PT School Pre-Requisites

I am also getting my pre-req’s together. As far as the clinic experience goes, does anyone know if my experience as a massage therapist working in a chiropractic clinic would suffice? I have been a working MT for 3 years and working alongside Chiros for 2.

Hi Leslie,
I don’t think schools will consider time spent working with a chiro towards actual physical therapy observation hours. Since chiros can’t provide physical therapy services to patients it shouldn’t count as physical therapy observation.

Many schools require your hours to come from and be documented that they were completed with a licensed physical therapist.

However, your work experience can be helpful in your application process based on the working knowledge you have with your clients. PT programs these days are competitive and difficult to get in to so I would get some hours in with a practicing PT. Its also a good idea to observe in at least a couple different treatment setttings.

Hope this helps

Jasmine it sounds like you are much more organized than I was when I went through the whole application process!

Kudos to you for being organized…a true sign of a future PT student

Thanks, Jennifer!

Hi all,

I’m a 25-y/o college grad aspiring to become a PT. I am hoping that there is someone in my situation that I can take advice from.

You see, I come from a very different educational background. I studied marketing management in college under the impression that possessing a career in the business world was a stepping stone towards personal success. My parents and many peers of mine egged me on to study what was hot at the time. After two years of study, I began to lose motivation. I felt like I was working towards something that I knew I was not meant to do. I began to lack desire, and as a result, my grades slipped. Unhappy with where I was going, I decided to finish up my courses and graduated college with poor GPA and no academic achievements.

After much self-evaluation over the last few years, I finally decided that PT was a field that I can see myself being passionate about. There are a few reasons why I found PT very appealing. 1- I’ve always imagined myself helping others in a clinical hands-on kind of way. 2- I find the human body intriguing not only for the power that any given anatomy can possess, but also for it’s physiological connection to the human mind. 3- I have a deep, personal connection to my own human anatomy, which has seen great change over the last few years.

However, upon doing much research, many PT grad programs that I have inquired to left me very discouraged. I have been told by particular schools that if I were to apply to their PT grad programs, I would be skipped over immediately, with no shot for entry, because of my low GPA and lack of experience. As rejected as I’ve been feeling, I couldn’t help but think that there has to be some way to make this seemingly impossible goal a reality.

I just recently reached out to the director of a PT facility about volunteering, which seems to be the only option I have at this point. I am willing to work hard and dedicate my life to this profession, if the chance is given to me. I am hoping that this is a good start, and would appreciate any advice that is shared.

Thank you!

Hi Vicky,
Since I also haven’t applied to PT school yet, I’m not sure how much advice I can give you, but is retaking some of the pre-req’s to try to improve your grades an option? Either way, I think volunteering and getting PT experience is a good start.
Good luck!
Jasmine