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Physical Therapy Questions 2

What does a physical therapist schooling look like? #physical-therapist #therapists #therapy #psychology

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Monica’s Answer

Once getting accepted into a graduate school for physical therapy, the coursework to attain this degree (DPT degree needed as mentioned prior) is made up of a variety of courses and multiple clinical internships (hands on learning/work) in different settings. In general, these courses range from: anatomy and physiology, kinesiology/biomechanics, pharmacology, nutrition, neuroscience, community health/wellness, research, as well as in depth examination and treatment courses for orthopedics/musculoskeletal conditions, neurological conditions, pediatrics, and cardiopulmonary conditions. When it comes to settings for clinical internships, student physical therapists can be placed in settings such as outpatient adult/ pediatric clinics, schools, sports specific clinics, home health, in the hospital (acute care, inpatient rehabilitation), and skilled nursing facilities/subacute centers to name a few. After going through about 3 years straight of graduate school for PT, the national board exams for physical therapy ( NPTE) must also be passed in order to become licensed in whatever state a person would like to work in. A lot of hard work must be put in but it is worth it!
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Haylee’s Answer

In order to get into PT school, you will need to graduate with a bachelor's degree from an accredited school with all of the pre-requisite courses that the program you want to get into requires. Once enrolled into the graduate program, it will typically be 2.5-3 years of year round schooling before you graduate. These years of your life will be very important because it will create the foundation needed in order to work as a physical therapist. The schooling will include lecture classes, labs, practicals, clinical rotations, and sometimes volunteer work. Although it is a lot of work, as long as you can time manage and stay on top of your tasks, it is completely manageable. Besides, you will be with the same 30-50 people every day for three years, so you will always have a support system behind you to keep you going.
Basically, PT school is studying almost every day and putting in the time to practice skills in order to pass your practicals. All in all, it is hard work but completely worth it (especially when you have free time to celebrate with your classmates).
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Brenda’s Answer

Ella, you have the Bachelor's degree, then a Masters, but most successful PTs have a Doctorate. You will have to be licenced, but you should check with your state for licensing requirements.
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Donna’s Answer

The short answer is that to become a practicing PT you will need to achieve a 4 year undergraduate degree, then be accepted into a highly-competitive PT program that is typically 2.5-3 years. As of 2020, per the APTA, the entry degree is the Doctor of Physical Therapy, a clinical doctorate, so look at those programs. Be sure during your undergraduate degree that you take all the coursework identified as a pre-requisite for the DPT programs you are pursuing. And apply to more than one program! Pre-requisites vary from school to school, so be aware of that.

In PT school, you will most likely attend classes or clinicals year round, so no summer break. You will take both lecture and lab classes and have sections of time that you are in a clinical setting, practicing with a clinical instructor to oversee your work. Upon graduation with a DPT, you will need to pass the licensure exam in the state in which you intend to practice before you can work there.

It seems a long process but your future patients rely on you to be well-schooled. And the ability to help patients become pain-free or function at their top level is extremely rewarding. Good luck in your pursuits!
Donna
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