pre-pt (silly) question...

[choco2371]

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Hope this question doesn't sound too silly..
I tried my best to research and research..but couldn’t really find my answer..

I was recently interested into this field and currently planning on starting my pre-reqs to apply. However, I was so busy researching on the admission process to the school, that I didn't really think about all the requirements to actually become a certified PT.

I am currently abroad so do not have much option other than the internet to do my research. I recently heard from someone (who is not knowledge in PT) the following:

1. DPT is required in order to work in California
2. DPT is a 6yr program (i know its 3 yr..not sure where he got this #)
3. After you graduate, you need certain # of hours for internship also

I know you have to take the national test and CLE to work in California but are there other requirements? From my understanding, DPT is usually 3yr program, but do you need additional internship after you graduate? If so, how long is the “whole” process from grad school to actually working?

I tried to research the "requirements" but didn't find any straightforward answers. Hopefully you guys can help me~

thanks!!

 

[TheOx777]

Hope this question doesn't sound too silly..
I tried my best to research and research..but couldn’t really find my answer..

I was recently interested into this field and currently planning on starting my pre-reqs to apply. However, I was so busy researching on the admission process to the school, that I didn't really think about all the requirements to actually become a certified PT.

I am currently abroad so do not have much option other than the internet to do my research. I recently heard from someone (who is not knowledge in PT) the following:

1. DPT is required in order to work in California
2. DPT is a 6yr program (i know its 3 yr..not sure where he got this #)
3. After you graduate, you need certain # of hours for internship also

I know you have to take the national test and CLE to work in California but are there other requirements? From my understanding, DPT is usually 3yr program, but do you need additional internship after you graduate? If so, how long is the “whole” process from grad school to actually working?

I tried to research the "requirements" but didn't find any straightforward answers. Hopefully you guys can help me~

thanks!!

Choco,

These are all questions that anyone might have when looking to foray into an academic/career choice. So no worries😉.

1. A DPT degree is not required to work in California or any other state for that matter. There are still numerous ppl from the Bachelor's or Master's level that work in CA. However, one can imagine that as these ppl will retire and the general trend will be that a person will need to have there DPT to practice as a PT in years to come. There are only 7 M.S. program left in the country, which will be transitioned to DPT. The DPT will be the required educational level for CA and every state moving forward. The APTA has discussed the transition to a clinical Doctorate in great detail in "Vision 2020".


2. The DPT education can range to 2.5-3.5 years depending on the program. Combined with one's undergraduate degree, this would make your entire formal education 6.5-7.5 yrs. The person advising you may also have been referring to 3+3 programs; where a student can be accepted from one's undergraduate school after 3 years to matriculate into the that same school's 3 yr DPT program. Thus making it 6yrs of education

3. I am not sure as to what internship hours you are specifically referencing. There are a numbers of residencies and fellowships that have been and are continuously being created. At this time, they are not mandatory for PT practice. These may be called "internships" in another country. These residencies and fellowships should prepare the clinician to become an expert in the PT world as well as prepare them for board specialization in the a particular area(i.e. orthopedics, neurology). From my understanding, they take approximately 1-3 yrs to finish.

To getter a deeper understanding of the process go here:

http://www.apta.org/
http://www.apta.org/CareersEducation/
http://www.apta.org/Licensure/

 

[goyo1010]

Hey,

As TheOx777 wonderfully explained, the DPT degree is NOT required to become employed in California; however, the goal of APTA is to make DPT THE degree to have by 2020, as part of their Vision 2020. So, you don't have to have a DPT to work in CA or in any other state for that matter right now. Although this is true, you will have a harder time finding schools that award Masters in PT, as most of the programs have transitioned or are transitioning into a DPT curriculum.

Again, TheOx777 is right about the length of program, usually lasting anywhere from 2.5 to 3.5 years for a DPT degree. This would them make the traditional student have a good 6.5-8.5 years under their belt. There are special programs and tracks at certain universities which help to accelerate your education, e.g., 3+3 programs in which a student at the offering university completes 3 years of undergraduate work, then immediately enter the 3 years of the DPT curriculum (if they meet the requirements to stay in the program). They will also award a B.S. degree, e.g., B.S. in Health Sciences.

And finally, these "internship" hours are inherently built into the Clinical Internship portions of the schools DPT program, so there is no need to become an intern then be able to work. However, there are residencies and such, which you can take after you graduate. These are simply just to give the PT a more in-depth education and experience in a certain field or area of PT, e.g., Neurology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics...

Visit APTA's website to learn more information about PT education and the career.

Take a look at this editorial that I posted in an earlier thread from APTA:
http://www.apta.org/uploadedFiles/A..._to_Professionals/TodaysPhysicalTherapist.pdf

Good Luck!

 

[choco2371]

@TheOx777 & @goyo1010THANKS GUYS~~
you guys really helped me a lot!!

Now that I know what I am looking at..guess it means I have to start preping for school!!