Choosing a Physical Therapy School
If you are considering a PT school there are a number of questions that might be running through your mind. Questions such as, do I really need to attend a physical therapy school, or is there a similar program that will allow me to start working faster? What is the acceptance process? How will I pay for tuition? How do I know if a school is good?
Is a Physical Therapy School The Right Choice For My Career Goals?
These are all good questions. Let’s start with the first, which is “do I really need to attend a physical therapy school?” My best advice for someone deciding what to major in is to speak with an admissions coach to discuss your career goals. This will help you to get a career path mapped out so that you can see all of your options before making a decision.
For example, if your goal is to work with professional athletes, you might decide that you don’t need to spend time and money on a lengthy and expensive physical therapy program. You might enroll in a sports therapy degree program, where you will learn how to help athletes with the prevention of injury as well as rehabilitation.
The Sports & Rehabilitation Therapy program at Fremont University has produced graduates who completed our 15-month course and later secured employment with professional sports teams such as the LA Kings, Los Angeles Sparks, The Cleveland Indians, and the San Diego Chargers among a number of other professional teams. These graduates didn’t need to attend a PT school to become successful and do what they love. It is worth your time to find out what educational path is right for you so that you can become successful and build a career you will love as quickly as possible.
[ Be sure to read about our graduate Lupe here, as well as our graduate Thomas Ray here. Learn about their journey from being students to graduating and working with professional athletes. ]
While Fremont University does not offer a Physical Therapy program, we do have a number of other programs to consider. If you’re interested in learning more about an education in Sports & Rehabilitation Therapy, give us a call at 1 (800) 373-6668 or simply fill out the form on this page get help with your career options.
What Is The Acceptance Process When Applying To a PT School?
When applying to a PT school there are a number of requirements that you might need to meet. Each school may have its own set of requirements, thus there may not be one single comprehensive check-list that is the end all list for those who have their heart set on a career in physical therapy.
As a general guide, below are some of the possible requirements:
- Find out if there are any course prerequisites. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, popular required courses might include: Anatomy, physiology, biology, general chemistry, general physics, statistics, and psychology to name a few.
- Find out if you need to take any type of examinations to apply to the PT program such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), SAT, or ACT.
- Ask an admissions representative if there are any GPA requirements. The minimum GPA can vary by institution. According to the PTCAS, the average GPA for accepted PTCAS applicants in 2011-2012 was a 3.52.
- Browse program requirement to learn if you need to take any type of examinations such as the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), SAT, or ACT.
- Make arrangements to get your official transcripts if needed.
- Fill out and submit any required applications to your preferred institutions.
These are only a few basic requirements that a school might require. To get a list of requirements for the program you are applying to, it may be best to reach out to the admissions office for each college or university.
What Are The Top Majors Accepted into PT Training Schools?
According to the PTCAS Applicant Data Report, the top 15 majors accepted for PTCAS applicants include: Exercise science, kinesiology, biology, other, health science, psychology, pre-physical therapy, athletic training, exercise physiology, general studies, science, allied health, nutrition, physiology, and exercise kinesiology.
*In no way does Fremont University promise or guarantee employment or level of income/wages.
