How to Become a Physical Therapist in Florida
Physical therapists (PTs) work with physicians to design and implement treatment plans for patients experiencing physical difficulty. This difficulty may be due to disability, illness and/or injury. The job of the PT is to improve the patient's condition, with the goal being a return to as-close-to-normal function as possible. To become a physical therapist in Florida, you must obtain a degree in physical therapy from an accredited school and pass an examination to obtain a license.
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Things You'll Need
- Bachelors or higher degree in physical therapy
- Prevention of Medical Errors course
- Florida Laws and Rules course
- Examination fees
Instructions
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Obtain your bachelors or higher degree in the study of physical therapy from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. The American Physical Therapy Association lists accredited schools in Florida on their web site (see Resource).
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Complete the Prevention of Medical Errors course and the Florida Laws and Rules course provided by the Florida Physical Therapy Association prior to taking the licensing exam. You can complete the applicable form and purchase these courses from the Florida Physical Therapy Association web site (see Resource).
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Register to take the National Physical Therapist Exam and the Florida Laws and Rules exam through the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy on their web site (see Resource). You will be required to pay a fee for both exams and will be notified when and where you can attend testing in your area.
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Submit an application for licensing to the Florida Department of Health Board of Physical Therapy Practice. Along with your application you will be expected to pay a processing fee and provide proof of graduation from an accredited program, completion of the Prevention of Medical Errors course and either registration for the two required exams from the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, or your exam results. Your application must show you are at least in the process of taking the required exams if you have not taken them already. The application for licensing can be found on the Florida Department of Health web site (see Reference).
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References
Resources
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