Physical Therapy Schools

Anyone interested in serving others and making a difference should consider physical therapy schools. A career in physical therapy can be extremely rewarding, as many patients depend on the therapist to help them recover from accidents or strokes. The therapist has the unique opportunity to see his work make a difference as patients improve and even eventually return to their previous condition. While the work can be hard, it can be a very fun career choice for the right person.

Getting into Physical Therapy Schools

Different schools will have different requirements for acceptance into their physical therapy program. The programs are usually heavily based in science courses. Hence, the most common prerequisites are classes such as anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, statistics, psychology, and biology. Most physical therapy programs require a grade point average of no less than 3.0 for acceptance. So, it is very important to prepare early for a career in physical therapy in order to meet all the requirements before applying to the school of your choice.

Physical Therapy Schools – Programs And Courses

Physical therapy programs offer either a masters or doctorate degree. The master's degree programs typically look for students who have three or more years of undergraduate work. The doctorate programs usually require their students to have an undergraduate degree. Both programs last anywhere from six to nine semesters. But, most students choose the doctorate program because it affords many more career opportunities.

While every program's curriculum will vary, most of them offer courses in neuroanatomy, rehabilitative procedures, pathology, biomechanics, and basic medical sciences. Students will also have an opportunity to gain experience through an internship. Once the courses have been completed, a physical therapist still requires a license. In order to obtain the license, the student must pass the National Physical Therapist Examination and meet any state requirements before he may begin practicing physical therapy. There are also continuing education classes required to renew the license every so often.

Top Physical Therapy Schools

Acceptance into a top rated school will help the therapist to begin his career quickly after completion of the program. However, the demand is great and it can be difficult to get into some of the best schools, so it's important to remain focused during the undergraduate program. A GPA of 3.5 or higher could be very helpful in getting accepted at one of the top schools. Finding the best school is not only a matter of how the school ranks, but also a matter of preference. You should research each school you are considering to make sure you will get what you want out of it. A few of the top rated schools are University of Southern California, University of Pittsburgh, Washington University in St. Louis, and University of Delaware.

While studying to become a physical therapist can be very challenging, the career will make up for it. There is nothing like being a part of the miracle in a person's life as they are able to regain abilities lost during an accident or illness. An excellent education at any of the top physical therapy schools will ensure your success along the way to an extremely rewarding career choice.