Time to Completion While physical therapists are only required to have a master's degree, most people entering the field today choose to earn a doctorate in physical therapy. For students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree and have taken the appropriate prerequisites in chemistry, biology, and physics, a doctoral program can take as few as 2 1/2 years. Starting physical therapy assistants usually earn a 2-year associate’s degree from an accredited physical therapy assistant program.  Prerequisites All PT programs require a bachelor's degree from an accredited 4-year college or university. Prerequisite coursework generally includes: - General Biology with lab
- Organic Chemistry with lab
- General Physics with lab
- Human Anatomy with lab
- Human Physiology with lab
- Statistics and calculus
- Psychology and social sciences
PT School Admission Admission to physical therapy programs is competitive; to get into your school of choice, focus on earning a high overall grade point average in college (above a 3.3 GPA) and volunteer or work as a physical therapy assistant. Some schools require up to 150-hours of clinical experience prior to admission. You'll also need letters of recommendation from physical therapists or science teachers. In addition, most schools require a satisfactory score on Graduate Record Examination (GRE). What You'll Study Curriculum varies from program to program, but in addition to the theory and practice of physical therapy, most programs cover: - Basic medical sciences
- Biomechanics
- Neuroanatomy
- Pathology
- Rehabilitative procedures
You'll also gain plenty of hands-on experience in a clinical internship. Licensure After graduating from an accredited physical therapy program you must then pass the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE). Upon passing the exam you will need to meet any additional requirements your state licensing board may have before they will allow you to practice. Some physical therapists seek advanced certification in a clinical specialty, such as orthopaedic, neurologic, cardiopulmonary, pediatric, geriatric, or sports physical therapy. Others are certified in electrophysiological testing and measurement. |
