Masters Degree in Physical Therapy

Physical therapists are required to have a master´s degree in physical therapy from a university or college that is accredited by the American Physical Therapy Association's Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education in order to obtain a license. The master´s degree in physical therapy has only been available since the late 1990s and some schools now offer a clinical doctorate degree in this field. Therapists who received their bachelor´s degrees before 2000 are recognized as licensed physical therapists.

Masters Degree in Physical Therapy - Facts

Students applying for masters program in physical therapy must have a bachelor´s degree from an accredited college or university. The degree can be from another area of study, but science degrees, especially in biology or related subjects, are preferred. A GPA of at least 3.0 is required for all students entering the program. Applicants are required to take and pass the GRE and provide letters of recommendation and a written essay. At least 90 hours of coursework is required and students must also have supervised clinical sessions at a doctor's office or hospital. It takes two years to complete the program.

Top Schools Offering a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy

The five top ranked schools for a master´s in physical therapy are the University of Southern California, the University of Pittsburgh, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Delaware and Baylor University. Permanent residents of a state may receive a lower tuition rate or tuition assistance at state colleges and universities. Other top ranked state universities are the University of Iowa, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Florida. Have a look at Business Weekly for up to date rankings.

Work Possible for a Masters Degree in Physical Therapy

Physical therapists work in hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation facilities, physician´s offices and medical clinics and they work closely with physicians to develop treatment plans for patients. Physical therapists may specialize in a particular area of medicine such as orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, geriatrics, and sports medicine. Physical therapists who are self employed and those who work for public health agencies may have to travel to patient's homes to treat them.

Salary and Outlook in Therapy

The median salary for physical therapists is between $71,400 and $77,630 per year. Those working in home health care services have the highest salaries. There were no figures available for therapists working in public health agencies or government health facilities. Salaries are affected by geographical location, specialty and experience.

The predicted rate of growth for all jobs in the United States over the next decade is 12%; however, the predicated rate of growth for jobs in physical therapy is 30% in the next 10 years. Physical therapy is one of the fastest growing fields in the country and there are currently more positions than qualified applicants.

The reasons for the rapid expansion of this field are more liberal reimbursement policies from insurers and government healthcare programs and a growing elderly population requiring therapeutic services. Advances in medical technology are increasing the rate of survival for accident victims and neonates with birth defects and these groups will also require physical therapy.