Do you want to be a physical therapist? Do you have what it takes to help people who have been hurt get back into action? If so, then getting your career in physical therapy is the right choice.
PT degrees offered by accredited schools can provide you with a solid foundation in nursing or another subject before deciding on a specialty. Or, if you are ready to take on a new challenge, consider working with patients who need physical therapy services the most.
Choosing the right physical therapy degree for your future requires education and training that goes beyond the classroom. To learn about the different schools of thought and programs available, check out our guide below.
What is a physical therapy degree?
A physical therapy degree is a program that prepares you for health care workers. The degree may be a combination of online, online-only, or on-site. To be considered for a physical therapy degree, you’ll need at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited school.
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| How to Choose the Right Physical Therapy degree for You |
Some physical therapy programs also include an additional night of sleep instruction while in physical therapy. Since physical therapists work with patients of all ages, you will learn a variety of different specialties including occupational therapy, athletic training, clinical psychology, and more.
How to Choose the Right Physical Therapy Degree for You?
To choose the right physical therapy degree for you, you need to carefully examine the different options available. The first step is to figure out what type of career you want.
If you want to become an occupational therapist, the most common specialties are physical, occupational, and speech. If you want to become a sports physical therapist, the most common specialties are orthopedic, neurology, and physical therapy.
Skills You Will Need as a Physical Therapist
Strong Skills - Physical therapists train to work with a wide range of patients, including adolescents, seniors, and athletes. To become a physical therapist, you’ll need to be excellent at both diagnosis and treatment.
Moreover, you’ll need to be able to inspire confidence in your patients. This means having strong skills in person-centered therapy, problem-solving, and providing ongoing instruction.
What is a Specialty Physician's license Like?
Since physical therapy is a relatively new field, there are very few physical therapy Specialty Physicians’ licenses. However, there are laws in place that try to protect the public by limiting the number of physical therapy Specialty Physicians’ licenses to 350.
These laws, which are meant to keep down the cost of providing physical therapy services, also prevent physical therapy Specialty Physicians from practicing more than one specialty.
The Path After School Therapy and PT degree pathways
After you graduate from college with a degree in physical therapy, you will need to decide on your career path. The most common path after physical therapy degrees is to become a Licensed Professional Diagnostic Medical Sonographer® (LPDM).
You can choose to become an LPDM to help people with hearing loss or conduct ultrasound exams on pregnant women. Alternatively, you can become a Registered Nurse to work in a hospital or an emergency department. After retirement, many physical therapy specialists choose to work as in-home health aides.
Physical therapy is a rapidly growing field that helps people with disabilities get back into action as quickly as possible.
To become a physical therapist, you’ll need to have a solid foundation in nursing or another relevant subject.
In addition, you will need to pass a state physical therapy licensing examination and get your federal Physical Therapy Certification before you can begin practicing. Physical therapy can be a rewarding career that helps people with disabilities get back on track.