An Education to Become a Physical Therapist
Physical therapy is a career in which a practitioner uses extensive theoretical knowledge to provide specific remedial care to medical patients. Physical therapists help people who have suffered a debilitating illness or injury to recover mobility, physical function and condition or devise methods by which they can perform day-to-day tasks despite their disability. This may take the form of devising individual exercise regimes, teaching patients how to use wheelchairs or artificial limbs or treating them with infrared lamps or whirlpool baths to alleviate pain. To become a physical therapist, an individual must undertake considerable educational training.
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High School
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Becoming a physical therapist requires a candidate to access graduate and postgraduate training. Therefore, the first step is attaining a good grade point average in a high school diploma or general educational diploma. The better the average, the more likely the candidate will secure a place in the college of her choice. All-around academic performance is necessary, although biology, physics, chemistry, English and mathematics are particularly relevant to the career.
College
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At college, in pursuit of a bachelor's degree, a candidate can major in any subject of his choosing. However, many potential physical therapists choose one of the science subjects. Whatever a candidate's major, he should also take courses in the sciences, communications, maths and English. A candidate may also wish to undertake some volunteering at a hospital or clinic in his spare time.
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Postgraduate
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To practice as a physical therapist, a candidate must undertake postgraduate study, leading to a Master's degree in physical therapy. Individuals study for an average of two years at a college, university or medical school, receiving instruction in subjects ranging from anatomy and physiology to communication and medical ethics. Ideally, a candidate should attend a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), the accreditation body of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), considered the standard-bearer by the industry. A candidate can extend her education to gain a doctoral degree, a course that lasts another three to four years.
License
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Alongside her Master's degree, a candidate must also obtain a state license before practicing as a physical therapist. The precise requirements vary between state boards, but most demand that a candidate pass a recognized training program and a written examination. Many boards use the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). Boards often require physical therapists to undergo continued education and examination to maintain licensure.
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