Physical Therapist Schools
Once you've made up your mind to pursue a career in physical therapy, the next step is to figure out which of the physical therapist schools will be the best one for you. There are over 200 accredited schools for physical therapy in the United States so there are plenty of options for you to choose from.
The first thing to decide is whether to go for a master's degree or a doctoral degree. A few physical therapist schools only offer the master's degree program but most will have the courses needed to obtain your doctorate. The master's program is generally only a two-year program while most doctoral programs will be at least three years. Your career opportunities are vastly improved with the doctorate so if at all possible, you should be going for the doctoral degree right from the start.
When considering physical therapist schools, there are a number of things you should be looking at. Does the school offer any kind of financial aid? Will the admissions department assist you in finding and applying for aid? Is the clinical aspects of the program up-to-date so that you'll get hand-on experience with the latest therapies and technologies? Does the school offer any kind of job placement services for when you've completed your program work and obtained a degree? All of these considerations should be factored into your final choice.
3 Most Important Factors to Consider When Choosing Physical Therapist Schools
Accreditation—In order to be licensed as a physical therapist, you must choose a school that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In fact, without that accreditation you won't even be able to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam, which is a licensing requirement all across the country.
Location—Are you able to relocate easily for school or must you stay in a certain geographical area? If you must stay close to family, you will want to find schools in your general vicinity so location may be an important factor limiting your choices in physical therapist schools.
State or Private—The biggest difference between these two will be the cost of your education. Private physical therapist schools are almost always going to be more costly, sometimes by a very large percentage. State programs, on the other hand, while less expensive, may not always provide the level of education and clinical experience you will need for the best career path.
