Physiotherapist Training
- Prospective students who wish to become physiotherapists must hold a bachelor's degree in any major from an accredited institution; they must also fulfill their prerequisite coursework requirements. Prerequisite courses include anatomy and physiology, zoology, general chemistry and physics. Depending on the program, some schools require Graduate Record Examination scores. Candidates who successfully complete their degree requirements receive a Master of Science Degree. A master's degree program in physiotherapy runs for approximately 2 1/2 years, while doctoral programs require at least three years of training.
- A typical curriculum for physical therapists is made up of classroom and practical training. During their first year, students build on their prerequisite coursework in the basic sciences. As students advance in their training, they take core courses such as research design, methodology and statistics. Students must also take part in full-time clinical practice. During their senior year, students take advanced courses in areas like musculoskeletal development and neuro-rehabilitation. Physiotherapy students are also required to conduct independent research studies and present their findings.
- Physical therapists must be licensed to practice in all 50 states. Although the licensing requirements vary according to state, in general, prospective candidates must have a degree from an accredited institution. Eligible candidates must pass the National Physical Therapy Examination, which is administered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. The exam is designed to evaluate basic entry-level competence in the field. Although it is not required, physiotherapists can become certified in specialty fields by taking the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties examination.
- Areas of certification for physical therapists in specialty fields include cardiovascular and pulmonary, geriatrics, neurology and pediatrics. To qualify for specialty certification in physiotherapy, candidates must have at least 2,000 hours of clinical practice experience working directly with patients. Other areas of specialty fields in physiotherapy include orthopaedics, sports, women's health and clinical electrophysiology. In addition to their academic training, physical therapists should have strong interpersonal and communication skills since their role involves training and educating patients about how physical therapy treatments work.
