Education
Make sure you have good high school grades and have done some relevant
volunteer work in physical therapy before applying to study the discipline.
Universities want to make sure students understand and enjoy the work before
investing time and money in their studies.
You need a strong background in sciences for a career as a physical therapist.
Physical therapy deals with human anatomy and biology, physiology and physics.
All these sciences, especially anatomy, are part of the everyday work of physical
therapists.
"PT (physical therapy) school can be tough and should not be considered
an easy degree by any stretch of the imagination," says Jim Shepherd. He's
a physical therapist in Washington state.
Competition to get into physical therapy programs can be intense. Students
need above-average grades, especially in courses such as anatomy, chemistry,
mathematics and physical science.
Physical therapists must be licensed by their state's governing body. Many
jurisdictions require ongoing training for physical therapists to stay licensed.
Most physical therapy programs require an undergraduate degree. Many of
those programs require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology,
biology and chemistry.
In the U.S., most physical therapy programs grant a Doctor of Physical
Therapy (DPT) degree. These typically take three years to complete. A few
programs offer a master of physical therapy (MPT) degree, which takes two
to three years to complete.
Physical therapy training normally includes clinical rotations. This gives
students a chance to receive supervised work experience.
"For me, it was the perfect job to be in because it is very hands on and
your problem-solving skills become much more highly attuned the more you develop
your sensory skills," says physical therapist Kirsty Exner. "The education
background is very academic, but the job itself is made for those who are
naturally kinesthetic learners."