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4 years ago
Admissions Advice

Can I become a physical therapist with an athletic training degree?

I have been admitted to my dream college, but I wasn't accepted into their physical therapy program. So right now I have a "Still Deciding" major. My admissions counselor said that I should look into Athletic Training as my major, since it is pretty similar to physical therapy. Can I still become a physical therapist with an Athletic Training degree?

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1 answer

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4 years ago

From what I’ve seen thus far in the search, I believe you can:

“Students considering careers in sports physical therapy must first complete their bachelor's degree. Popular majors include exercise science and athletic training. Some then pursue a master's degree in exercise physiology, occupational therapy, or rehabilitative sciences.” (https://www.noodle.com/articles/how-to-become-a-sports-physical-therapist)

“ Earning an athletic training degree can help someone get into this role. An athletic trainer must have a bachelor's degree and usually they need a specific license or certification.” (https://www.gcu.edu/blog/nursing-health-care/athletic-trainer-vs-physical-therapist)

“To practice as a physical therapist in the U.S., you must earn a doctor of physical therapy degree from a Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education-accredited physical therapist education program and pass a state licensure exam. The length of professional DPT programs is typically three years.“ (https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt)

“ All individuals must earn a doctoral degree in physical therapy (DPT) in order to practice as a physical therapist. To illustrate how fast this field is growing, there were more than 200 physical therapy programs accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) in 2015 alone.” (https://careersinpsychology.org/physical-therapist-careers/)

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Unweighted GPA: 3.7
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SAT: 720 math
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