new guy! in need of help

[ohashwi]

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hey guys! I'm a pre-dent major. going into PT school has got my interest. just here to get more info. what the difference between having a sport science major and a exercise science major? which is better for PT school those or athletic training? if i wanted to help athletes but do physical therapy what would i do and what process would it take. thanks guy for your time

 

[jchill09]

If you would want to become certified in sports medicine as a PT having a background in AT definitely would not hurt however you would still have to sit foe the certification exam which requires you to meet the sports medicine guidelines. People go into PT with all sorts of majors with many of them not being any of the hard sciences. PT school and any post-graduation residency will teach you what you need to know, your undergrad degree acts more as a supplement to your higher education. I graduated with a BS in Kines, because i knew I wanted to have a heavy background as i start PT school but it is really up to you

 

[ohashwi]

If you would want to become certified in sports medicine as a PT having a background in AT definitely would not hurt however you would still have to sit foe the certification exam which requires you to meet the sports medicine guidelines. People go into PT with all sorts of majors with many of them not being any of the hard sciences. PT school and any post-graduation residency will teach you what you need to know, your undergrad degree acts more as a supplement to your higher education. I graduated with a BS in Kines, because i knew I wanted to have a heavy background as i start PT school but it is really up to you

And that exam you take it in PT school correct?

 

[jchill09]

To be certified in sports medicine to my knowledge you need to have a current PT license so it would be post PT school and there are other requirements that need to be met most notably a certain number of hours practicing in the field or a residency program

 

[schnell8]

To be honest, any will help you. Just as long as you take all the pre-reqs to get into PT school. Each school has their own pre-reqs and you need to study them carefully. I personally was an Exercise Science major because I was told that was the way to go. But honestly, I've seen other majors do just as fine if not better...just get those PT school pre-reqs! Btw, I don't wanna put it like this, but an Exercise Science degree is garbage unless if you get into PT school. So if you go the Exercise Science route, do good and get everything done that you need to to get in because you will not find any jobs related to that degree...It really is a degree designed to help you get into various grad schools...or so they say....like I said, some of my classmates have degrees in other stuff and got in and are doing fantastic. Heck, you can have your pre-dental bachelors degree and as long as you have all the pre-reqs, a strong gpa, observation hours, etc etc etc, you could potentially get accepted.

 

[SPTCSCS]

Ideally, if you want to work with professional sports teams, you need to be an ATC. I would go that route, but expect to be locked into PT if you decide to pursue athletic training.

For example, I was just recently admitted into Columbia and they have affiliations with pro sports teams such as the Cleveland Indians. However, in order for anyone to go on an affil with them, they need to previously be ATC certified. This trend is true if you look at the sports medicine branch of many pro sports teams.

Yes, PTs can be SCS-certified, but to my understanding, the amount of emergency medicine, sideline training that ATCs get trumps that certification exam. Hence why you see ATCs on the sidelines and not PTs. Our education is more clinical in nature and less on the field.

If I could do it all over again, I would pursue a Masters in ATC as this makes one extremely marketable if they wish to pursue sports orthopedics. But to each his or her own!