What is it like to be a physical therapist?
Physical therapists help people who have injuries or illnesses improve their movement and manage their pain. They are often an important part of rehabilitation and treatment of patients with chronic conditions or injuries. Physical therapists typically do the following: Diagnose patients’ dysfunctional movements by watching them stand or walk and by listening to their concerns, among other methods Set up a plan for their patients, outlining the patient's goals and the planned treatments Use exercises, stretching maneuvers, hands-on therapy, and equipment to ease patients’ pain and to help them increase their ability to move Evaluate a patient’s progress, modifying a treatment plan and trying new treatments as needed Educate patients and their families about what to expect during recovery from injury and illness and how best to cope with what happens Physical therapists are required to have a postgraduate professional degree. Physical therapy programs usually award a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, although a small number award a Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) degree. Doctoral programs typically last 3 years; MPT programs require 2 to 3 years of study. Most programs, either DPT or MPT, require a bachelor’s degree for admission, and many require specific prerequisites, such as anatomy, physiology, biology, and chemistry. Physical therapy programs often include courses in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, neuroscience, and pharmacology. Physical therapy students also complete clinical rotations, enabling them to gain supervised work experience in areas such as acute care and orthopedic care. Physical therapists may apply to and complete residency programs after graduation. Residencies last 9 months to 3 years and provide additional training and experience in advanced or specialty areas of care. My girlfriend's sister is currently in pursuit of attaining her masters. She has done a myriad of internships that she said were exceptionally valuable in earning the respect of her professors, opening the job pool for her post-graduation. She's busy all the time, but she savors every minute of it. Her interest is really piqued. She really loves it. I rarely see someone so excited about school, and the work experience she's accumulated. For more information: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physic...Physical Therapy Curriculum
Physical Therapist Education Requirements?
It depends on the structure of the program, but most programs in the US are designed to be completed in 6-7 years. I would say most require a bachelor's degree to get into the program (4 years), and then the professional phase is three years and results in a doctorate degree (DPT). In your undergraduate years, you will take a lot of basics: chem, bio, physics, psych, and math...as well as your general education credits. Most students choose an undergraduate major such as kinesiology, exercise science, biology, athletic training,e tc. Once in the program, you will take more anatomy, physiology and PT related courses. Most programs do require some sort of observation hours...for most programs, it's 50 hours.
What are the requirements to study a physical therapist in the US?
ExperienceGre and toefl scoresGood academics - 65% or above
Is a Physical Therapist a good job?
Im graduating next year and plan on going to a community college for an AA then transfer to a 4 year for a bachlors. I want to make decent money but also be able to workout. im trying to get back in muscular shape. My mom and counselor told me that Physical Therapists are people in the medical field that help injured or dissabled people with exirsise. Does a physical therapist have to be fit for this job?Like is he/she given time to workout befor treating patients? how much does a Physical Therapist make? Does it give benifits? Is it a stable job? I like the idea of a job that requires me to be fit. Keep in mind that i dont plan on getting married or haveing kids. Also i just wanna cheap house and car and no cable to save money. Thank you.
How much does a physical therapist make and what is the job opportunities like?
Physical Therapist are educated trained professionals that help people get rehabilitated when they become injured, or endure pain because of a long term illness affecting their mobility. This is a wonderful choice of career for anyone who loves to assist other people on a daily basis. These Professional can gain employment in a variety of work settings including physical therapy clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, hospitals, and by self employment owning their own business.The education required to become a physical therapist is a bachelor's degree with concentration in science, then you need to enroll in a graduate program. Such an education will require you to master anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, neuroscience. When you apply for your state license as a physical therapist you’ll have to completed a doctorate or masters degree program. A Masters degree program will take you two years to complete and a Doctorates degree will take three years. US News rated The University of Southern California to be the top school for Physical Therapist in 2012. Traits and skills one would need to be successful in the everyday work environment would include great communication skills, patients, being able to work without direct supervision, documenting detailed case work and progress reports, interviewing patients, physical examinations, patient evaluation and testing, maintain a safe and clean atmosphere to meet state and federal guidelines such as infection-control policies and protocols, developing patient care plans, policy compliance and maintaining accreditations, completing and filing department records.The starting salary for a physical therapist can range anywhere from $50,000. a year to upwards of $82,000. WIth more experience, a Licensed Physical Therapist can expect to make $75,000. to almost $100,000. a year.A doctorates degree will open up more options in the future. After gaining some experience one can possibly teach physical therapy at a university. Working in a clinic setting or nursing home you can expect to bring in the lowest pay rate for a therapist. If you don’t want to be self employed and open your own practice you can make more money by being employed by home health companies and hospitals than any other setting.Being a physical therapist offers the opportunity to work with many people on a daily basis of all ages. It can be very fulfilling knowing you are truly helping someone else feel better and heal.
How long does it take to be a physical therapist, and what degree does it require?
I don’t know if this is a state to state issue. I’m writing about California requirements.Originally - 30+ some years ago, California only required a Bachelor’s degree. Then, eventually - in the late 80s? - they began requiring a Master’s degree, but they “grandfathered in” people already working with a BA license. Then, maybe about 10 years ago, they began requiring a PhD for that. I don’t know if they grandfathered Master’s level folks, but i know they required the BA people to complete the PhD.A BA is a 4 year degree, and generally a Master’s is an additional 2 years. The PhD depends on the school, but in general you can plan on at least 8 years total, or more, to acquire the PhD.Having the PhD has its benefits. It allows the person to use the title “doctor.” Also, before BA/MA level people could not simply go to a PT, they had to be referred by a MD, even if paying cash. And generally there would have to be insurance approval, too. You probably still have to get insurance approval to have it covered, but with a PhD degree, the title “doctor,” a PT no longer requires a MD referral. Especially if you are willing to pay cash (generally a bit more than a Massage Therapist), it can be handy not to have to get referrals.I wouldn’t recommend just seeing any PT. Some work very similar to a personal trainer. The PT i prefer does the supervised exercises, also education on home exercises, and she also works with the client/patient one on one, similar to the work a Massage Therapist does (only with much more education).
How do i become a physical therapist?
First, I would like to say that if you have any inkling of becoming a PT, do not become a PTA first...you will only wast time doing so. Many people think that the PTA degree is a stepping stone to becoming a PT...but that just isn't so. None of the classes transfer, and the prerequisites that are required for entrance into a PT program are not required for the PTA degree...therefore, you still need to complete these. If you want to become a PT, I suggest you start at a community college or a university with a BS specific major that will encompass the courses you need to take to get into the graduate level program...kinesiology, movement sciences and biology are all "typical" majors. As you near completion of your BS, you will apply for entrance into a graduate level program. Entrance is typically competitive; but although many people say that you need a 4.0 to gain entrance, minimum requirement is typically a 3.0 in your prerequisite courses. The average GPA of students actually admitted into the program however, is typically about 3.5. If you are accepted into the graduate phase of the program, it will typically be another 3 years of school. In all, it typically takes about 6-7 years to become a PT. If you plan to go to school first to become a PTA, plan on 2 years to complete that; and then you will start over with your prerequisites and BS courses which would take you another 4 years and then PT courses for another three years. This would take you close to 9-10 years to become a PT (that's why it makes more sense to begin the track for PT right away). The APTA website mentioned by jansoddy is a good site to learn more.