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Online Education Guide

Guide to College Majors in Physical Therapy

What is Physical Therapy?

The educational and career opportunities for students interested in physical therapy have grown and expanded in the past few decades. Originally developed as a treatment for wounded soldiers in World War I, physical therapy is now considered to be one of the fastest growing professions in the United States. The work of a physical therapist involves teaming up with doctors and therapists in order to rehabilitate patients with physical injuries, diseases, limitations, and impairments. Physical therapists develop and prescribe exercise schedules and frequently use applicable heat, cold, electricity, sound, and water technologies to relieve pain and stimulate muscles. Most commonly, physical therapists focus on rehabilitation stemming from injuries, but members of this group of healthcare professionals also specialize in sports therapy, orthopedics, and pediatrics.

Students interested in pursuing a physical therapy degree will find that distance learning and online programs offer many opportunities to engage in intensive academic study. By taking courses online, partaking in virtual training, and engaging with professors and other students in arranged online conversational meetings, physical therapy students obtain a thorough, technologically advanced education. Additionally, online degree students are able to pursue an education without the possible difficulty of relocating in order to be closer to a physical campus. Online physical therapy degree programs enable students to fuse advanced anatomical and medical knowledge with the practical, intense training that is necessary for achieving success in this field.

Did you know?
Physical therapy originates from the early 20th century. In 1921, Mary McMillan and several other women dedicated to improving rehabilitation initiatives founded the first physical therapy professional association, dubbed the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. Men were not admitted as members of the Association until the 1930s, when the name of the organization was changed to the American Physiotherapy Association. Major historical events of the 1940s and 1950s helped validate and popularize the use of physical therapy as a treatment for injury. World War II and the polio epidemic resulted in an increase in the need for properly trained physical therapists.

Trends for Physical Therapy Careers

Projections indicate that career opportunities in physical therapy are tremendous. As the baby-boom generation ages and enters the stage of life most susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, there will be an increase in the need for rehabilitative treatment. It is also predicted that more young people will require physical therapy as advances in medical technology make it possible to save the lives of infants born with birth defects. In addition, technological advancements will also increase the survival rate of trauma victims, which will create demand for qualified physical therapists. With this in mind, the US Department of Labor predicts that job opportunities for physical therapy professionals will be highly abundant through the year 2012 and that jobs in this field are projected to grow much faster than average. This optimistic prediction also applies to physical therapist assistants. It is expected that physical therapists will increasingly utilize and expand the role of physical therapy assistants to cut the financial costs of physical therapy treatment. As such, the Department of Labor also predicts that employment opportunities for physical therapist assistants will grow faster than average.

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Career Education in Physical Therapy

Undergraduate and Graduate degree and certificate programs

Obtaining solid training and a strong education from a quality physical therapy school is a necessity for anyone seeking a successful career in this field of healthcare. Healthcare professionals specializing in physical therapy rely heavily upon biological, anatomical, and procedural knowledge of rehabilitation and exercise science. Thorough knowledge and quality training skills are properly developed in a healthcare degree program that emphasizes the importance of combining educational knowledge and information with hands-on training. A top-notch degree program also provides a student with the ability to learn and utilize the latest physical therapy procedures, treatments, and therapies. Physical therapy degree programs are extremely challenging. The decision to enroll in an online or distance learning degree program in physical therapy is a major commitment. It is therefore important for prospective students to be fully prepared for the admissions process and initial coursework.

First, a prospective student should have an understanding of the structure of physical therapy education and training. In most cases, physical therapy programs are post-undergraduate programs, meaning that students generally cannot enroll in a physical therapy degree program without a bachelor's degree. It is common for a student to complete three years of an undergraduate program in exercise sciences, physical sciences, or another related field before matriculating to a physical therapy program. Admission to such programs is competitive. A student with an exceptional academic record and strong references will have the best chance for getting in to a top-notch physical therapy degree program. A student should prepare for intense, thorough, rewarding study.

Secondly, a prospective student should develop a sophisticated educational background by taking relevant high school and undergraduate courses that will be beneficial during the transition to a physical therapy college degree program. Obtaining an undergraduate or graduate degree in this healthcare field will undoubtedly require coursework in all areas of science, therapy and treatment, healthcare ethics, mathematics, and communication and patient relations. A prospective physical therapy student will do well to take as many advanced math, science, and speech classes as his or her high school or undergraduate institution offers. A student will achieve success in a physical therapy degree program if he or she is able to develop a strong set of relevant skills and knowledge at the outset of his or her advanced studies.

A third way to prepare for a physical therapy degree program is to seek out and participate in internship opportunities. A student should volunteer time and effort to local physical therapy clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and anywhere else that will provide an opportunity to gain first-hand experience. Not only will completing an internship increase a student's awareness and understanding of his or her chosen career path, but it will also greatly improve the student's chances of being admitted to the degree program of his or her choice. A career in physical therapy is very physically demanding and active. If a student is able to demonstrate an ability to participate in such work, his or her intention and desire to complete a physical therapy degree program will be more fully understood by admissions officials. Additionally, spending time discussing this career field with a current healthcare professional will prepare a future physical therapist for the professional aspects of this career path. If the opportunity to participate in an internship is not available, a potential student would find shadowing, or observing the ins and outs of a typical work day in a particular job field to be very useful. In such a scenario, a student would follow a physical therapist around for a day to see what a day at his or her future job might be like. In addition to experience in the field, a student should not hesitate to ask questions about training, opportunities for career advancement, and education requirements for a particular job. The information a student gains by asking questions may be the most important information he or she obtains in preparation for a career.

When a future physical therapy student makes the decision to pursue this career path, the last step of preparation involves comparing and contrasting different degree programs to find the best fit. This type of research is a valuable way for a student to discover what he or she is looking for in a physical therapy degree program. It is important to understand the various options and educational paths available. Additionally, by using this research as a catalyst, a student will also be able to generate a list of questions to ask admissions counselors. These questions will assist in his final program selection. The more information a student can gather about physical therapy degree program options, the better informed his or her decision will be.

Physical Therapy Degree Programs

One thing a potential student should know about pursuing a career in physical therapy is that a Master's degree is necessary to receive certification and begin to practice in this field of healthcare. Thus, students should expect to stay in college a little longer than students in other traditional degree programs. In many cases it takes a minimum of six years to earn a Master's degree in physical therapy, and programs are often divided into two required sections. The first part is essentially a traditional undergraduate program that takes approximately three years to finish. At that point, the student makes the transition to the second half of a physical therapy degree program. This portion generally involves a lot of practical experience and training. Students apply the knowledge and skills obtained in the first portion of their studies to develop and implement treatment plans for patients.

Degree programs in physical therapy provide students with the skills and training necessary to find career opportunities in this field of healthcare. Additionally, potential students are offered an increasing variety of choices and options due to the increasing availability of distance learning and online degree programs. Whether a student is hoping to begin a career as a qualified physical therapist, or whether a current physical therapy professional seeks to build upon existing skills and qualifications, online degree programs offer many appealing opportunities. The advancement of computer technology is the major reason that there is a shift towards making physical therapy degree programs available online. As the Internet becomes readily accessible to more students, more physical therapy schools are offering degree programs online. Online college degree programs require students to virtually participate in online tutorials, web seminars, and interactive training laboratory projects. Physical therapy students who participate in online degree programs have the opportunity to tailor their own schedules and course loads to coexist with existing family and career commitments.

• Applied science degree (AAS) and physical therapist assistant training
  An applied science degree and physical therapist assistant training program prepares students to serve as clinical assistants for certified physical therapists. Typically a two-year program, the curriculum covered in an AAS degree program differs from the training and coursework of a physical therapy degree program. In most cases, credit obtained in an AAS in physical therapist assisting does not transfer toward earning an advanced Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy degree. For most programs, the first year of an AAS degree program requires students to take general education requirements. Students generally take technical training, anatomy, and physical therapy related courses in the second year.
  
  
• Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
  Many Master of Physical Therapy degree programs begin with a basic scientific curriculum, including courses in biology, chemistry, and physics, and then introduce specialized courses, including biomechanics, anatomy, human growth and development, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures. In addition to the benefit of classroom and laboratory instruction, students also receive supervised clinical experience. Before granting admission, many professional education programs require experience as an intern in a physical therapy department of a hospital or clinic.
  
  
• Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (DPT)
  The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is a graduate degree awarded upon successful completion of a doctorate level professional or graduate level education program. The professional DPT program provides students with a strong educational foundation that will better prepare a student to enter clinical practice with the ability to examine, diagnose, evaluate, and intervene in the care of impairments and disabilities of the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, and neuromuscular systems.
  
  
• Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (t-DPT)
  Earning a Transition Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree (t-DPT) in a graduate level physical therapy educational program enables a licensed physical therapist to earn a clinical doctorate degree. A t-DPT degree program also takes a student's knowledge and experience into consideration. Some courses that are required to earn this degree could include clinical decision-making, physical therapy diagnostics and screening, diagnostic imaging, pharmacology, health care systems and economics, patient and client management, clinical research, specific coursework related to the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular-pulmonary systems, professional issues, and applied case analysis techniques.

Universities offering online physical therapy degree programs:

Boston University - Online Doctorate of Physical Therapy

What can you do with a College Degree in Physical Therapy?

Career options for aspiring physical therapists

• Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA)
  A physical therapist assistant (PTA) is a technically educated health provider who assists the physical therapist in providing physical therapy treatment. A physical therapist assistant also performs intervention procedures as directed by the supervising physical therapist. A physical therapist assistant works under the direction a physical therapist and helps to manage and assist patients with conditions such as back and neck injuries, sprains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others. Licensure or registration is not required in all states for the physical therapist assistant to work. The states that require licensure stipulate specific educational and examination criteria. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from state licensing boards.
  
  
• Physical Therapist (PT)
  A physical therapist provides services aimed at rehabilitating or preventing the conditions resulting from injury, disease, and other causes. The physical therapist provides these services to people of all ages who have functional conditions resulting from back and neck injuries, sprains/strains and fractures, arthritis, burns, amputations, stroke, multiple sclerosis, birth defects, injuries related to work and sports, and others. A physical therapist's treatment often encourages patients to use their own muscles to enhance their flexibility in hopes of eventually advancing to more intense exercises that improve strength, balance, coordination, and endurance. The ultimate goal of physical therapy is to increase a patient's ability to function independently. Another aspect of a physical therapist's role involves teaching patients how to use medical equipment such as prosthetic devices and wheelchairs. Licensure or registration is required in all states and all physical therapists must successfully pass an examination demonstrating adequate levels of knowledge and skill. Complete information on practice acts and regulations can be obtained from state licensing boards.
  
  
• Chiropractor
  A chiropractor diagnoses and treats patients who have health issues that are associated with the body's muscular, nervous, and skeletal systems, especially the spine. Chiropractors assert that medically interfering with these systems harms the body's ability to function normally, resulting in lower resistance to injury and disease. Chiropractors provide holistic care with natural, non-surgical health treatments that encourage the body's innate ability to heal and recuperate. Chiropractors also provide patients with recommendations regarding lifestyle, diet, exercise, and sleeping patterns.
  
  
• Recreational Therapists
  Recreational therapists provide treatment services and recreational activities to individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Relying on various techniques including crafts, sports, games, dance and movement, drama, music, and community outings, recreational therapists work to maintain and foster the physical, mental, and emotional health of their patients. Additionally, recreational therapists aid individuals in depression, stress, and anxiety reduction and in building personal confidence so that patients can socialize and enjoy a greater sense of independence. It is also common for recreational therapists to assist patients with disabilities as they integrate into community living.

Salary Information for Careers in Physical Therapy

Career opportunities in physical therapy are tremendous and lucrative. According to the American Physical Therapy Association the median salary for a physical therapist is $52,000, but this rate varies depending on position, amount of experience, level of education, location, and practice setting. Additionally, the median income for a physical therapist assistant is approximately $30,000. A physical therapist assistant's salary also depends on position or title, amount of experience, level of education obtained, location, and practice setting.

Certification and Licensure

As a student completes a physical therapy degree program, he or she must also begin to prepare to take a national certification exam. After graduating from an accredited physical therapy degree program a student must pass the National Physical Therapist Examination (NPTE). There are also other important state level certifications that are required. A student will find that obtaining certification is absolutely necessary if he or she hopes to go into clinical practice as a physical therapist. When a physical therapy degree program graduate earns appropriate credentials and certification, his or her commitment to the mission of healthcare is validated. Credentials and certification indicate that the student is ready to aid the well being of others, and to use his or her medical and technical knowledge to help those who are in need.

The Physical Therapist (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) examinations are designed to evaluate the basic competence of a credential candidate who has graduated from an accredited physical therapy degree program, or, in some cases, from an equivalent non-accredited physical therapy degree program. Additionally, students should note that the physical therapy exam is only one part of the evaluation process used in the certification process. Depending on where a physical therapist intends to work, the NPTE physical therapy examination is coupled with other methods of assessing a credential candidate's ability to properly provide physical therapy treatments. Once these requirements have been satisfied, a physical therapy student must also investigate additional requirements a state's licensing board may have before he or she is admitted to work in a particular state.

Physical Therapy Associations and Certification Bodies:

• American Occupational Therapy Association
• The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy
• APTA Student Assembly
• National Rehabilitation Association

Explore Related Degree Programs

- Online Degrees in Physical Therapy
- Online Degrees in Occupational Therapy
- Online Degrees in Sports Science

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