PRINCIPAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST
In New Jersey, Principal Physical Therapist is filled through the competitive process: candidates take a civil service exam and are hired off a ranked list, not picked at will.
Qualifying takes 3 years of relevant experience and a professional license. The FY 2027 range lands between $83,582 and $122,832, and state payroll currently lists about 19 people in the title, most of them at Human Services.
How to apply
This title is filled by competitive examination.
See every real route in, and where to apply. 2 agencies employ it. We don't track live vacancies.
See all 2 employers and how to apply →Who employs this title
Principal Physical Therapist appears on the State payroll at 2 departments, most of them at Department of Human Services.
State departments
| Employer | Employees |
|---|---|
| Department of Human Services | 12 |
| Department of Health | 7 |
State payroll and independent authority payroll are separate systems and are never merged. See data sources.
Who employs this title
State payroll records show 19 people working under this title. The median actual salary is $118,678. The agencies employing the most are:
- Human Services (12)
- Health and Senior Services (7)
Counts from NJ YourMoney agency payroll. See statewide workforce analytics.
Official job specification
The text below is the official specification published by the New Jersey Civil Service Commission. The plain-language summary and analysis above are derived from it by NJ Civil Service Navigator. Source: the official specification page at NJ CSC.
Definition
Under direction of a Physician and Supervisor of Physical Therapy in the Department of Human Service and Department of Health, provides direct care, trains and supervises professional and support staff, and plans and directs the physical therapy services in one or more units within an institution; performs related work.
Examples of work
- Surveys patients to identify those with previously undetected problems and/or reviews written or verbal information concerning patients to determine the need for physical therapy services.
- Supervises the work operations and/or functional programs and has responsibility for employee evaluations and for effectively recommending the hiring, firing, promoting, demoting, and/or disciplining of employees.
- Conducts individualized, detailed, and documented assessments of patients known or suspected of having handicapped conditions.
- Evaluates patient to aid in establishing diagnosis, prognosis, problems, goals, placement, and treatment plan.
- Establishes objectives and specific remediation techniques for patients receiving physical therapy services.
- Plans and prepares written treatment programs based on evaluation of available patient data.
- In educational settings, participates on Individual Education Plan (IEP) committees for students requiring physical therapy services.
- Plans and integrates physical therapy services within one or more units.
- Maintains patient and other records.
- Educates and assists patient's family in providing follow-up patient care.
- Attends staff conferences and confers with staff and specialist consultants.
- Implements a patient care delivery system in conjunction with appropriate medical staff.
- Directs and coordinates physical therapy services including contractual services, consultant services, and in-house programs in one or more units.
- Participates in physical therapy staff conferences and/or related and inter-departmental meetings.
- May conduct physical therapy audits within one or more units.
- Provides assignments and instructions to physical therapists, aides, students, and other assigned employees.
- Confers with physician and other professional personnel regarding patients' total treatments.
- Supervises and monitors the administration of treatment by subordinate staff.
- Develops seminars for physical therapy staff.
- Assists in the development and implementation of in-service training programs to accommodate all levels and program areas of institution staff.
- Supervises program support activities such as scheduling of patients.
- Acts as a clinical educator to senior and paraprofessional physical therapy staff performing tests, evaluations, and complex treatment procedures recording test results.
- May be required to engage in lifting clients when working in a setting that provides direct services to clients who are nonambulant or semiambulant and/or have severe physical handicaps.
- Will be required to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and computerized information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
Experience
Three (3) years of experience as a physical therapist.
SPECIAL NOTE
Ability to physically lift, move, and position clients as needed.
License
Applicants must possess a license as a Physical Therapist issued by the Department of Law & Public Safety, Board of Physical Therapists.
Applicants to positions in day training centers and other educational facilities under the jurisdiction of the New Jersey Department of Education will also be required to possess a license as a School Physical Therapist issued by the New Jersey Department of Education.
Appointee will be required to possess a driver's license valid in New Jersey only if the operation of a vehicle, rather than employee mobility, is necessary to perform in essential duties of the position
Knowledge, skills and abilities
- Knowledge of the principles of physical therapy
- Knowledge of the equipment used in physical therapy treatment.
- Knowledge of the effects of physical therapy procedures, indications, and contraindications for treatment, and precautionary measures to observe when treating patients.
- Knowledge of the methods used to conduct patient assessments and evaluations.
- Ability to evaluate patients to determine the type of physical therapy treatment required.
- Ability to perform appropriate physical therapy treatment procedures.
- Ability to observe and accurately record patients' reactions and progress.
- Ability to fit and adjust orthotic and prosthetic appliances.
- Ability to evaluate patients' need for adaptive equipment.
- Ability to adjust and make minor repairs to physical therapy equipment and apparatus.
- Ability to identify potential hazards and dangerous situations and to take measures required eliminating them.
- Ability to work effectively with associates and patients.
- Ability to prepare reports and maintain essential records and files.
- Ability to interpret laws, rules and regulations and apply them to specific situations.
- Ability to prepare treatment and instructional programs.
- Ability to provide guidance, instruction and training to professional and support staff and evaluate their performance.
- Ability to manage all physical therapy related clinics (wheelchair, orthopedic shoe, orthotic, prosthetic, physiatric, and so forth) as directed by supervisor.
- Ability to fabricate simple physical therapy equipment.
- Ability to evaluate, fit, and adjusts orthotic and prosthetic appliances, and mobility devices.
- Ability to learn to utilize various types of electronic and/or manual recording and information systems used by the agency, office, or related units.
- Ability to read, write, speak, understand, or communicate in English sufficiently to perform the duties of this position. American Sign Language or Braille may also be considered as acceptable forms of communication.
- Persons with mental or physical disabilities are eligible as long as they can perform the essential functions of the job after reasonable accommodation is made to their known limitations. If the accommodation cannot be made because it would cause the employer undue hardship, such persons may not be eligible.
Note
The examples of work for this title are for illustrative purposes only. A particular position using this title may not perform all duties listed in this job specification. Conversely, all duties performed on the job may not be listed.