Career growth shouldn’t be left to chance! Not every health care provider has a plan in place for therapists to advance, be rewarded, and continue making a greater impact within hospital walls and in their local communities. We’re excited to share the therapy career ladder with all of our therapists across our 165+ hospitals- a structured, transparent pathway for therapy professionals to move forward in their careers with clarity and support. Ultimately, this program exists because we believe in our people and believe that therapists who are supported and valued create stronger teams, better outcomes, and a more rewarding work environment. And when you know your growth is seen and celebrated, it fuels the kind of motivation that helps patients heal on their recovery journey.

The therapy career ladder is open to all eligible therapists and celebrates professional contributions that go beyond the basics of the job. Progression is tied to continuing education, involvement in leadership or specialty programs and sharing knowledge with others through mentoring, research or instruction. Your growth is tied directly to the work you’re already passionate about and is personalized to your interests. Some professional activities include:

• Conduct your own research or author a research paper in a peer-reviewed journal
• Acting as a student clinical instructor or teaching
• Mentoring or onboarding new hires
• Receiving one or multiple specialty certifications
• …and more!

The structure is clear and includes multiple levels of professional advancement, starting with clinician 1 and progressing through clinical specialist 3. Each level reflects your growing expertise and contributions. As you move up, you’ll complete additional continuing education hours and take on meaningful professional activities like mentoring, leading programs, earning specialty certifications or publishing research. You don’t have to wonder what it takes to grow here. It’s written out, achievable, and built to reward your initiatives.

• Clinician 1: 40 hours of continuing education, two professional activities
• Clinician 2: 120 hours of continuing education, three professional activities
• Clinical Specialist 1: 180 hours of continuing education, five professional activities
• Clinical Specialist 2: 240 hours of continuing education, seven professional activities
• Clinical Specialist 3: 300 hours of continuing education, nine professional activities

Across the country, our therapists are using the career ladder to grow in ways that matter most to them. Some are stepping into leadership roles, others are deepening their clinical expertise, and many are mentoring and inspiring their colleagues along the way. The structure is there, but the path is personal. At Encompass Health, we’re proud to support that journey and celebrate the progress our therapy teams continue to make. Learn more about the growth and development for our therapists and where we’re hiring on our website: https://careers.encompasshealth.com/careers/therapy/