Physical therapists use targeted exercise therapies to help patients of all ages overcome pain, increase their mobility, and recover from injuries. If you’re passionate about helping people in your community lead active lives, a career in physical therapy could be for you.

To practice as a physical therapist, you will need to earn your doctor of physical therapy degree (DPT). DPT programs typically take three years, and most programs require a student to complete their bachelor’s degree first. The Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service provides a list of accredited programs nationwide, along with a list of prerequisites for each program.

Program Admission Prerequisites:

• One introductory Biology courses: Introductory Biology: Zoology (BIOL 111), Botany (BIOL 121), Introductory Biology (BIOL 172) or Microbiology (BIOL 208)
• Three advanced Biology courses: Cell Biology (BIOL 237), Genetics (289), Nutrition and Metabolism (BIOL/CHEM 260), or other lab-based advanced biology courses, and Anatomy (BIOL 256), and Human Physiology (BIOL 257)
• Two Chemistry courses: Introductory Chemistry (CHEM 117), and Environmental, Analytical, and Geochemistry (CHEM 220) OR Organic Chemistry (CHEM 230)
• General Physics I and II (PHYS 101 and 102)
• At least one course* in Psychology and Social Sciences: Introductory to Psychology (PSYC 100)
  • Additional suggested courses include Life-Span Development Psychology (PSYC 210), Introduction to Sociology (SOCI 100), Society and Culture (ANTH 100), or The Human Animal (ANTH 120)
• One Statistics course: Introduction to Statistical Concepts (MATH 106) or Biometrics (BIOL 247)
• 100 clinical experience hours under a PT divided evenly between at least two settings
• 3.5 GPA to be competitive
• 150/150/4 GRE score

Additional Requirements

Individual schools may have specific requirements. Check the website of schools to which you are particularly interested in applying.

A great way to gain some experience in this field is to work as a student assistant to athletic trainers during your time at Beloit.