How Long Does it Take to Become a Physical Therapist

Are you wondering on how long does it take to become a physical therapist?

Becoming a physical therapist is one of the popular careers nowadays due to the increasing demand in the medical industry so if you want to take this great opportunity then here are the steps on how to become a physical therapist.

The Importance for Physical Therapist

The job of a physical therapist, or physiotherapist, is to provide care and expertise to patients who are physically handicapped. Most patients that need the aid of a physical therapist are those who had involved in a severe accident that causes the lost of their muscular control. The physical therapists are trained for the rehabilitation therapy of the patients so they can recover from the trauma of the accident and to revive their physical control into its normal state. But not only are the victims of accidents being served by the physical therapists, even those patients who had suffered from physical impairment due to disorders and diseases are also in need of their service. Since the physical therapists know to use several techniques in reviving the physical health of their patients, they can improve the condition of the patients even with permanent and temporary disabilities.

Other duty of a physical therapist is to learn the history of their patients so he can make a plan for their immediate recovery. This is very vital in the role of the physical therapist for the success of the treatment. He should apply the right exercises for the proper coordination of the muscles that will bring back the natural physical movements of the patient. Some of the methods used by a physical therapist in improving the condition of their patients are massaging, cold compression, hot packs, and electric stimulation. Aside from recovering the physical movements, the therapist should also teach their patients on how to use their medical aids, because not all the time that therapist will be at their side.

Becoming a Physical Therapist, How Long Does it Take?

Now that you have a clear idea on the works and duties of a physical therapist on the fast recovery of the physical health conditions of their patients, maybe you are wondering on how long it will take to complete a course in physical therapy. Normally, it will take at least 4 years to finish a degree in physical therapy and for some state or country it can take up to 6 years depending on their standards. So if you plan to take a course in physical therapy then you must finish first your high school and complete the subjects in biology, chemistry, and physics. These three subjects are very essential in studying physical therapy in college.

Additionally, when you plan to take up a degree in physical therapy you must choose the right school which is accredited by APTA (American Physical Therapy Association). Once you finished the course, you should also pass the licensure examination which is mandatory to all graduates.

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