Breaking Into Healthcare: A Step-by-Step Look at Becoming a Licensed Physical Therapist

If you want to be part of the healthcare field and help people live their lives to the fullest, becoming a physical therapist may be the career path for you. Licensed physical therapists help people restore their movement and mobility after they’ve been injured in accidents or suffered from illnesses that affect their ability to move properly. They evaluate their patients, develop unique treatment plans to meet their distinct needs, and address their pain. 

Reports show that there’s a growing demand for physical therapists, and that’s expected to continue in the years to come. If you enter this field, you’ll have a rewarding career ahead of you, ample job security, and a great deal of flexibility along with many other benefits. Of course, becoming a licensed physical therapist takes time and effort. To do so, you’ll need to carry out the following steps. 

Earn Your Bachelor’s Degree

Your first step to becoming a physical therapist is earning a bachelor’s degree. Though there are no specific requirements regarding which field of study should pursue here, choosing one that’s relevant to healthcare and physical therapy is recommended. That can include health sciences, biology, exercise science, physiology, and kinesiology to name a few possibilities. 

For the most part, bachelor’s degree programs entail completing 120 credit hours. For full-time students, that typically takes four years. If you decide to go to school part time, it’ll take a bit longer. On the other hand, you may be able to speed up your time to completion by participating in an accelerated program or applying previous college credits or relevant training to your degree program. 

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

After earning a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete a doctor of physical therapy program to earn a doctorate degree. To do that, you’ll need to enroll in an accredited school that offers such a program. You can find one and apply via the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service. DPT programs usually last three years. 

During the DPT program, you’ll study subjects like medical diagnostic techniques, exercise physiology, functional anatomy, disease pathology, and applied physical therapy. You’ll also learn about best practices in physical therapy, which covers putting patients’ needs first, using evidence-based approaches, focusing on patient education, and many other essentials. Along the way, you’ll also need to complete a clinical practice internship under a licensed physical therapist. 

Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination

Finally, you’ll need to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination to obtain your license. It’s administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. You’ll need to earn a score of at least 600 to pass the exam. Students are allowed to take the exam up to three times per year, but they’re only allowed a total of six attempts.  

Additional Considerations

Some states have additional licensing requirements beyond passing the NPTE. Those may include passing an exam on laws and ethics, passing a background check, and completing extra hours under the supervision of a licensed PT. Those vary by state, so be sure you’re aware of any additional prerequisites you’ll have to complete before obtaining your license. 

Becoming a Physical Therapist

There’s a growing demand for physical therapists in America right now. If you choose this career path, you’ll be able to make a significant difference in your patients’ lives. Becoming a licensed physical therapist takes time and dedication, but it’s well worth the investment. The steps mentioned here are crucial to earning your license and being able to work with patients.