-: In order to become a physical therapist,
most programs at this point are
Doctoral programs.
So you would start of with a Bachelors.
Mine was in Exercise Science
which is a Bachelors of Science
and that's a four-year degree.
Then you would apply to
various physical therapy schools
and those are usually three-year programs.
Some people also do their undergrad degree
in Athletic Training which I think looking back now,
I probably would have done that
even though I don't work with athletes.
I was a great way that I saw some clinicians have
a greater connection with patients more easily
and of the bat there
and they learned different techniques in undergrad
and had some clinical experience that I did not have.
It is a Bachelors and then a Doctoral program.
Some schools do have Bachelors and then they
kinda directly move you straight through
to the Doctoral program,
but most of the time you have to complete your Bachelors
and then that last year of your Bachelors,
you apply to different schools all over the country
and do interviews and see
where you're going to be accepted.
Having a true passion for getting that patient better,
so you've gotta be curious enough to dig through
and see hmm, what else could it be
because all of the tools in my box here
aren't really working,
what else could be going on?
So a curious mind is really important.
And also, truly being committed
to being a lifelong learner because
if you stick with the same treatments,
your entire career then,
number one, it will get a little boring
and also number two,
you aren't giving your patient the very best
and up-to-date care to get them better quicker.