| Spa Wellness Articles :: Physical Therapy :: Find Career Satisfaction at Physical Therapy Colleges |
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| Find Career Satisfaction at Physical Therapy Colleges |
| by Robyn Tellefsen |
If you're looking for career satisfaction - and who isn't? - look no further than the field of physical therapy. According to a recent survey conducted by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago, next to clergy, physical therapy ranked highest in job satisfaction. In a similar survey by the Wall Street Journal's Career Journal, physical therapy rated one of the eight best careers. And that satisfaction starts at physical therapy colleges .
Accreditation of physical therapy colleges
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, accredits first professional, entry-level programs for physical therapists at the master's and doctoral degree levels, and programs for physical therapist assistants at the associate degree level. CAPTE does not accredit physical therapist aide or physical therapist technician programs.
Number of physical therapy colleges
Currently, 199 colleges and universities nationwide offer accredited professional physical therapist education programs; 92 percent of these offer the doctor of physical therapy (DPT) degree, and the remaining programs are planning to convert their master of physical therapy degree to a DPT degree. Also, 224 institutions offer accredited physical therapist assistant programs.
Getting in to physical therapy colleges
About two-thirds of accredited physical therapist programs require a bachelor's degree for admission. However, there are programs that admit students to the university as freshmen and then to the physical therapist program after three years of study.
Physical therapy program length
The average post-baccalaureate physical therapist program takes two to three years to complete. The average physical therapist assistant program takes two years to complete. Some programs may require more pre-professional (general education) courses or more professional (physical therapy) courses than others.
PTA-to-PT programs
Practicing physical therapist assistants may enroll in one of two CAPTE-accredited two-year Bridge Programs, in California and Ohio, so they can continue working while attending a physical therapist program on the weekends. Other than those two programs, however, physical therapist assistant programs do not provide the necessary prerequisites for physical therapist education.
Physical therapy licensure
Graduation from an accredited program is required for licensure to practice physical therapy in all 50 states, and by all states currently licensing physical therapist assistants. More than 45 states require physical therapist assistants to be licensed, registered, or certified. Individual states stipulate specific education and national exam criteria. Find your state licensing board here: http://www.fsbpt.org/LicensingAuthorities/index.asp.
Ready for career satisfaction? It starts at physical therapy colleges.
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