Colleges With Direct Physical Therapy Programs
When preparing for a career in physical therapy, it is wise to consider the different levels of programs offered. Many programs are offered on a Master's level although the field of physical therapy has recently begun encouraging students to earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Direct entry into these programs is a great way to go if you can find a program which has this benefit.
While many colleges require that you complete your undergraduate degree before applying to their Doctor of Physical Therapy program, there are some that do not have this requirement.
Colleges with Direct Entry Physical Therapy Programs
Marquette University in Milwaukee, WI is one of the colleges which has a direct entry into the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program for graduating high school seniors. Students wishing to take advantage of this program should be ranked in the top quarter of their class and should have successfully completed one year of high school chemistry, one year of high school biology and three years of high school math to include Algebra, Geometry, Advanced Algebra and/or Trigonometry. Physics is recommended.
Students meeting the criteria set forth are able to begin the six year Doctor of Physical Therapy degree program as a freshman. This is an excellent opportunity to get your degree in the least amount of time.
Damen College is another program with direct entry. Students working on a bachelor’s degree may enter and work toward that degree. When pre-requisites are completed, they are guaranteed a spot in the professional phase of the DPT program provided they meet the standards required by the college.
Education and Certification Requirements
Most schools offer programs at the Doctorate Level currently. They are known as DPT programs. Bachelor’s degrees in physical therapy were phased out in the 1990s. Recently there have been MPT or Master’s in Physical Therapy but colleges are moving toward earning a DPT degree after pre-requisites on the bachelor level have been earned.
There are many great DPT, or Doctor of Physical Therapy Programs, but many require students to complete a Bachelor’s degree in a field related to physical therapy such as kinesology or exercise physiology, and then apply to the school for acceptance as a graduate student. Most schools offering the DPT degree require between 108 and 120 hours of graduate level coursework. An internship is usually part of the program and to become licensed to practice as a physical therapist, a certification exam must be taken and passed.