How to Become a Physical Therapist

If you've ever fallen and suffered a strain, you may have needed to see a physical therapist during your recovery. Maybe you were in a auto blow or had surgery — a concrete therapist may have helped yous rehabilitate. Concrete therapists work in all kinds of capacities and with all types of people, from children, older adults and postpartum women to stroke patients, meridian-tier athletes and more than.

If becoming a physical therapist is of involvement to you lot, y'all may be wondering about the delivery needed to enter into the discipline — how many years does it have to become a concrete therapist? Information technology's more than simply an undergraduate degree, volunteer hours, licensure or a fellowship. Some concrete therapists volition put in that time and then pursue boosted continuing educational activity PT credits.

Earlier diving into the details, hither is a look at the broader picture.

Online Physical Therapy Programs

Learn from Arcadia's skillful DPT kinesthesia in an online program. Complete in 25 months.

Earn your DPT from a hybrid program. Experience on-campus immersions and utilise skills learned online to patients in person. Complete the program in 25 months. GRE and available's required.

  • Accredited by the Committee on Accreditation in Concrete Therapy Didactics (CAPTE)
  • Consummate in 25 months
  • 32 weeks of in-person experience

The Hybrid DPT Program From USC — Available's Req'd

With USC's Sectionalization of Biokinesiology and Physical Therapy, aspiring concrete therapists can earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in an innovative hybrid format. Bachelor's required.

  • Full-time, iii-year program
  • 44 weeks of rich, varied clinical experiences
  • Regular visits to USC for on-campus, skill-building immersions

What Is a Concrete Therapist?

The American Concrete Therapy Association (APTA) describes concrete therapists as "motion experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed do, hands-on care, and patient education."

Concrete therapists assistance their patients notice relief in a number of ways, generally involving the move of the body in the class of exercises.

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

A concrete therapist'south scope of do includes rehabilitating patients or helping them do things for the beginning fourth dimension, improving performance, and preventing injury. Physical therapist duties generally include examining patients, evaluating their condition, screening for injuries or illness, diagnosing weather, determining a prognosis, developing plans of care, overseeing documentation and care, and discharging patients at the cease of treatment.

Otherwise, their scope of practice varies land by state. Maryland, for instance, specifies that physical therapy practice does not include taking X-rays, using substances that are radioactive, or using electricity to cauterize or perform surgery." Other states take like stances, with Idaho stating that "the practice of physical therapy shall not include the utilise of radiology, surgery or medical diagnosis of disease." You can discover what the telescopic of do for a physical therapist in your state includes and does not include on the APTA's website.

5 Common Steps to Become a Physical Therapist

How long does it accept to become a physical therapist? In full general, the path to becoming a concrete therapist will bridge anywhere from vi to viii years, depending on how long it takes you to motility through each footstep, including your education, clinical hours, shadowing hours and more than. The journey to becoming a physical therapist isn't the same for everyone; however, these are the bones steps to enter the profession.

  1. Earn a Bachelor'due south Caste

    If y'all're looking for pre-physical-therapy programs, you may have all kinds of questions: "Exercise I need to become to med school to be a concrete therapist?" Or, "What kind of teaching do you need to exist a concrete therapist?"

    Wait no farther than your traditional bachelor's degree. Few colleges offering a physical therapist available's degree, but earning a available's degree is 1 of the prerequisites for acceptance into a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program. Your bachelor'southward doesn't accept to specifically be pre-physical therapy, but it should be in an applicable, health-related field. This will allow you lot to option upward foundational knowledge and skills required for the field, such as knowledge in:

    • Biological science
    • Anatomy
    • Physiology
    • Biomechanics
    • Kinesiology
    • Neuroscience
    • Pharmacology
    • Cardiovascular and pulmonary sciences
    • Endocrine sciences
    • Metabolic sciences
    • Musculoskeletal sciences

    Note that a background in softer skills such every bit behavioral sciences, cultural competence, communication, management sciences, finance, folklore, clinical reasoning, ethics, and prove-based practice volition also exist beneficial to your success equally a physical therapist.

    Looking to pursue a career in physical therapy? The question of what to major in for physical therapy is a popular one. Here are some common majors for physical therapy:

    • Physics
    • Anatomy
    • Physiology
    • Biomechanics
    • Kinesiology
    • Exercise Science

  2. Gain Hands-on Physical Therapy Experience

    Physical therapy shadowing is one of the main requirements for access into most high-quality Doctorate of Concrete Therapy programs. (Not all physical therapy programs crave observation hours, and the amount and completion date of hours may vary by program.) For those that exercise require them, physical therapy volunteer hours can exist paid or unpaid and may be completed in a variety of settings throughout a pupil's undergraduate career, requirements will vary past school.

    Physical therapy volunteer or shadowing hours will help you learn technical skills and soft skills by observing licensed physical therapists interacting with their patients and taking on some of the duties for yourself such equally patient preparation and movement (due east.1000., lowering or raising them). You will also proceeds exposure to working with patients from different backgrounds and with various conditions.

    Concrete therapy shadowing opportunities can be institute in nearly any of the environments in which a physical therapist practices, from hospitals to research centers to fitness centers. Similarly, you may find yourself working across a variety of physical therapy practice areas, such as:

    • Acute care
    • Aquatics
    • Cardiovascular and pulmonary
    • Geriatrics
    • Dwelling wellness
    • Neurology
    • Oncology
    • Orthopedics
    • Pediatrics
    • Sports
    • Women's health

    Exposure to a number of different areas may assist you with clarity of career pick. Depending on where you choose to shadow, you may notice out at that place are some areas that y'all prefer more than others.

  3. Consummate a Doc of Physical Therapy Programme

    According to the APTA, the typical doctorate in concrete therapy takes three years to consummate. A typical physical therapy curriculum is 80% classroom and lab study, and xx% clinical instruction, so you'll not only learn about your subject but likewise gain hands-on experience. Courses in your physical therapy education might include:

    • Biological science/beefcake
    • Cellular histology
    • Physiology
    • Exercise physiology
    • Biomechanics
    • Kinesiology
    • Neuroscience
    • Pharmacology
    • Pathology
    • Behavioral sciences
    • Communication
    • Ethics/values
    • Management sciences
    • Finance
    • Sociology
    • Clinical reasoning
    • Show-based practice
    • Cardiovascular and pulmonary
    • Endocrine and metabolic
    • Musculoskeletal organisation

    Continue in mind that not all DPT programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Concrete Therapy Teaching (CAPTE). It's important to choose a program that has CAPTE accreditation, so y'all tin qualify to sit for the concrete therapy licensure exam after graduation (and subsequently practice in your field).

Concrete Therapy Pedagogy Requirements

It's important to do your research to notice a program that fits your specific needs and to ensure that yous're on rails to meet all admissions requirements for concrete therapy school. A Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is required to practice physical therapy on patients. DPT program requirements vary depending on the school simply volition generally include a Physical Therapy Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) awarding, including transcripts, GRE scores, references, and ascertainment hours.

Some DPT schools may have supplemental requirements such every bit a fee or the results of a concrete examination; it's upwards to yous to make sure you know and have addressed each requirement for the schools to which yous are applying. Each of these physical therapy schoolhouse prerequisites will require time and attending to complete, so brand certain you begin them with enough advance time before your application is due.

Doctor of Physical Therapy Programme Options

In that location are on-campus and online doctor of physical therapy programme options available. As mentioned, it is important to ensure that your program of choice meets the requirements of the land yous wish to work in — such as having CAPTE accreditation and then that you tin can obtain your physical therapy license after completing your education.

As for attending a DPT program online versus on campus: While many students are used to on-campus settings, online DPT programs may lend more flexibility to students' schedules as they continue to gain real-earth experience exterior the classroom or have personal obligations. Online physical therapy programs also permit y'all to study at the school of your choice without having to uproot your family or move across the state.

4. Fulfill Physical Therapy License Requirements

Physical therapy licensure is required in every state, only precise concrete therapy license requirements vary past location. Be certain to check the requirements you lot need to fulfill in the state you wish to work in. To obtain a PT license, all aspiring physical therapists must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE).

You are allowed v hours for the 250 NPTE questions, which will be objective, multiple option and computerized. The NPTE content will embrace the body systems (due east.g., neuromuscular and nervous systems, lymphatic systems and musculoskeletal system) and non-systems (e.g., rubber and protection, therapeutic modalities, enquiry and evidence-based practice).

The NPTE test is administered four times per year. To see the most current NPTE exam dates being offered, view the NPTE website.

What happens afterward the NPTE exam?

For those who laissez passer the NPTE, congratulations, yous are one step closer to obtaining licensure!. Those who did not pass the required score, y'all do have the option of retaking the test. There is a maximum of iii times in a 12-month period and six times in a lifetime.

After becoming licensed, some physical therapists wish to continue learning and expanding their knowledge. Two ways this tin be done via PT continuing education: through clinical physical therapy residency programs and clinical physical therapy fellowship programs.

5. Attend a Concrete Therapy Residency or Fellowship

If you want to specialize in an area of physical therapy, such equally orthopedics or sports, you'll need to complete a residency program and/or a concrete therapy fellowship. In addition to gaining the knowledge to work in a specialty expanse, you would need to tape some or all of the clinical hours needed to earn certification through the American Lath of Physical Therapy Specialties.

Concrete Therapy Residency vs. Fellowship Programs

How should you choose between a physical therapy residency vs. fellowship? What's the difference between the two? When it comes to the field of physical therapy, a residency experience prepares an individual to become a lath-certified clinical specialist. A fellowship, on the other hand, is designed for the graduate of a residency or board-certified physical therapist to focus on a subspecialty expanse of clinical exercise, education, or enquiry.

Careers for Physical Therapists

Where do physical therapists work? Careers and locations that employ physical therapists vary profoundly. Physical therapist work environments include:

  • Hospitals
  • Outpatient clinics or offices
  • Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
  • Skilled nursing, extended care or subacute facilities
  • Homes
  • Education or research centers
  • Schools
  • Hospices
  • Industrial, workplace or other occupational environments
  • Fitness centers and sports training facilities

In add-on to these and the previously mentioned environments, some physical therapists set up private practices or join an office of physical therapists, occupational therapists, and voice communication pathologists one time their training is complete.

As with a PT pupil's observation hours, licensed physical therapists may work in practice areas from acute care and home health to pediatrics or geriatrics and specialize in oncology, neurology, sports or even women'due south health.

For more information, run across Physical Therapy Careers and Salaries.

Salaries for Physical Therapists

The median annual wage for concrete therapists was $89,440 in May of 2019; however, the highest ten% of Us physical therapists earned upward of $124,740.

The median annual wages were above the median annual wage of the profession every bit a whole for those physical therapists working in nursing and residential care facilities ($95,440); abode health intendance services ($94,080); and state, local and private hospitals ($91,260).

Demand for Physical Therapists

The employment outlook for the physical therapy field as a whole is much faster than the average for all occupations. Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 22% between 2018 and 2028.

This strong employment outlook is largely due to this predicted shortage, as well as to the baby boomer population aging: Not merely are they staying agile afterwards in life, merely they are also susceptible to chronic and acute health atmospheric condition. As a effect of this demographic shift, PT task prospects are predicted to be specially adept in settings where older adults are treated, such as acute care hospitals, skilled-nursing facilities and orthopedic care settings.

Prospects may also be especially favorable in rural settings as a result of an existing shortage of concrete therapists, many of whom currently choose to live in highly populated suburban and urban locations.

The Bottom Line

Physical therapists do a vital, enervating job that affects the quality of life of their patients immensely. It requires extensive education and preparation to qualify as a physical therapist. Fortunately, concrete therapists have the opportunity to cull item ranges of patients, settings and specialties in their career path, while earning a competitive bacon and also knowing that what they do makes a difference.

Final Updated May 2020