Do they need a doctorate or is it enough to just have an undergraduate degree? Some people have the misconception that physical therapists go to medical school. Actually, the answer is that some do, but many don’t. So what is the difference?
But it’s also one that has continued with a lot of mystery. Let’s take a closer look at the questions, and explore some of the answers. Do you want more information about how many years to become a physical therapist or if they are considered doctors? Keep reading!
Is Medical School Necessary for a Physical Therapist?
There are many reasons why a person might want to go to medical school for advanced study on physical therapy. Some people enjoy the coursework and learning about different topics, while others may find it necessary for their career path because of a particular specialty that is best suited in medicine.
Many people hop on a PT track at the undergraduate level and then apply for medical school after graduating or near the end of their time with an undergrad degree, as opposed to doing both degrees together.
There are some similar courses that medical schools offer which are physical therapist courses too. These courses are-
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics
- Statistics
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Anatomy
- Physiology
The Medical School vs. The Physiotherapy School
There is a huge difference between the two schools based on their service degree.
- A medical school degree usually lasts for four years, while a physical therapy degree can be done in three to five years depending on the program that you are enrolled at.
- Physical therapists also have more hands-on experience with patients than their counterparts who go to medical school and become doctors do. Physical therapists do not have to take the MCAT and do a residency.
- Physical therapists are also licensed professionals, while doctors need certification in order for them to use their medical degrees for work purposes.
- In the last two years in medical school, students are primarily focused on gaining clinical experience and spend most of their time with patients and other hospital workers while physical therapists stay mostly in lab work or classrooms without much experience teaching others about rehabilitative techniques they can use to help themselves heal after an injury.
How Much Does Med School Cost?
It is difficult to figure out the complete cost of medical school without comparing it to your current lifestyle. But we’ve got a few ways you can do this without leaving your desk. The cost of medical school will vary depending on the type and location. In the United States, most programs will cost around $30,000-$50,000 per year.
The educational level that physical therapists have to Passed
Many have a question of how many years to become a Physical Therapist. Basically, if you want to calculate the time first you have to count the time from when you took the goal to be a physical therapist. And this time began at your high school level.
Graduate from High School
Physical therapist education needs the core science courses which are science and math classes at your undergraduate college as well as at your physical therapy school. To be prepared for these highly challenging courses, high school students should challenge themselves academically while still in high school. Try taking many AP and honors classes – especially in science or math to remain competitive against other applicants when applying to colleges or graduate programs. You will need all the help you can get so try putting yourself out there by trying new things such as joining clubs that interest you like Math Club!
Graduate from an Undergraduate College
Out of all the requirements for becoming a physical therapist, grades are one of the most important. In order to be eligible at any physical therapy school, you need an undergraduate degree and GRE scores that meet their standards with competitive GPAs being necessary in some cases. However, other factors such as letters of recommendation or experience can also work favorably towards your application. Researching each individual institution is essential before applying because there may be variations among schools!
Graduate From Physical Therapy School or Med School
If you are asked what degree you need to be a physical therapist, the answer will be like. One way to become a physical therapist is by getting an advanced degree. But, those who have spent years in this field know that it’s changing fast! You can get either a Master’s or Doctorate of Physical Therapy (MPT) and both are accepted degrees for the profession. However, most schools now offer their graduate students DPTs instead of MPTs because they’re transitioning towards requiring all licensed PTs to be doctoral-level practitioners only.
So, the time it takes to become a physical therapist will depend on the program of choice. There are some schools that offer three-year programs, while others may have five-year degree courses.
Can Physical Therapists be called doctors?
Following the organization of The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), physical therapists are “movement experts who optimize quality of life through prescribed exercise, hands-on care, and patient education.”On the contrary, a doctor is a person who achieved a doctor’s degree and practices medicine as a physician, surgeon, or dentist. As you can see from the overview, there are a lot of similarities between physical therapists and doctors in terms of educational life, but many differences as well. You will no longer think of the question” Is a physical therapist a doctor?”. Since the difference in the working field between the physical therapist and doctor is clear, physical therapists can’t be called doctors.
What Do Physical Therapists Work?
Physical therapists are licensed professionals who help people with injuries and diseases recover from injury, illness, and surgery. They do not provide diagnosis nor prescribe medication but they do work with patients to help them improve their mobility, relieve pain, and decrease muscle spasms. Their work fields may become:
- Hospitals
- Inpatient rehabilitation facilities
- Education or research centers
- Fitness centers and sports training facilities.
- Schools etc. and many other different places.
Vertex Line
If you are interested in physical therapy, the question “Do physical therapists go to med school” may come to mind. After reading the blog attentively you can be satisfied with the answer to your question. Before starting the journey of being a physical therapist one should know elaborately everything about Physical Therapist.
