions degree levels. The table below shows the typical length of the most common levels, and how many graduates earn each one.
| Degree | Typical Program Length | Graduates Annually |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate | Varies | 170 |
| Associate Degree | 2 years | 257 |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 4 years | 3,385 |
| Master’s Degree | 1-3 years | 8,879 |
| Doctorate | At least 4 years | 16,912 |
People currently working in careers related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions tend to have obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Master’s degree | 38.3% |
| Bachelor’s degree | 37.3% |
| Doctoral degree | 9.5% |
| Post-baccalaureate certificate | 5.8% |
| Post-doctoral training | 5.0% |
| Associate’s degree (or other 2-year) | 1.9% |
| Postsecondary certificate | 0.9% |
| Post-master’s certificate | 0.7% |
| High school diploma or equivalent | 0.2% |
| Some college courses | 0.2% |
| Less than a high school diploma | 0.1% |
View the chart below to get an idea of what level of education most of those in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions careers hold.
Source: ONET Online education / training / experience requirements.*
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions graduates work at a variety of locations from hospitals, physicians' offices, and nursing homes to psychiatric wards, community facilities, and rehabilitation centers. Graduates work with both children and adults and use a mixture of activities and arts forms to help improve patients' health.
A degree in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions prepares you for numerous career paths. Here are some of the most common occupations related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to rehabilitation & therapeutic professions.
| Occupation | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | 3,154,112 | -1.5% |
| Music Therapists | 3,083,788 | 4.9% |
| Orthotists and Prosthetists | 3,021,997 | 2.9% |
| Therapists, All Other | 2,758,134 | -2.9% |
| Recreational Therapists | 2,577,436 | 3.7% |
| Physical Therapists | 2,383,893 | 8.0% |
| Occupational Therapists | 2,344,296 | -4.2% |
| Exercise Physiologists | 1,771,772 | 1.7% |
Federal data tracks median earnings of rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates 1, 4, and 5 years after completion. These numbers tend to grow as graduates gain experience.
| Years Out | Median Earnings |
|---|---|
| 1 year | $67,332 |
| 4 years | $70,102 |
| 5 years | $75,167 |
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, field-of-study earnings tracker.
Salaries for rehabilitation & therapeutic professions graduates vary widely by occupation. The following table shows the top highest-paying careers rehabilitation & therapeutic professions grads often go into.
| Occupation | Median Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Recreational Therapists | $150,116 |
| Exercise Physiologists | $144,072 |
| Physical Therapists | $144,047 |
| Engineers, All Other | $136,628 |
| Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists | $124,839 |
| Therapists, All Other | $121,750 |
| Solar Energy Systems Engineers | $116,775 |
| Mechatronics Engineers | $115,569 |
With 547 different rehabilitation & therapeutic professions programs to choose from, finding the best fit can be a challenge. We have analyzed these schools to produce unbiased rehabilitation & therapeutic professions school rankings to help you.
Students interested in rehabilitation & therapeutic professions, you may also want to explore other closely related fields of study within the same broad area.
More about our data sources and methodologies.
