Options on Continuing Physical Therapist Education
Physical therapist education, in the past, has been limited to individuals who held a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy. But with the recent changes in the requirements of physical therapist education, universities and colleges have been welcoming students who are from an entirely different field to their postgraduate physical therapy programs. Of course, to become a licensed medical professional practicing in the field of physical therapy, one must have credentials showing that he or she has completed physical therapist education.
One of the main requirements of being a licensed medical professional is passing the licensure exams—and if you have not completed physical therapist education, you will not be qualified to take the test. If, for example, you have studied physical therapy for your undergraduate degree, you will be eligible to take the licensure exams right after graduation.
If you are one of the people who have considered a career in physical therapy after taking a different major in college, you can still have a physical therapist education without going back to school for an undergraduate degree. There are a good number of universities and colleges that offer physical therapist education in the postgraduate level. They will probably require their applicants to have taken a minimum amount of science and math units, but will generally allow college graduates to enroll in their direct physical therapist education programs. There are also direct entry physical therapy programs for those who wish to study in the doctorate level—although we strongly discourage you from enrolling in such a program if you do not have a substantial background in the medical sciences.
Physical therapist education options are probably available in the universities or colleges nearest you, so do pay their admissions office a visit to find out more on the physical therapy programs that you can qualify in.