Employers

Physiatists work in a wide variety of inpatient and outpatient settings, including private offices, group medical practices, rehabilitation centers, and hospitals.

Starting Out

Extensive education and training is required to enter the medical profession. For physiatrists, requirements are an M.D. or D.O. degree, a licensing examination, a one- or two-year internship, and a three- to four-year residency. Many physiatrists enter a group or partnership practices or take a salaried job with a managed-care facility or hospital. They may receive a job offer from the hospital or facility where they completed their residency or internship. They also find jobs by contacting hospitals and medical practices directly, through professional associations, and by searching online for job listings.

Physiatrists who work in a hospital or managed-care setting and have many years of experience may advance by opening a private practice. Their progress consists of advancing in skill and understanding, in numbers of patients, and in income. They become certified in specialized areas in physical medicine and rehabilitation, such as brain injury medicine, neuromuscular medicine, pediatric rehabilitation medicine, or pain medicine. They may be made a fellow in a professional specialty or elected to an important office in the American Medical Association or American Osteopathic Association. Teaching and research positions may also increase a physicians status. Physiatrists may become department chiefs in hospital departments or managed-care facilities.

Find job listings for physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians and related professionals by visiting https://www.aapmr.org/career-support/find-a-job-or-fellowship and https://jobs.physiatry.org.

Attend events and conferences to keep up with industry news and to meet others working in the field. Find event listings on professional associations Web sites, such as https://www.aapmr.org/education/live-events/calendar.

Visit the Web sites of the Association of American Medical Colleges (https://www.aamc.org) and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (https://www.aacom.org) to learn more about medical schools.

You will need to take an admission test to get into medical school. Learn more about the Medical College Admission Test by visiting https://students-residents.aamc.org/about-mcat-exam/about-mcat-exam. Aspiring osteopathic physicians apply through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service (https://www.aacom.org/become-a-doctor/apply-to-medical-school).