Accredited Physical Therapy Schools

Top Accredited Physical Therapy Schools - How To Choose

Physical therapists are very in demand now, with a very low unemployment rate and excellent salaries. This career also offers a lot of flexibility. You can own your own business, and many physical therapists work park time rather than full time. The demand for physical therapists is expected to go up with the aging of the population.

Choosing An Accredited School

If you would like to become a physical therapist, first you will need to attend one of the many accredited physical therapy schools. The top schools are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). These schools provide either masters or doctorate degrees upon completion of the program.

One example of a physical therapy school that is accredited is the University of Maryland in Baltimore. They offer an entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy as well as a Ph.D. in Physical Rehabilitation Science for those who would like to further their education. A simple search on the internet for "accredited physical therapy schools" will lead you to a few websites with programs that are currently accredited so that you can find one located near you.

Best Schools

If you want to find out which are the best physical therapy schools in the US, you can check out one of the websites that rank universities in different areas. The physical therapy program at the University of Maryland in Baltimore is actually ranked as one of the top 20 programs in the country by the US News and World Report. The top ranked program for 2008 according to US News was the program at the University of Southern California.

New York is the state with the most accredited physical therapy schools (21 out of the 199 ranked by US News), though the highest ranking school in New York was New York University at number 15.

However, just because one of the physical therapy schools is ranked well does not mean that this school would necessarily be the best school for you. You need to consider whether the school is conveniently located, whether you can afford to attend, and whether it has the type of physical therapy program you are looking for (either masters or doctoral).

Considering The Program's Curriculum

You might also want to see what classes you will be required to take as part of your degree at each of the physical therapy schools that you are considering. You might find that the courses at one school sound more interesting than those that are offered by another school. You might also find that one school's coursework better prepares you for the specialty you would like, or the type of practice you would like to have after graduation.

Once you have completed a degree program at one of the accredited physical therapy schools, you must take and pass a national board examination in order to get certified as a physical therapist. You need certifications for each state that you wish to practice in as well. Make sure any school you choose prepares you well for these exams.

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