physical therapy questions.

[OoOoO]

1) if you want to become a physical therapist, do you have to go to medical school?
2) what if i don't do a 6 year program for physical therapy, then what do i major in at a regular 4 year university, what exams do i take for admission in grad school, and when i apply for grad schools what would i have to apply for?

i'm currently a senior in high school, and i was looking into physical therapy so i was wondering those you have information on this fi they could explain it to me. thank you!

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[schrizto]

1. Of course you don't have to. You go through a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program to become a physical therapist.
2. I'm actually not sure about this one. I'm guessing the GRE.

 

[OoOoO]

1. Of course you don't have to. You go through a DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) program to become a physical therapist.
2. I'm actually not sure about this one. I'm guessing the GRE.

thank you! :]

 

[Chocolate Bear]

actually you don't have to get a DPT or a PhD in physical therapy. there are master's programs and that's the more popular route still, I believe.

here are the answers to most/all of your questions:

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm...MPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=38070

That page has info on "PTA" as well. That's an assistant to a PT.

 

[schrizto]

actually you don't have to get a DPT or a PhD in physical therapy. there are master's programs and that's the more popular route still, I believe.

here are the answers to most/all of your questions:

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm...MPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=38070

That page has info on "PTA" as well. That's an assistant to a PT.

I think it was made so that the DPT is standard, so now all new physical therapy grads are DPTs. I was told that by a teacher last year in high school who is also a physical therapist.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I think it was made so that the DPT is standard, so now all new physical therapy grads are DPTs. I was told that by a teacher last year in high school who is also a physical therapist.

I wouldn't doubt that to be the case. Many of the allied health professions have raised their standards like that which creates this odd mix of practitioners with different degrees and qualifications.

 

[Muscles00GT]

ya you'll go for your dpt and you take the GRE..some schools don't require the GRE, but most do. I just took the GRE and am in the process of filling out all the apps for phys therapy

 

[OoOoO]

So physical therapy is 6 years?

 

[OoOoO]

and i was looking at this list:

http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm...schools/acc_schools_map.cfm&process=3&type=PT

are the schools which accept students at freshmen level, are the schools which seniors in HS should apply to?

 

[smsc2009]

you can also get your bachelors in something like Kinesiology and continue on to a graduate physical therapy program. I know of a couple people who are planning on going this route, good luck! Btw, why the switch from PharmD to PT? just curious.

 

[OoOoO]

you can also get your bachelors in something like Kinesiology and continue on to a graduate physical therapy program. I know of a couple people who are planning on going this route, good luck! Btw, why the switch from PharmD to PT? just curious.

I rather get into a program. Its the safer route.

I'm still considering Pharmacy, but its just that my dad pinched a nerve and he went to a physical therapist who was able to help him when my doctor suggested that the only way to get better was surgery.

 

[OoOoO]

and i get into one of those schools that accept people at freshman level, do i still need to take the G.R.E?
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[schrizto]

and i get into one of those schools that accept people at freshman level, do i still need to take the G.R.E?
​

I think it depends on the program. Check the websites of the programs you're interested in.