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What did you major in and how many years did you go to college in order to become a physical therapist?

I am a sophomore in high school and considering what I want to major in. My dream career is being a physical therapist and I don't know if kinesiology or exercise science would be better.

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Dwight’s Answer

Physical Therapy is now a Doctorate level degree, so at a minimum you will have to complete 6-7 years of college to earn your degree (undergrad and grad).It is still in my opinion the better choice than exercise physiology or kinesiology as a career because of the autonomy and career paths available to a licensed physical therapist. As a licensed physical therapists you have better options for working for yourself, owning your own practice and being the decision maker in the rehab team hierarchy. Kinesiologist and exercise physiologist currently are required to be supervised mostly by the Physical Therapist and do not have the legal autonomy to bill for their services unless it’s under the supervision of the Doctor or physical therapist. So being a Physical Therapist puts you at the top of the food chain.
Hope this helps.
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Donna’s Answer

As a PT professor for 20 years, serving many years on admission boards, I recommend that no matter what your undergrad degree major is, that you make sure you meet the prerequisites of the PT schools you are intending to apply to. So, first, identify several PT schools where you want to apply then go into the school's on-line catalog and see what each particular school requires for admission to PT school. For example, some schools may require a microbiology course or an advanced chemistry but others may not. Just be sure that you use your undergrad elective credits to take any courses outside of those required by your major that you may need to meet the PT prerequisites. And always apply to more than one PT school!
To become a PT, you will need to complete an undergrad degree, usually taking 4 years. Then you can apply to PT schools that will then be an additional 2.5-3 years finishing with a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. A DPT is the "entry-level" degree needed to practice physical therapy. Some schools that have DPT programs have "bridge" programs for those who get undergrad degrees at the same school that may decrease the time by a semester or two but often a student has to pre-qualify for those programs and adhere to GPA requirements to keep that pre-qualification.
This sounds like a lot of time, and it is, but it is SO worth it! Donna
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Cheri’s Answer

Dear Macie,

To embark on a career as a physical therapist, you'll first need to secure a bachelor's degree from a college that offers a four-year program. Following this, you'll be eligible to apply for an entry-level doctorate program. A majority of students prefer to specialize in a scientific field such as kinesiology, exercise science, or biology. These majors are advantageous as they cover the essential prerequisites for doctorate programs. However, you're free to choose any major. Psychology, when combined with the necessary science courses, is another popular choice among aspiring physical therapists.

It's worth mentioning that some colleges provide a direct-entry physical therapy program. In such a program, you can earn your bachelor's degree in three years and then immediately proceed to the doctorate degree program. In these cases, the college will typically guide you towards the most suitable undergraduate major.

Since you're currently a sophomore in high school, it would be beneficial for you to research colleges offering direct-entry physical therapy degrees and doctorate programs. This will give you a clearer understanding of the required courses. The American Physical Therapy Association's website, APTA.org, is a great resource to explore universities offering either direct-entry physical therapy programs or post-graduate entry-level doctorate degrees. Reviewing a few programs will give you a solid understanding of the courses you'll need to take on your journey to becoming a physical therapist. It's recommended to take classes in math, biology, chemistry, physics, and any available anatomy classes during your high school years.

Cheri recommends the following next steps:

Complete math/science classes in high school
Consider volunteering at physical therapy clinic in your community
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