If you ask a physical therapist how they got involved with the profession, many people may be surprised to discover that there are multiple paths to physical therapy. Overall, everyone has to complete similar graduate schooling, but the backgrounds coming into graduate programs vary, which is what makes the profession unique.
For a good number of us, we played sports growing up and injured ourselves and that was the introduction to the field. From there on we pursued undergraduate studies that would apply to the medical field i.e. biology, exercise science, pre-med. But for some, they have degrees in business, finance, sports management, psychology, etc. and the lack of passion with their original careers led them to pursue a graduate program in Physical Therapy.
What Happens When Applying to a Physical Therapy Program?
While every program has slightly different qualifications, the main aspects overlap.
- Pre-requisite classes: All programs require some combination of pre-requisite courses, with biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry and physics making up the majority. So if the applicant is a career changer and didn’t take those classes with their undergrad degree, they may need to supplement their transcript prior to applying.
- Clinical hours: Admission boards want to ensure applicants know what they are getting themselves into prior to entering the program, therefore most require shadowing clinical hours in more than one setting i.e. hospital, outpatient clinic, skilled nursing facility, etc.
What Happens Once You Get In?
Selecting a program that is CAPTE (Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education) approved is crucial, meaning the program is up to standards set by the US Department of Education. Students then spend 2-3 years learning the ins and outs of the medical field, obtaining knowledge to be applied across the continuum of care and being tested on our clinical skills. Whether clinical internships are spread throughout a program or concentrated at the end, all programs require students to perform selected clinical internships in different settings to prepare them for autonomous practice.
What Comes After Graduation?
Once someone graduates as a physical therapist, the learning doesn’t stop. All physical therapists must pass a national licensing exam and a jurisprudence exam based on the laws and regulations of the state they are applying to be licensed in. A PT must complete at least 30 hours of continuing education every two years in order to be eligible for licensure renewal.
Overall, most PT’s have spent 6-7 years of schooling in order to earn their Doctorate of Physical Therapy and procure the knowledge to evaluate and treat patients in a safe and productive manner. They are all aware that the learning doesn’t stop there, and most strive to take in all of the new research and incorporate it into their practice as appropriate.
If you or anyone you know is interested in a career in Physical Therapy, feel free to reach out and we’d be happy to answer questions or set up clinical shadowing time!
