How Many Years Do You Have to Go to School to Be a Physical Therapist?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 27 percent growth in job opportunities for physical therapists between 2006 and 2016 because of a growing elderly population and advancements in the medical field. If you're thinking of joining the growing field, learn the facts about the education requirements.
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Length
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Physical therapists spend six to seven years attending school. Students earn their bachelor's degree during the first four years, followed by two to three years of physical therapy education---depending on the type of advanced degree they pursue.
Degree Type
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Students choose whether to earn a master's or doctorate degree in physical therapy. A master's typically requires two extra years of schooling, while earning a doctorate takes three. There are 212 doctorate degree programs in physical therapy and only 11 that offer master degrees. according to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).
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Accreditation
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Educational programs to become a physical therapist receive accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education.
Significance
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To meet state licensing requirements, a student must earn a professional degree in physical therapy from an accredited program.
Continuing Education
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Physical therapists engage in continuing education courses to meet license renewal requirements. Each state establishes its own number of continuing education credits required.
Future
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Leadership of the APTA released in 2000 the Vision 2020 report to serve as the vision and guiding force for the organization for the next two decades. This report makes a clear reference to doctorate degrees, and APTA assumes this degree will become the requirement by 2020.
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- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Daniel Latorre
