The question most frequently asked of me, as About.com's physical therapy guide, is “how do I apply to physical therapy school?” As choosing a career is an extremely important decision, I understand the need for guidance in this quest.
Below are steps to help in the application process. Earning a degree in physical therapy is hard work, but the end result is well worth it.
Volunteer
To be sure that this career is the right one for you, you should spend some time volunteering at a physical therapy facility. There are a wide variety of physical therapy settings, so volunteering in a few of these areas will help you decide what “branch” of physical therapy fits you best.Volunteering with a physical therapist also helps you build a rapport with a certain therapist. This is important as most physical therapy programs will require a letter of recommendation from a physical therapist as part of the application. By spending several hours volunteering with a therapist, you will be able to obtain a letter of recommendation easier.
Finally, many programs require a certain amount of hours spent volunteering at a physical therapy setting. Therefore, this step may no be optional. Either way, it is an important step in determining your pathway to a career in physical therapy.
Decide on a Degree
Two post graduate physical therapy degrees are now offered. These include the master’s degree in physical therapy and the doctorate degree in physical therapy. They differ in terms of length of training and depth of content.The American Physical Therapy Association put out this statement in regards to the difference between a professional (entry-level) DPT program and a professional (entry-level) MPT program:
“The length of the majority of DPT programs has been extended beyond the traditional two-year masters program. Based on a recent informal survey, accredited and transitioning DPT programs have augmented the breadth and depth of content in a typical two- or three-year professional (entry-level) MPT program. The specific augmented content areas include, among others, differential diagnosis, pharmacology, radiology/imaging, health care management, prevention/wellness/health promotion, histology, and pathology. In addition, the final or culminating clinical education experience is typically extended beyond the average of 15 weeks; some are 1 year in length.”
Pick a School
Now that you are sure physical therapy is the career for you, and you’ve decided on a master’s or doctorate degree, it is time to choose a physical therapy school. There are many questions to ask when deciding on a school. Here are few things to consider:Location – Where do you want to attend school? You may want to select a place close to your family, or somewhere you’ve always wanted to live.
Size – Do you want to attend a large university, or would a smaller school be the best setting for you?
State vs. Private – If finances are an issue, tuition at state programs are often less than those at private institutions.
Competition – You should select more than one school to apply to, as admission is often competitive. By applying and interviewing at more than one school, you will also be able to get a first hand feel for differences between programs.
Accreditation – Every program you apply to should be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This committee establishes and applies standards that assure quality and continuous improvements in the entry-level preparation of physical therapists that reflect the evolving nature of education, research, and practice.
Follow these steps, and you will be happy with your final decision. Good Luck!
