Physical Therapy Schools

A career in physical therapy primarily involves helping patients regain their mobility and physical function after suffering a disease or injury. Apart from that, physical therapists, also known as PTs, assist patients in relieving their pain and preventing permanent damage. PTs have different options in the job market as they can practice in various fields of medicine such as pediatrics, sports medicine, orthopedics and geriatrics.

Educational requirements

The requirements will depend on the applicant’s prior educational background. If an applicant just completed high school, she is required to take a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. On the other hand, an applicant who already has a bachelor’s degree from another field of study can pursue a career in physical therapy by either completing a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy or a master’s degree program. There are approximately 25 programs in the U.S that grant a master’s degree in physical therapy.

Typically, the courses include physiology, human anatomy and neuroanatomy. Almost all the programs offer clinical courses as well. These include courses that train students in conducting tests and measurements as well as performing therapeutic exercises. Just like the majority of bachelor’s degree programs, physical therapy schools require at least a high school diploma.

Certification

All physical therapists need to have a license in order to practice. This rule applies to all states in the U.S. There are even some states which require their therapists to pursue continuing education courses.
Accreditation

Before starting with the application process, every applicant should check whether the institution they are interested in is accredited by CAPTE or the Commission on Accreditation of Physical Therapy Education. It is an independent agency that evaluates the different physical therapy schools. The criteria that they use for their assessment include the quality of the curriculum, teaching methods by the staff and adequacy of the facilities, i.e. classrooms, laboratories.

Only students who have graduated from accredited physical therapy schools are allowed to apply for certification or license. Furthermore, many medical institutions prefer hiring graduates from such schools.

Initial Search

First, an applicant needs to list down the names of potential physical therapy schools she is interested in. She can do such by making a simple online search in CAPTE’s website or through sites that provide school rankings. Then, applicants need to gather as much information as possible by asking the schools for catalogs, forms and brochures about their financial aid program, if any. After going through the written materials, an applicant should try to narrow down the choice of schools. Every applicant should look into factors such as accreditation, application requirements, tuition, financial aid, school services, extracurricular activities, layout and location of the campuses.

Campus Visit

After making a shorter list of potential physical therapy schools, an applicant should schedule a tour to see whether the facilities would fit her needs. A tour would also help an applicant get firsthand information on the quality of education of the schools. During the visit, applicants should try to arrange a short meeting with some faculty members of even the dean. It would also be helpful to talk to the admissions staff and current students. Also, applicants should assess the dedication of the teaching staff by scheduling a class visit. Such class visits would also enable them to have a closer look at the facilities and equipment being used in the classrooms and laboratories.

Ask a professional

After reviewing all the written materials and visiting the sites, it is always good to ask the opinion of a practicing physical therapist. Currently employed therapists could give applicants an idea of what employers are looking for and whether there are particular schools that stand out from the rest. Furthermore, applicants could also get an insight on how their training will be like. They could also get important tips on the admission process in particular schools.

Applicants can also look into physical therapy schools that are affiliated with certain medical institutions. Often, these medical institutions offer internships to students in their affiliate schools. Apart from getting the best hands-on-training, students from those schools could have better employment opportunities.

Licensure Passing Rate

All physical therapy graduates need to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination before they can begin to practice. A good way to find out which schools offer the best training is to look over the list of examination passers and determine where they graduated from. Graduates from the best schools frequently show up on the top 10 or top 20 list. A school that has a high licensure passing rate for students is often the best choice.

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