What are the physical therapist education requirements? Before we answer this question regarding high school, college, and graduate programs, we’ll ask you, have you decided to study physiotherapy?
I sincerely do not blame anyone who has yet to decide on a career path. This is a very critical decision and requires every bit of clarity. I know some people who regret that they chose a particular career, not necessarily because they are not making enough money, but perhaps they are not passionate about it and wish they had chosen something different.
It’s important that you carefully think and consider all options before making your career choice. It is even advisable that you pray before making your career choice because choosing a career is one of the most important decisions a person would make in their life.
In this article, we will be talking about the education requirements for physical therapy. So, if you want to become a physiotherapist, then you need to read this article to find out more about what is required to succeed in physical therapy.
Who is a Physical Therapist?
Before we go into the physical therapist education requirements properly, let’s first understand who a physical therapist is.
A physical therapist is a trained specialist in healthcare that diagnose and treat body disorders. A physical therapist can treat or manage illness, disorders, or injuries that may occur in the musculoskeletal system (bones and muscles), neurological systems (brain), cardiopulmonary system (heart and lungs), and integumentary system (skin).
Physical therapists are dedicated and important healthcare workers. People often choose to see a physiotherapist for tips on how to take care of themselves, manage, and prevent reoccurring illnesses.
Physical therapists must have effective communication skills and effective ingenuity in solving problems to be successful in this field. The aforementioned skills are important because physiotherapists are always in communication with their patients, and there are many health-related problems to be solved.
Duties of a Physical Therapist
Physical therapists are not regarded as doctors but they receive recommendations and referrals from doctors and other medical professionals.
When you visit a physical therapist, they will first perform a physical examination, after which they will make use of exercising, stretching, different types of equipment, other hands-on techniques, or a combination of all as your treatment plan.
The aim of seeing a therapist always revolves around restoring functionality to a specific part of the body, and the following treatment plan can work miracles as the therapist knows the best way to go about it.
Seeing a therapist is important and when you follow the treatment plan as directed, you will be able to reduce your intake of prescription drugs and you will lead a healthier life in the future.
The Number of Years to Become a Physical Therapist
To meet the physical therapist education requirements, you will need to spend about seven years studying in this field after you have completed high school.
Typically, you need four years of undergraduate studies and three years of physical therapy in graduate school which is seven years in total to become a physical therapist. This is also after you have spent about 6six years in high school, which is a prerequisite for any degree at all.
What are the Physical Therapist Education Requirements?
Obtaining a degree in physiotherapy is quite different when it comes to the route you need to follow to obtain it. In most degrees, all you need is to attend high school, then go to college, obtain an undergraduate degree in that field, and start practicing.
This is different when it comes to the physical therapist. You will need to do something different, but make sure that you are completing some vital classes from your high school to college; It is only at your graduate program level that you will choose a Physical therapy graduate program which you will complete and then obtain your license.
Below we have explained the physical therapy education requirements from high school to graduate level.
What are the Physical Therapist Education Requirements in High School?
We would have decided to start with the education requirement for physical therapy from the college level, but we decided to start from high school to give you a heads up on take the right steps to take.
Do your Internship with a Physical Therapist
You may have read about physical therapists online, or someone might have talked to you about the profession and you find it very interesting and you want to get into it. But you cannot know what it means to be a physical therapist if you have not seen one in action.
If you are in high school and you intend to become a physiotherapist, it will be in your best interest to find a way to closely observe a physical therapist on duty. You can also research to find an internship position available around your area with a physiotherapist.
Take extreme science courses in high school
Physiotherapy is a science discipline. It is advisable that you take honors or AP science courses during your high school days to get acquainted with the necessary contents going forward.
If you’re already getting tired of science courses in high school, then physiotherapy may not be the ideal career path for you, because this discipline will always be all about science. Always make sure you learn everything in your study materials; do not cram for your science exams as it is not good for you going forward.
Strive for Good High School Grades and SAT scores.
Demonstrating a good work ethic is good irrespective of your level of education. When you make good grades in high school it ultimately shows that you are committed to your future career.
Therefore, irrespective of the field you have chosen to ply your academic trade, make sure you strive for good grades, especially in the field of physiotherapy. You need good grades in your science classes as it shows your teachers that you are committed to what you want to become.
Seek admission to Colleges and Universities with a Concentration in Science Programs
Physical therapist education requirements for graduate-level will require that applicants must have taken prerequisite science classes during their undergraduate studies. The institution that applicants have chosen to obtain their undergraduate degree must be one with a robust science curriculum.
Anatomy and physiology are some of the core prerequisite science classes that aspiring students in the field of physiotherapy must have taken in their undergraduate studies before proceeding to graduate school. If an applicant choose to study in a liberal arts school, he or she may not have access to courses like this which are considered to be of paramount importance in physical therapist education requirements.
What are the Physical Therapist Education Requirements in College?
We have listed college requirements for intending physical therapists.
Complete your Physical Therapist Education Requirements courses in College
Irrespective of the major you have chosen to take in college, you will still be on track to become a physical therapist if you will take classes that we have listed below.
- Anatomy or Anatomy & Physiology 1 with lab
- Physiology or Anatomy & Physiology 2 with lab
- Biology 1
- Biology 2
- General Chemistry 1 with lab
- General Chemistry 2 with lab
- General Physics 1 with lab
- General Physics 2 with lab
- Psychology
- Statistics
Majoring in a natural science course is advisable if you are interested in physical therapy. There are several natural science courses you can major in like Biology or any other natural science course that may interest you.
Irrespective of the natural science major you have chosen, just make sure that you make good grades. Graduate schools these days consider students with good grades more than those without good grades.
Intern with a Physical Therapist
The easiest way to do this is to contact the career department or services in your school and ask if there are alumni from your school who would want to have you as an intern.
Some graduate school requires about a hundred hours total with a physical therapist. Bear in mind that during your internship program, you need to log your hours and after your internship request a verification letter. This is important because some graduate schools will verify this before admitting you.
Apply to graduate physical therapy programs
One of the physical therapist education requirements is that you complete your graduate program, so you need to apply.
Toward the end of your final year in college, start preparing to apply for physical therapy graduate programs
You can apply to eight to five physiotherapy graduate programs if you choose to. But remember, you should make sure that you are application has good grades in your prerequisite classes, experience working with licensed physical therapists, letters of recommendation from professors and supervisors, strong standardized test scores on the GRE, and a well-written personal statements
What are the Physical Therapist Education Requirements in the Graduate Program?
This is considered one of the most important physical therapist education requirements as if you must practice physical therapy, you must earn your Doctor of Physical Therapy DPT which typically takes three years to complete.
Courses like applied physical therapy, lifespan development, and functional anatomy would be carried out during this level of study and these courses are much more applied than the prerequisite classes you took during your college studies.
You will have the opportunity to work hands-on with patients and you will be offered the platform to apply your scientific knowledge to your practice.
We must tell you that this program is expensive and rigorous, but it will be worth it after completion.
At this level take time to learn your materials, do not focus on grades only.
This is considered the Zenith of your studies in physiotherapy and whatever you do not learn at this level you may not learn again. Therefore, you must focus on learning the materials not grades as whatever it is that you learn at this level will take you throughout your career.
Learn how to retain what you have learned in class and that will show in your grades. Do not cram!
Hands-on Experience is advisable
You should consider taking a part-time job or looking for an internship opportunity with organizations that need a physiotherapist in training.
The National Football League, the arthritis foundation, and the Special Olympics are good organizations that you can reach out to and offer free services. This would in turn give you a hands-on experience and make your portfolio more robust.
What are the Physical Therapist Education Requirements for Residency?
We have come to the final physical therapist education requirements. This has to do with the residency level which is after you have obtained your Doctor Of Physical Therapy DPT.
Choose your Specialisation
This decision is wholly dependent on you. After your Doctor of Physical Therapy DPT, you can choose to become a generalist or specialist in the field of physiotherapy.
If you want to work with a certain kind of patient then you need to complete your residency program to know where to specialize in. You can choose to specialize in Cardiovascular and Pulmonary, Clinical Electrophysiology, Geriatrics, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, Sports Physical Therapy, or Women’s Health.
Your residency period is very important to your career because you get to work with a specific kind of patient and this allows you to know where you will function better.
During your internship and voluntary services, you have been working with different kinds of patients with different kinds of conditions, and some of these conditions you may not see again throughout your career.
From your residency and going forward you will now have the opportunity to work with the patients you feel you can help the most.
This residency experience can be very rewarding to your career as a physical therapist.
Should you pursue further education?
Typically when it comes to physical therapist education requirements obtaining your Doctor of Physical Therapy DPT should be the final stage, but some people may decide to study further.
The physical therapy residency programs only last for one year and since you have obtained your doctor of physical therapy you’re qualified to be given a licence to practice.
If you are the kind of person that wants to explore, you can decide to study more by taking an additional Fellowship or you can just start with a private practice or get employed.
Frequently Asked Questions Physical Therapist Education Requirements
What type of PT makes the most money?
The highest-paying specialities for physical therapists are cardiovascular, neurology, paediatrics, and sports medicine PT.
What degree do I need to become a physical therapist?
To become a licensed physical therapist in America, you must obtain a Doctor of Therapy (DPT) degree. It’s a post graduate professional degree that can be completed in three years.
Do I need a bachelor’s degree before pursuing a DPT?
You need a bachelor’s degree to stand a chance to enter a DPT program. Although most students earn a bachelor’s degree in a related filed like Kinesiology or exercise science, any major is acceptable provided you meet the prerequisite for the DPT program.
What are the prerequisites for a DPT program?
While prerequisites will vary by school, the general requirement often include coursework in anatomy and physiology, psychology, physics, chemistry, biology, and statistics.
How long does it take to become a physical therapist?
It takes four years to obtain a bachelor’s degree, three for the DPT program which sums up to seven years. So, it takes seven years of post-secondary education to become a licensed physical therapist.
