How long does it take to become a physical therapist, what does it cost, and how can I pay for it? These may be some of the questions you have. Read on to find the answers.
When you start your research of physical therapy schools, there are many things you should consider. You need to determine if you meet all of the course prerequisites for your given program. These can vary considerably among schools. Some programs will require you to have a bachelor’s degree already.
You will need to take the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) at least six weeks before you apply. If you are going to enter college as a freshman, you may be able to use your ACT or SAT scores instead.
Send official transcripts from any universities you attended to your potential PT institutions. You also need to submit an application to the school before their deadline.
[youtube width=”500″ height=”300″]ZnKnPlwwElU[/youtube]
How long does it take?
If you have no college, expect to spend four years on a bachelor’s degree, two years getting a master’s degree, and another two years getting your doctorate, for a total of eight years of school. If you already have a bachelor’s, then you can reduce the time by four years.
[box color=”gray” icon=”information”]
Sonia Prepare for School
Sonia knew that going back to school was going to make her budget even tighter. She knew she’d have to give up a few things in order to make it happen. However in four years things were going to start shaping up for them. In the meantime, she was planning to continue working at her old job and was thankful to have some flexibility in her hours.
When she made the decision to go back to school, Sonia decided to start looking into how she was going to afford it. She knew that student loans were an option, but wanted to try and get as much help as she could.
After doing some research, Sonia found a site on the Internet that contained a list of scholarships by major. Using this she was able to make a list of ones for which she wanted to apply.
https://www.mycollegeoptions.org/58/0/Physical-Therapy/search-results-scholarship-search-by-major.aspx
The next step was to contact her old university and have her transcripts sent over to the new school. Once this was done, she just had to submit an application and wait for her acceptance letter.
[/box]
How much does it cost?
There are many different factors regarding the cost of a physical therapy degree. One is whether you choose to go to a public or private school. Another is how long it takes with your given amount of education. Most physical therapy programs require that you get your clinical doctorate in physical therapy. There are only a few master’s programs still available and they are in the process of switching over to becoming doctoral programs. It has been mandated that by 2020 all master’s degree programs must require a doctorate.
State schools can cost approximately $12,000 per year while private schools are around $30,000 per year.
Finding money for college
If you can get a scholarship or financial aid to help with school, that will usually be the best option. If that is not forthcoming then student loans are usually available. Some schools will also give returning students life-experience credit, which may help reduce tuition costs.
Once you have decided to persue a career in physical therapy it is important to choose the right school. Research the programs, talk to alumni, and ask about scholarships and financial aid. Once you have all the facts it will make your decision easier.