How to Become A Physical Therapist
I get a lot of questions from high school grads and their parents…How do I become a Physical Therapist?
It’s not so easy…but doable! Physical Therapists earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The DPT takes an average of 3 years to complete AFTER finishing a 4 year Bachelor’s Degree.
So the first step is to complete a Bachelor’s Degree. It doesn’t have to be specific. I know PTs with Bachelor Degrees in Biology, Health Science, Chemistry, and Psychology. Regardless of the degree, there are pre-requisite classes that must be on the transcript to apply to PT school. These include chemistry, physics, anatomy, biology, medical terminology, statistics, and psychology.
PT school is extremely competitive. The national average acceptance rate of applicants into PT school is 10%! Most programs accept 45 students a year with some receiving over 1,000 applicants. Plan on an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 or higher to be considered and a solid score on the GRE Exam. You will need to shadow a Physical Therapist in different settings and document the number of hours logged. Each PT school has different requirements so read their application process carefully!
Here’s the summary of what you will need:
- Bachelor’s Degree
- Pre-requisite classes required
- High GPA
- GRE Score
- Shadowing hours
I recommend applying to several PT schools. The applications will be screened and a select number get invites to an interview and campus tour. Then…you’re in! The DPT program will take approximately 3 years. After graduating, students must sit and pass the National Licensing Exam for Physical Therapists. This enables graduates to become licensed to practice as a Physical Therapist.
Experts are predicting a 16% increase in the demand for Physical Therapists in Kentucky thru 2028. The plethora of job opportunities, growth, and autonomy make the career worth while!
Resources:
- KY Occupational Outlook to 2028
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- CAPTE
