Nov
26
Years of medical school to become a pediatric physical therapist?
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Question: I want to be a pediatric physical therapist and I was wondering if anyone knew how many years of medical school it takes? Regular physical therapists need three years but do I need any additional years to be a pediatric PT? Thanks!
P.S. I’m interested in going to LSU if that matters at all…
3 Comments
November 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
If you prefer pediatrics, then call or email LSU and ask if you can specialize.
I did a search and found the website for the American Physical Therapy Association. There is a link to a Career Planning page, and there is some information about pediatrics, however you have to be a member of the association to access it. It would probably be a good idea to join this association anyway, and they have a student rate of $80 a year. I’m not sure if you have to be in PT school, or if you can just show a letter of acceptance to a school, but I don’t think they will let you just join with no proof that you are serious about being a PT student.
At any rate, if they won’t let you join unless you’re in school or can prove you’ve been accepted, maybe you could call around to several PT clinics or PT departments of hospitals and clinics, and ask if there is a therapist who would be willing to talk to you about what you need to do to specialize. If there is a children’s hospital near you, that might be your best bet. Check on line and see if you can find the name of the person who is the head of the physical therapy department for the hospital, then call him or her and ask if you could make an appointment to meet with them to talk about your career.
November 26th, 2009 at 11:30 pm
Physical therapy is a professional doctorate you do instead of going to medical school. You are still a doctor – but not a medical one. A typical program is the following:
http://www.regis.edu/rh.asp?page=study.dpt
The program takes 2.5-4 years. The Regis one above takes 2.5 because they have a 3 term year – most are 4 year programs.
To get admitted you usually need an undergrad degree in anything that includes some prerequisite subjects eg:
http://www.regis.edu/rh.asp?page=study.dpt.prereq
Some schools such as Regis may consider you for admission even if you have not completed your bachelors and have just done the prerequisites.
Thanks
Bill
November 27th, 2009 at 12:18 am
I am a pediatric PT. You go to school for 6-7 years. The programs are generalist programs. You learn all of the specialties. If you are interested in Peds then you would definitely do at least one pediatric internship. You would also focus your research in peds. Once you get out you will take continuing education course in your area of interst. After a few years, you may want to take the PCS exam to prove your are a pediatric clinical specialist.
Good Luck
www,apta.org