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Make it happen!
Does a career as a physical therapist sound like it might be for you? If so, here's an overview of the coursework you'll need to get you on the path.
High School
Get a jump start in high school. Pursue a strong college preparatory program. Check with your school counselor to make sure you earn enough credits in the core curriculum to meet college entrance requirements. A core curriculum includes courses in English, mathematics and the sciences. You will also need to take either the ACT or SAT test for college admission.
College
Let's use UNMC's Physical Therapy Education Program as an example. Before you enter the Physical Therapy program at UNMC, you need to complete a minimum of 90 semester hours, or 135 quarter hours, at an accredited college or university. A baccalaureate degree is not required for admission to UNMC's program.
Your undergraduate coursework must include the following disciplines:
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Anatomy and physiology - One course of each |
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Must be lecture/lab courses in human or vertebrate anatomy and physiology |
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May be taken separately or as two combined courses |
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Chemistry - One year |
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Must be lecture/lab courses |
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Physics - One year |
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Must be lecture/lab courses |
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Must include mechanics, heat, light, sound and electricity |
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In addition, you should take a balance of electives
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In addition, you should take a balance of electives in the liberal arts. Strive for a balance of coursework in the humanities and the social and natural sciences.
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Professional Education
After you've completed 90 hours of undergraduate work, what's next?
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First, you'll need to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test.
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Upon meeting the preliminary application requirements, you'll be eligible to apply to UNMC's Physical Therapy Education Program.
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If you are accepted, you may then enroll in UNMC's three-year program. |
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The curriculum includes lecture-laboratory courses, seminars, independent study opportunities, laboratory practical examinations and supervised clinical practice. |
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As a student, you will complete five clinical rotations at affiliation sites located throughout Nebraska and the United States
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After successfully completing the physical therapy professional program, you'll receive a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree.
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At this point, you will need to take the National Licensure Examination (NLE).
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After graduation, some physical therapists choose to specialize in areas such as neurology, pediatrics, cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, orthopedics, sports and electrophysiology. If you decide to specialize, you will need to pass a specialization examination in addition to the NLE.
If you would like to learn about the University of Nebraska Medical Center's Physical Therapy Program, visit our School of Allied Health Professions Web site.
You can also find more physical therapy links in Link-O-Rama.
Financial Aid Options
The University of Nebraska Medical Center has financial aid programs to assist students with their financial needs.
For more information regarding financial assistance, visit the UNMC Student Services Financial Aid Web page. Or, contact the UNMC Office of Financial Aid at 402-559-4199.
You can also find more financial aid links in Link-O-Rama. |
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©2002 UNMC School of Allied Health Professions
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