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Oct 23, 2023 · Learn the steps to become a physical therapist, including earning a bachelor's degree, a doctorate in physical therapy, passing a national exam and obtaining a license. Find out the salary, job outlook and specializations for physical therapists.
Learn about the state-specific standards and processes for becoming a licensed PT or PTA in the United States. Find out how to pass the NPTE, get your credentials evaluated, and renew your license.
- What Physical Therapists Do
- Where Physical Therapists Work
- How Much Physical Therapists Earn
- Physical Therapist Education and Licensure
- Getting Into A DPT Program
- Choosing The Right Program
- Admissions
- After Graduation
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Physical therapists examine, diagnose, and treat individuals of all ages, from newborns to people at the end of life. Physical therapists work with patients who have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. They help patients avoid surgery and prescription drugs, maximize mobility, manage pain and chronic conditions, ...
Physical therapists practice in a wide range of settings, including but not limited to hospitals, outpatient clinics, people's homes, schools, sports and fitness facilities, workplaces, and nursing homes.
The median salary for a physical therapist is $97,720. Salaries vary based on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location, and practice setting. Demand for physical therapists varies by geographical region and area of practice, but PT unemployment rates are typically low across the country. The need for physical therapis...
To practice as a physical therapist in the U.S., you must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam. The length of professional DPT programs is typically three years. Primary content areas in the curriculum...
Most DPT programs require applicants to earn a bachelor's degree prior to admission. Other programs offer a 3+3 curricular format in which three years of specific preprofessional (undergraduate/pre-PT) courses must be taken before the student can advance into a three-year professional DPT program. A few programs offer freshman entry, recruiting stu...
APTA does not rank DPT education programs. Programs are accredited by CAPTE, which assures quality in physical therapist education. Among the factors you should keep in mind when choosing your program: 1. Cost and financial aid opportunities. Most DPT students graduate with student loans. Make sure that you are financially aware and prepared. Progr...
The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Serviceallows applicants to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple DPT programs. Learn About the Admissions Process
Licensed physical therapists may choose to pursue a residency or fellowship programto enhance their knowledge and practice. A clinical residency is designed to advance a physical therapist's preparation as a provider of patient care services in a defined area of clinical practice. It combines opportunities for ongoing clinical supervision and mento...
Learn about the education, licensure, and career prospects of physical therapists, who are licensed doctors who help people improve their movement and function. Find out how to choose a DPT program, apply, and pursue specialization or certification.
- Earn your bachelor’s degree. To become a physical therapist, you must earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, so the first step to becoming a licensed physical therapist is to earn your bachelor’s degree.
- Choose a DPT program. After you’ve earned a bachelor’s degree or met the other requirements, you can apply for a Doctor of Physical Therapy program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
- Graduate from your DPT program and pass the NPTE. The purpose of the DPT program is to prepare PT students for the NPTE, or National Physical Therapy Examination.
- Pass your state's licensure exam. To practice in a state, you must pass a state licensure exam to receive your physical therapist license. You need to pass both the NPTE and a state exam to practice legally in many states.
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- Minimum GPA. Most DPT programs have minimum grade point average requirements. These minimum scores vary by institution and may be low as compared with the average GPA of applicants offered admission.
- Graduate Record Examination. Most DPT programs require applicants to complete the GRE. Programs may have minimum acceptable scores and last acceptable test dates.
- Physical therapy volunteer experience. Many programs require applicants to have volunteer or paid experiences working with patients under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist.
- Recommendation/Reference Letters. Many physical therapist programs require one to four letters of reference (also known as "letters of evaluation" or "recommendations") as part of the admissions process.
Apr 25, 2024 · Learn about the education, licensure, and certification requirements for physical therapists. Find out the steps, timeline, and salary potential for this healthcare profession.
Jan 30, 2020 · Though graduate education wasn't always required to become a physical therapist, a doctorate degree is now necessary to join the profession in the U.S. An aspiring U.S. physical therapist will ...
