Starting in 2020, a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree will be required to become a physical therapist.
Whether you’re in high school or college, or a non-traditional student looking to change careers, here is a straightforward overview of the steps needed to become a physical therapist.
Currently in place are 3 necessary prerequisites for becoming a licensed physical therapist.
First, an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree from an accredited 4-year academic institution.
Second, a post-bachelor’s Doctoral degree in physical therapy from an accredited program.
Third, passing the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).
The following is a more in-depth description of each of these steps to become a Physical Therapist.
Step 1: Undergraduate Degree in the Sciences (Pre-Physical Therapy)
University admissions staff seek applicants with solid high school grades and a genuine interest in pursuing a health profession. It’s important to know you do not have to declare yourself as pre-PT in the beginning and you can be pre-PT as an undergraduate in any major. However, certain majors can better prepare students for this field. Learn about the best undergrad major for PT school.
You’ll be required to take specific prerequisite courses before applying to a PT graduate program – some of these courses will already be part of your undergraduate major curriculum. Odds of getting accepted can improve significantly if you have volunteer or work experience in a physical therapy setting. Also, it is important to obtain good recommendation letters from science teachers, physical therapists and other healthcare professionals. A cumulative GPA of 3.3 or greater is what’s needed for you to be a competitive applicant.
As a physical therapist, a major component of your work will consist of teaching patients and their loved ones about the therapy process and what to expect. Since you’ll be speaking directly with men and women from a wide range of cultures and lifestyles, diverse liberal arts courses are encouraged as part of your undergraduate studies.
Furthermore, you should take classes that enable you to build strong abilities in both spoken and written communication, critical reasoning, interpersonal communication, and basic computation. Most importantly, a comprehensive course load in the biological and physical sciences is essential in forming the foundation for your graduate degree physical therapy education.
Step 2: Graduate Physical Therapy Degree Program (DPT or MPT)
Physical therapy graduate programs offer the following two degree types: master’s of physical therapy (MPT) and doctor of physical therapy (DPT). As of this writing, in order to become qualified for PT licensure, a master’s degree (MPT) is minimally required. However, all schools will be required by 2017 to offer only DPT degree programs with more and more offering transitional doctor of physical therapy (tDPT) degree programs for current PT’s who hold a bachelor’s or master’s in physical therapy. In a recent statement, The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) foresees that most licensed and working physical therapists will have a DPT degree by 2020. With that being said, we suggest enrolling in a DPT program since this degree has become the professional standard in physical therapy.
Physical therapy graduate programs focus on applied health sciences, beginning with fundamental classes in biology, physics, chemistry, statistics, anatomy and physiology, and psychology. Your learning will advance towards more and more focused courses including exercise physiology, kinesiology, biomechanics, pathophysiology, research methodology, abnormal psychology and therapeutic methods and techniques.
Your entire learning and training in a graduate physical therapy program will not occur in the university classroom exclusively. Much emphasis is stressed on using what you’ve learned from textbooks and your professors to actual physical rehabilitation scenarios. Depending on the location and situation, you’ll be observing or actually be permitted to perform hands-on while being under close supervision.
A great deal of time will be spent watching qualified physical therapists perform procedures in different clinical situations and environments. Exposure and experience like this is an integral part of the learning process. It will furthermore assist you in identifying the specific field of PT to pursue following graduation. Just like the majority of medical professions, a physical therapist’s learning doesn’t end. In staying up to date with the latest therapy methods and industry progressions, anticipate taking numerous continuing education classes and seminars during the course of your profession as a licensed physical therapist.
Step 3: Certification/Licensure as a Physical Therapist
Following commencement from a graduate Physical Therapy program, you’ll be allowed to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. Prior to being permitted to work as a professional PT, you’ll be required to effectively pass this examination – a criteria of every state in the United States and Puerto Rico. Certain states have extra prerequisites, like becoming licensed for that particular state or specific continuing education and training to obtain working status as a physical therapist.
Infographic: How To Become a Physical Therapist
Have a look at the following infographic to find out more about how to get started on your career in physical therapy and what to expect once you become a physical therapist.
Find U.S. Physical Therapy Graduate Schools
Click on a link below to view a state map of all PT schools currently offering Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree programs in that state.
The Physical Therapy Assistant Option
Looking to work in the physical therapy field in under 2 years? Want to get work experience before becoming a PT? If you said yes to any of these questions, then becoming a physical therapy assistant (PTA) may be a good choice. Learn more about the requirements to become a PTA or search for physical therapy assistant schools below.
