What Education Is Required to Be a Physical Therapist?

Physical therapists help patients regain the use of their bodies after injury or illness. They also help patients alleviate pain due to those injuries. Patients gain flexibility and better range of motion with the help of physical therapists. A career in physical therapy provides great job stability, interesting work and a great salary. There is also a specific career path one must take to become a physical therapist.

High School

The first step to becoming a physical therapist is to earn a high school diploma. Students should take as many health and science classes as possible such as biology, chemistry and anatomy. Students should also study hard during this time to make sure they have the GPA necessary to get into college. This is also a good time for students to find out more about the job duties of a physical therapist to ensure that it is a career field they really wish to enter. Volunteering at a physical therapy practice or getting a job shadowing a physical therapist are good ways to get first hand knowledge of the field.

Bachelor's Degree

Physical therapist hopefuls must earn a bachelor's degree to prepare for graduate school. There is not a specific major required to become a physical therapist, but students will need to complete certain prerequisites to get into a graduate program. Some of these classes include anatomy, physics and other science courses. Like in high school, it is important to study hard and get the best grades possible. Most graduate programs also require volunteer or work experience, so it is important to gain as much experience during the bachelor's degree program as possible. Some universities also offer a combined program in which both the bachelor's degree and graduate degree can be earned much quicker.

Doctorate Degree

There are two types of physical therapy graduate programs. One leads to a master's degree in physical therapy and the other leads to a doctorate in physical therapy, or DPT. Since more states are now requiring physical therapists to possess a DPT, it is recommended that anyone wanting to become a physical therapist earn a DPT at an accredited university. DPT programs consist of both classroom and laboratory coursework in a wide range of subjects. Students must also complete a supervised clinical experience in order to earn their DPT.

Get Licensed

Physical therapists must be licensed in order to practice physical therapy. There are both state and national exams that must be passed. Certain states may also have other requirements for physical therapists. It is important to check the state board for the state in which the physical therapist wishes to practice.

Specializations

There are eight different specialties available to physical therapists. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties offers certification in the following areas: cardiovascular and pulmonary, clinical electrophysiologic, women's health, pediatric, geriatric, orthopedic, sports medicine and neurologic. It is not necessary to specialize, but it is important to note that certifications must be renewed every ten years.