Maybe you’ve just finished your physical therapy assistant (PTA) program and want to learn more about physical therapy, or maybe you’ve been a PTA for a while and want to advance your career. Either way, completing a physical therapist (PT) program might be the right answer for you.
PTA to PT isn’t a traditional path, but it’s definitely doable. This article will walk you through the steps of transferring to a PT, so you can make your next career decision with confidence.
Step One: Understand the Difference Between a PT and a PTA
Before you make the career switch, it’s important to know what to expect. As a PTA, you work directly with patients to guide them through their treatment plan. While you don’t get much choice in what that plan is, you do document and communicate progress to the PT so they can make changes that benefit the patient.
As a PT, you would be in charge of that treatment plan, along with assessing and diagnosing patients, monitoring progress, and taking personal responsibility for the health of the patient while they’re under your care. It’s a lot more responsibility, but you get more opportunities for advancement, including specialization, salary, and working in your own private practice. There’s also considerably more school involved: you need to earn your bachelor’s and complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program before you can even be licensed to work as a PT.
Step Two: Figure Out How Your Program Will Transfer
To become a PT, you need a bachelor’s degree, but PTA programs aren’t typically designed to be stepping stones into further education. However, depending on your school, your program can count as an associate of science degree and transfer into a bachelor’s degree pretty easily.
This is going to be different at every university, but at BYU-Idaho, the PTA program allows course work to count towards some of their bachelor’s degree. You’ll still have to take some general education requirements, but you’ll be one step closer to becoming a PT.
Before you decide to jump into becoming a PT, check out the transfer eligibility of your program at your school.
Step Three: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree
To qualify for a DPT program, you first need to finish a bachelor’s degree. If all your PTA credits transfer, this can take as little as two years. If they don’t, you’ll have to take a little longer, but it can be worth it if you love what you’re learning.
The great thing about DPT programs is that they don’t have a specific bachelor’s degree you need to earn. You can do anything that’s related to the field, and since you’ve already completed a lot of PTA credits, you’ll be well prepared for your bachelor’s degree.
Here are some majors that work really well for a DPT program:
- Kinesiology
- Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Health Science
- Biology
- Psychology
Step Four: Apply to a Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Once you have your bachelor’s degree and the required science courses, you can apply to a DPT program. Now, the program requirements are going to be different for each school, so make sure you do your research before applying.
Here are some extra requirements your program might have before you can apply:
- Minimum GPA: This varies by school, but it’s usually 3.0 or higher.
- Graduate Record Examination: Most DPT programs ask that you take the GRE and pass with a certain score.
- Physical therapy experience: Many DPT programs want you to have experience working in physical therapy already, but as a PTA, you’ll have plenty of that.
- Letters of Recommendation: Even if the program doesn’t require it, you should submit one to four letters of recommendation, either from PTs you worked under, professors, or academic advisors.
You can find out more about DPT program requirements on the American Physical Therapy Association website.
Step Five: Finish Your DPT Program and Get Licensed
After three years, you’ll be able to finish your DPT program and take the National Physical Therapy Examination, also known as the NPTE. You had to pass this test to become a PTA, but now that you’re taking it as a PT, you’ll have to take a different version of the test.
The NPTE will qualify you to work in any state in the USA, but you’ll still have to apply for state licensure so you can practice as a PT. After that, you can start looking for a job in that state and get to work.
It’s Possible, But It’s Not Always Easy
Being a PTA was never supposed to be a step to becoming a PT, but it’s definitely doable. Only 10% of PTAs try to become PTs, and if you want to pursue that path, you’ll have to put in the work. Once you transfer your credits into a bachelor’s, earn your degree, and transfer into a DPT program, you’ll be on your way to becoming a PT. It’s just a matter of time, hard work, and passion for your career choice.
Citations
University of Saint Augustine: 11 Physical Therapy Specialties to Boost Your Career
About the BYU-Idaho PTA Program
Best Undergraduate Majors for Physical Therapy: Top Degrees for DPT Prep
The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy: National Exam (NPTE®)