5 answers
james
Student
Oak Harbor, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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what are the first steps to becoming a physical therapist?
what kind of schooling would I need and how do I make the path the easiest
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5 answers
Xiorys M Montilla
Physical Therapy Assistant
3
Answers
Beardstown, Illinois
Updated
Xiorys M’s Answer
Hi 😊Jaime
First and foremost, and equally important, is to HAVE A VOCATION AND LOVE YOUR CAREER.
The next steps to becoming a physiotherapist are to study health and anatomy.
You can start with classes on muscles, bones, and patient care.
Later on, you can continue with a physical therapy assistant program or at university.
It's a beautiful job because you help people move and feel better every day. 💪
First and foremost, and equally important, is to HAVE A VOCATION AND LOVE YOUR CAREER.
The next steps to becoming a physiotherapist are to study health and anatomy.
You can start with classes on muscles, bones, and patient care.
Later on, you can continue with a physical therapy assistant program or at university.
It's a beautiful job because you help people move and feel better every day. 💪
Guillermo Cervantes
Accountant
12
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Guillermo’s Answer
Hello James,
I am not a physical therapist, but have seen the requirements for it. There are differet jobs that fall under that umbrella, from assistants to providers.
The first thing you should do is look into the requirements in your state, some states have stricter requirements than others and you want to make sure you check all the boxes.
It should be something along the lines of an educational requirement - potentially a certificate course group in some areas, or a full degree in others. Then the state required documentation, which again could be a sign up or an exam.
I did a quick search for your state and saw that a doctorates is required for a physical therapist provider/doctor, as well as a state exam.
I hope this helps!
I am not a physical therapist, but have seen the requirements for it. There are differet jobs that fall under that umbrella, from assistants to providers.
The first thing you should do is look into the requirements in your state, some states have stricter requirements than others and you want to make sure you check all the boxes.
It should be something along the lines of an educational requirement - potentially a certificate course group in some areas, or a full degree in others. Then the state required documentation, which again could be a sign up or an exam.
I did a quick search for your state and saw that a doctorates is required for a physical therapist provider/doctor, as well as a state exam.
I hope this helps!
Michelle M.
Actress
3276
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, James !
It's such a great career that you have an interest in. I have a cousin that is a Physical Therapist and he had a great career in New York, New Jersey and in Florida !
Well, as you know, you'll have to obtain the Bachelors Degree but you will have to obtain a Doctorate Degree - a DPT Degree to be exact - because your state of Ohio requires it. For your Bachelors, it would be helpful to you to Major in kinesiology, exercise science, or human anatomy. After you receive your Bachelors Degree, in Ohio, you apply for the Doctorate Program from Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. After that application is verified, you'll get an e-mail from the particular college to complete another application and send in a fee. Strong applicants will get an interview.
Bowling Green State University does not require the GRE or an interview and uses a holistic admissions approach. Ohio University offers a Pre-PT Early Assurance Program for high school seniors, which guarantees admission if prerequisites are met and the student applies by a specific deadline. Choose which one you'd like the most - the program at Bowling Green or Ohio University. It'll take 3 years to get your Doctorate Degree for Physician Therapy. It's a great career so the academics are well worth it ! So the entire academic duration will be 7 years for the Bachelors and then the Doctorate.
I'm not sure what you mean by making the path "easiest". That would be for you to determine knowing your preferences and limitations since you're asking. This is a serious career with a lot to learn and none of it should be short changed, side-stepped or done online. You will be working hands on people's bodies and there's a lot of responsibility and knowledge that goes into it. If you feel that this path for the academics or the career may be too much for you, there are many other types of careers in the health care field that take 2 years total. Do some research and decide if this is something you really want to do.
Best wishes in all you do !
It's such a great career that you have an interest in. I have a cousin that is a Physical Therapist and he had a great career in New York, New Jersey and in Florida !
Well, as you know, you'll have to obtain the Bachelors Degree but you will have to obtain a Doctorate Degree - a DPT Degree to be exact - because your state of Ohio requires it. For your Bachelors, it would be helpful to you to Major in kinesiology, exercise science, or human anatomy. After you receive your Bachelors Degree, in Ohio, you apply for the Doctorate Program from Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. After that application is verified, you'll get an e-mail from the particular college to complete another application and send in a fee. Strong applicants will get an interview.
Bowling Green State University does not require the GRE or an interview and uses a holistic admissions approach. Ohio University offers a Pre-PT Early Assurance Program for high school seniors, which guarantees admission if prerequisites are met and the student applies by a specific deadline. Choose which one you'd like the most - the program at Bowling Green or Ohio University. It'll take 3 years to get your Doctorate Degree for Physician Therapy. It's a great career so the academics are well worth it ! So the entire academic duration will be 7 years for the Bachelors and then the Doctorate.
I'm not sure what you mean by making the path "easiest". That would be for you to determine knowing your preferences and limitations since you're asking. This is a serious career with a lot to learn and none of it should be short changed, side-stepped or done online. You will be working hands on people's bodies and there's a lot of responsibility and knowledge that goes into it. If you feel that this path for the academics or the career may be too much for you, there are many other types of careers in the health care field that take 2 years total. Do some research and decide if this is something you really want to do.
Best wishes in all you do !
Linh Ly
Physical therapist assistant
2
Answers
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Updated
Linh’s Answer
Hola! I'm a licensed physical therapist assistant who considered going to PT school and work with PTs. It does require a doctorate in the US. For your bachelor's, you can technically get it in anything, but majoring in Exercise Science or Kinesiology helps fulfill a lot of the prerequisites (I highly recommend you looking at them, so you can start during your undergrad) and gives you a head start. However, I've seen people get into PT school with, for example, a BA in philosophy.
If money is an issue or you worry about loans, the military also has a PT route via Army-Baylor DPT program. Obviously, you'd have to put in time for them to pay for your school and you can be deployed, but it also offers a lot of opportunity to travel. Talking about "putting in time", I've also had PTA classmates who paid for PTA school and ended up working for companies who were willing to put them through PT school as long as they work for the company for x amount of years.
Let's see what other DPTs suggest.
If money is an issue or you worry about loans, the military also has a PT route via Army-Baylor DPT program. Obviously, you'd have to put in time for them to pay for your school and you can be deployed, but it also offers a lot of opportunity to travel. Talking about "putting in time", I've also had PTA classmates who paid for PTA school and ended up working for companies who were willing to put them through PT school as long as they work for the company for x amount of years.
Let's see what other DPTs suggest.
arpita kundal
Physical therapist
3
Answers
Sterling Heights, Michigan
Updated
arpita’s Answer
Hi James, Look for colleges that offer the 7 year curriculum towards a DPT. Or else taking courses like Psych major, public health, Exercise physiology are great ones to help you get accepted into PT school. Also, working as a PT tech right after HS will give you some exposure and insight into what it entails being a physical therapist. Plus it’s great experience to have to show on your submission letter