What Would You Major in to Become a Physical Therapist?

You may have been injured or had surgery and your doctor recommended that you get physical therapy. If you are looking for a physical therapist in Santa Clara, you want them to be qualified. The first question that may pop to mind is “What would you Major in to become a physical therapist. 

A lot of education is involved and these physical therapists spend years honing both their knowledge and skills so that they can be the best.

Undergraduate

While there are no specific undergraduate degrees in Physical Therapy, many schools may have a program where students can take undergraduate classes geared toward physical therapy and then slide into a graduate program after that to get a Doctor of Physical Therapy. These programs tend to last six years overall and gets them ready to become a physical therapist after graduation.

In order to be ready to study physical therapy at the graduate level, the students need to build up a basic foundation of knowledge. That means they should take classes like biology, chemistry, physics, and exercise science, to name a few. It’s important that they maintain a high GPA to make it into the graduate program. 

Graduate School

Students seek to get a Doctoral Degree in Physical Therapy so that they can do this as a career. This degree is a requirement in the United States. The schools have to offer this degree in a program that is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). 

Professional

It doesn’t end for them after that – they must become licensed and certified.  That means that they must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NAPTE) – which is a standardized test that all aspiring physical therapists must take. They demonstrate both competency and knowledge in the field. 

You may also find a physical therapist who has also become certified by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS), which grants this after 2,000 hours of work in a specific field, like pediatrics, pulmonary health, sports, or women’s health. 

Rest assured, when you find a physical therapist in Santa Clara, you will get one who has been through this rigorous program. They will use all this knowledge that they learned there, along with a lot of time in the field during their school days, to get you back to where you were before your injury or surgery. Their education will have been well worth it for you.