Q&A: what college courses are needed to become a physical therapist?
by US Army Africa
Question by S.A.G: what college courses are needed to become a physical therapist?
i am barely in this area to commence my 2nd year of college. i was set on nursing at first but recently changed my mind to become a physical therapist. i was taking classes that kinda had to do with nursing but also counted as part of my basics. Are nursing and physical therapist classes akin? & what major does physical therapist fall under? Also in this area how long does it take in anticipation of you really have a job & are getting paid?
Best answer:
Answer by girl1234
At my teach (Western Washington University) to be a physical therapist you major in kinesiology with a specialization in pre-pt. you have to take a lot of kinesiology classes, lots of chemistry, some physics, some bio (human anatomy and human physiology), and a few other things but those are the biggies.
I’m a kin major. Not pre-pt, but I see what those students are responsibility.
edit* to be a nurse at my teach is also under kinesiology, so at leas the core courses are the same. How long it takes you to be getting payed is variable. Some people find there feet really quick, others end up serving coffee for years with college.
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your major can be anything. Common BS degrees include exercise science, ATC, kinesiology, health science, rehab science but anything is fine. Pre PT is not a major it is like Pre med. It is a string of courses that lead you to some degree at a college but again anything is fine. You need to take one year of the following with labs
gen chem
gen bio
gen physics
A and P
then math potentially up to calc, stats, and psy.
In your senior year, you will apply to a grad teach qualified to offer PT.
You will be offered jobs while on your internships. People have paid jobs immediately with teach. Nursing and PT are uncommon. The only akin class is A and P.
You need to also have volunteer hours in a PT department.
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Career_as_PT_PTA&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=242&ContentID=31095
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?section=PT_Programs&template=/aptaapps/accreditedschools/acc_schools_map.cfm&process=3&type=PT
http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=43269
Prerequisite Courses in order to get into PT Teach and earn your D.P.T Degree (Doctor of Physical Therapy) are:
-1 Yr of Gen. Biology/lab
-1 Yr of Gen. Chemistry/lab
-1 Yr. of Physics/lab
-1 semester of Anatomy/lab and 1 semester of Physiology/lab or A & P I, II
- Statistics
Note: Some PT Schools require other courses like Calculus so be sure to try out each programs requirements B4 applying. Also most PT programs require the GRE so plot ahead on taking it. Most Undergraduate students major in Biology or Exercise Science, most insignificant in Psychology. To become a DPT, it takes 7 years to complete (4 undergrade + 3 PT Teach), this is also high and mighty if you graduate and apply on-time. There is also a residency option if you wish to concentrate in a certain field like orthopedics which takes an additional 12 months of education/training but remember your going to be compensated during residency but not a lot of money. Some Nursing classes are akin to the Pre-req courses for PT Teach.