What Does It Take to Become a Physical Therapist?
Question by : What does it take to become a physical therapist?
I am only 14 but i want to be a physical therapist when i grow up, for people. Also i would love to have dogs there walking around and bringing joy to the world. But what would it take to master the profession and to open my own business?
Best answer:
Answer by Mary
Well you can start now with the dogs by taking a dog to obedience school and becoming a therapy dog.
What it takes to be a PT is good grades, patience, and persistence.
PT is 6-7 years of school. You will need to get a BS in anything with prereqs of chem, physics, gen bio, and anatomy and physiology. You will also need math, psy and stats.
Try and minimize your debt for school esp if you want to open your own practice. The other thing is you are going to need to shadow a PT or volunteer in a PT dept.
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Career_as_PT_PTA&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=242&ContentID=31095
Physical therapists (PTs) are highly-educated, licensed health care professionals who can help patients reduce pain and improve or restore mobility – in many cases without expensive surgery and often reducing the need for long-term use of prescription medications and their side effects.
PTs examine each individual and develop a plan, using treatment techniques to promote the ability to move, reduce pain, restore function, and prevent disability. In addition, PTs work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness- and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles.
Physical therapists provide care for people in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, schools, sports and fitness facilities, work settings, and nursing homes. State licensure is required in each state in which a physical therapist practices.
All PTs must receive a graduate degree from an accredited physical therapist program before taking the national licensure examination that allows them to practice. The majority of programs offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree.
WHAT DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS EARN?
More than 175,000 physical therapists are licensed in the U.S. today. The median salary for a physical therapist is $ 80,000 depending on position, years of experience, degree of education, geographic location, and practice setting.
WHERE DO PHYSICAL THERAPISTS PRACTICE?
Although many physical therapists practice in hospitals, over 80 percent practice in:
Outpatient clinics or offices
Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
Skilled nursing, extended care, or subacute facilities
Homes
Education or research centers
Schools
Hospices
Industrial, workplace, or other occupational environments
Fitness centers and sports training facilities
WHAT ARE THE EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PT?
The minimum educational requirement is a post-baccalaureate degree from an accredited education program. While some programs offer a master’s degree, a growing majority of programs offer the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. Currently, 199 colleges and universities nationwide support 212 accredited professional physical therapist education programs; 96% now offer the DPT and the remaining programs are planning to convert.
WHAT ARE THE LICENSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR BECOMING A PT?
After graduation, candidates must pass a state-administered national exam. Other requirements for physical therapy practice vary from state to state according to physical therapy practice acts or state regulations governing physical therapy.
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