PURPOSE: This study compared the preferences of students majoring in physical therapy (PT) and those of physical therapists regarding various PT fields. METHODS: Two hundred and sixty-two participants (students: 161, physical therapists: 101) were recruited, and their preferences for seven fields of the PT (musculoskeletal system, nervous system, children and adolescents, cardiopulmonary system, sports, and pelvic and women’s health) were surveyed using a Likert five-point scale. An independent t-test was conducted to compare the preference scores of each field between the PT student and physical therapist groups. RESULTS: PT for the musculoskeletal system was the most preferred by PT students and physical therapists. In contrast, PT for children and adolescents had the lowest preference. A comparison of the preferences of various PT fields in the two groups revealed PT students to have a significantly higher preference for PT on the musculoskeletal system, children and adolescents, and the nervous system compared with the physical therapists. CONCLUSION: These results could provide the basic information for various PT fields.