How to Become a Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) works with patients who have suffered physical disabilities as the result of an accident or a disease. In consultation with doctors and other medical professionals, the PT designs a patient's rehabilitation therapy and works with the patient over a course of weeks, months or even years. Therapy can include exercise, deep-tissue massage and ultrasound treatments.
- Difficulty:
- Challenging
Instructions
-
-
1
Understand that you will need a bachelor's or master's degree in physical therapy, and that it will include numerous science courses, including chemistry, biology and physics. You should begin taking these science courses in high school.
-
2
Work on polishing your interpersonal skills. You will often have to advise frustrated patients and family members about long-term physical therapy.
-
3
Go to the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Web site (apta.org) for up-to-date information about this field. Also look for the APTA list of accredited schools and contact your top choices for their admissions information.
-
4
Maintain an excellent grade point average. The physical therapy field is highly competitive.
-
5
Consult local hospitals, rehabilitation centers and private therapy practices about their hiring forecasts. Try to get your internship where jobs might be available after you graduate.
-
6
Pass the mandatory licensure exam after you have received your degree. Check your state's exact licensing requirements long before graduation.
-
7
Decide if you want to specialize in an area such as neurology, pediatrics or sports medicine. Ask your counselor about the additional training or degrees required for certification in a specialty. Remember that you can work toward a specialty after you graduate from college.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that many states require you to take continuing education classes or workshops in order to retain your license.
If you have a bachelor's degree in another field, you can enroll in a master's degree program in physical therapy.
You will need to remain in excellent physical shape because you will be using your muscles on a daily basis as you perform your work.
Related Searches
Comments
-
avmcsmu
Aug 25, 2010
Thank u. waiting for article about clinical pharmacology. -
pleasebewell
Aug 15, 2010
Great article. PT school is supposed to be extremely competitive to get accepted into and most applicants need a 4.0 grade point average especially due to there being only a certain number of seats per graduating class. Each PT school may have slightly different prerequisites (including physics, chemistry, biology and general anatomy & physiology) and requirements, so it's best to check with each school Before taking those prereq courses. Please also job shadow/observe in the various areas that offer PT including patients with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), spinal cord injury/paralysis, stroke ("brain attack") which is another type of brain injury, those with amputated limbs, at a pediatric hospital, nursing home or such.
-
sabrinacareer
Jul 04, 2010
this is very interesting info
-
ts31
Feb 01, 2010
I'm already a massage therapist, using my massage credits what classes do I need to take to become a physical therapist?
-
sbe1904
Jan 06, 2010
I am considering a career change to physical thearpy. I already have a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology (completed 1999). Are there any recommendations out there for this 33 year old, who wants to make a change in career?
