Take as many science classes as you can in high school, especially AP classes. The more fundamental knowledge you have, the better prepared you will be for college-level classes. Don’t neglect your other classes in favor of science classes. It’s important to be well-rounded and have good grades in all your courses. A high GPA and good SAT or ACT scores will improve your chances of being accepted into an excellent undergraduate program, which will in turn prepare you for the graduate program that you want to pursue. You can also use your high school years as an opportunity to shadow professional physical therapists. Reach out to offices in your area and try to find a therapist who would be willing to let you observe their daily routine. This will give you a good idea of what it is really like to be a physical therapist.
Especially relevant majors include biology, kinesiology, and exercise science, although you may have other options as well, depending on what programs are offered at your undergraduate school and what graduate school you hope to attend. If you are still in high school and you are certain that you want to pursue a doctorate degree in physical therapy, you may want to look into applying to a guaranteed admission program. These programs admit students as college freshmen for a six-year program that encompasses an undergraduate degree and a doctorate degree without the need to apply separately for the doctoral program. [2] X Research source
If you are struggling with your undergraduate classes, get help as soon as possible. Talk to your professors about what you can do to improve your grades or find out if there are peer tutoring services available at your university. Avoid overloading yourself with classes as an undergraduate if it causes your grades to slip. For example, if you can maintain a 3. 6 GPA while taking 15 credits, but only a 3. 2 while taking 18 credits, it may be wise to stick to the 15-credit course load.
Many programs will require that you complete observation hours before a DPT program. If this is required for the program that you will be applying for, make the most of this experience! Try to form a good relationship with the physical therapists you shadow, as you will probably need them to write recommendation letters for you. [5] X Research source In addition to helping you get into a doctoral program, gaining experience at the undergraduate level will also help you confirm that you enjoy working in the field, and it also may help you choose a specialty that you wish to pursue. Having experience in multiple settings may be even more beneficial, so seek out as many relevant opportunities as possible.
The GRE is a standardized test that consists of three sections: verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. [7] X Trustworthy Source Educational Testing Service Educational and testing assessment organization responsible for administering various standardized exams, such as the GRE and the TOEFL Go to source Check online to find out what GRE scores you will need to be accepted into various DPT programs. Many schools post this information on their websites. If they don’t post a minimum required score, they may post the average score of accepted applicants. You can retake the GRE if your score is not as high as you hoped it would be. The earlier you take the exam, the more chances you will have to retake it before you have to submit your applications to DPT programs. When you take the GRE, you can select to have your scores automatically sent to the schools that you plan on applying to. If you don’t do this before you take the test, you will need to contact the company that administers the exam to have your scores sent to each school.
When looking at schools, it is extremely important to ensure that they are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In order to sit for the exam that is required to obtain a license to practice physical therapy, you will need to graduate from an accredited program. [9] X Research source Some factors to consider when selecting the right school for you are graduation and employment rates, location, cost, and program size.
If you are asked to write essays on different topics for different schools, make sure your essay really fits the topic. Don’t just tweak an essay that you used for another application if it doesn’t fit! The most important thing you need to convey in your essays is a passion for the field of physical therapy. It’s important that everyone who reads your essays understand why you want to pursue this career path instead of something else. If you have any doubts about the grammatical correctness of your essays, have them checked by a trusted friend or a professional editor. Your essays should be as polished as possible!
Ask professors who can speak to your ability to excel in a science-heavy curriculum and hands-on work with patients. The better the professors know you, the better their recommendation letters will be, so take some time to forge relationships with some of your professors. You may also need to obtain at least one letter of recommendation from a licensed physical therapist. This can be an individual that you shadowed during your observation hours, or an individual who you worked for in another capacity. These letters should highlight your aptitude for the field of physical therapy.
Be sure to submit all required documents before the application deadline. This includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and any other documentation requested by the program. If there are multiple application deadlines, try to submit your application before the first deadline, as this may increase your chances of being accepted.
Even if you don’t have an interview, it’s a good idea to visit each school that you are interested in and talk with the faculty. This will give you a much better idea of which school is the best fit for you. [13] X Research source
There are three possible outcomes of an application to a DPT program: you may be accepted outright, you may be rejected outright, or you may be wait-listed. If you are wait-listed, this means that you will be given a spot in the program only if enough of the accepted candidates decline their offers. You may have to wait some time to find out if you are accepted into these programs. [14] X Research source If you didn’t get into any programs, don’t give up! You may want to consider spending the next year gaining more clinical experience, and then applying to different programs.
It’s a good idea to work closely with your academic adviser to plan out your coursework.
During your fieldwork, you will essentially be an intern, working in a clinical setting such as a hospital or private office under the supervision of a licensed physical therapist. You will both observe your mentor and be observed as you interact with and treat patients. You may be required to present a case study report based on a specific case that you encountered during your fieldwork.
You will need to be especially careful about explaining things to your patients in ways that they can understand. Using too much industry jargon will only confuse them. [17] X Research source Consider asking your fellow students or supervisors for feedback on how you can improve the way that you interact with patients. Practice makes perfect, so do your best to implement their suggestions every day. If you struggle with interacting with patients, you may want to consider taking some additional courses. Studying sociology, psychology, or communications may help.
If you do not pass the NPTE the first time, you may take it up to three times per year until you pass.
You may have to take additional exams beyond the NPTE. These exams may include questions about the laws that are specific to the practice of physical therapy in your state. You may also have to pass a criminal background check in order to be granted a license. Many states also require that physical therapists complete continuing education requirements in order to renew their licenses.
Residency programs allow physical therapists to continue practicing under the guidance and mentorship of more experienced physical therapists. Fellowship programs include classroom instruction in addition to clinical work.
Specialty areas include geriatrics, pediatrics, orthopedics, pulmonary and cardiovascular, women’s health, neurology, clinical electrophysiology, and sports physical therapy.
You can join professional organizations, such as the American Physical Therapy Association, which will help you stay up-to-date on the latest industry trends. You can subscribe to industry publications to stay informed. These may focus on a specific specialty of physical therapy or be more general, and many are available online for easy access. [22] X Research source You may also wish to attend periodic conferences for physical therapists. This will give you the opportunity to learn about what other professionals in the field are doing and to network.
