A physical therapist generally needs at least a master’s degree in physical therapy. There are some doctorate programs but it’s rumored to not be necessary unless wanting to teach or participate in research or such. There is a registration exam that a physical therapy must pass in order to become a RPT (registered physical therapist). While attending a college program for PT, the person must complete clinicals which are hands-on experience with actual patients. A PT’s job is very physical, and I’m sure very psychologically draining as well.

The program is supposed to be quite rigorous with prerequisites including courses such as physics, biology, chemistry, organic chem, anatomy and physiology (in college, please remember Not to take ‘human anatomy’ as that does Not transfer but instead take ‘regular’ anatomy and physiology) and calculus. The various schools will have slightly different prereq courses, so please check with each one individually. And just a word to the wise, physical therapy is extremely competitive to gain admission. It is said that a person should have a 4.0 gpa (grade point average) in prereq’s and even in overall gp.

There is a two year (associate degree) program to become a physical therapist assistant (PTA). PTA’s don’t evaluate patients but provide treatment and ongoing assessment and feedback to the therapist. Physics and other sciences are typically prereq’s for those programs as well but, of course, not as long (and not nearly as much money 😉

Your undergraduate degree doesn’t matter…just as long as you’ve completed the prerequisite courses and other requirements. This will vary from school to school. You will need to look at the courses very carefully to make sure your undergraduate courses will meet the requirements of your graduate school. This is particulally true if you do not attend the same undergraduate and graduate university. As an example, some schools require “life span psychology” but others require “developmental psychology”, some require “anatomy” others require “anatomy and physiology”…One of my colleges was denied admission at one school, but accepted at another because of this issue…

Once you’ve completed the required and degree courses, you can apply for admission. Total time to complete the program is about 6-7 years from freshman year to graduation. All PT programs in the US are now either a master’s or doctorate level degree. It makes no difference in pay, but the DPT is aimed at making the PT better able to handle direct access of patients.

Finally, you will sit for a licensure exam, not a registered exam…PT progressed to licensure many years ago.

I don’t think any of those classes will count towards your physical therapist degree. Colleges will be looking for all around good grades. Perhaps you could find a way to volunteer at a physical therapy hospital to show you are really serious. Just keep up the classics: math, science (esp. biology), English, foreign language and maybe an art or music.

The most important thing is getting into a college that offers a good program for your major, in this case, physical therapy. Many universities offer a master’s program for continuation after getting your bachelors degree. This would make things much easier for you since you already have a direction in life. I know USC (Univ of Southern CA) has such a program. Sorry, cheap plug for my alma mater. But I am very jealous that you have such a clear direction in life. Keep up with what you’re doing, congrats and good luck!

There are fixed courses in many college.

It’s a cross between PE and Nursing

You will need anatomy, skeletal and muscular classes.

The rest is PE oriented. Weight training and such. Working with the machines.