A Look at The Path to Becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy

The field of physical therapy continues to grow in terms of its roles and responsibilities in health care. Physical therapists have become key players in a comprehensive health care team, providing a wide spectrum of services that are vital to public health. If you are passionate about health, wellness, and helping others improve their quality of life choosing physical therapy as a career can be highly rewarding for you. For a rewarding career in physical therapy, one needs to exhibit skills such as compassion, problem-solving, critical thinking, and possess the ability to work effectively both individually and as part of a team.

Pursuing a DPT degree is a great idea for a medical professional who enjoys interacting with different people. Most professionals will go on to work in a 1-1 in-person environment where they must get to know a person’s symptoms and devise a plan of attack. It can be extremely rewarding to see a person go from consistently struggling with discomfort to moving freely once again. Goal-oriented people will often thrive as DPTs because they are willing to put in the time it takes to reach a solution. Many doctors will adjust a treatment plan throughout a patient’s journey based on the feedback they are receiving from the patient. Those who are not easily discouraged and love to tackle a challenge can thrive in their careers and reap the benefits that come from helping others.

As with any other worthy endeavor, there will be challenges along the way. Embarking on a career in physical therapy requires a commitment to furthering one’s education and putting in hours of work to achieve their goal. The good news is that the reward at the end of graduation can be a lifelong career of improving the lives of others. Not many professions can compare to the personal satisfaction that comes with physical therapy.

To that end, let’s look at what awaits prospective DPT students so you can be well prepared before enrolling in the DPT program at Western University of Health Sciences.

What Does a Doctor of Physical Therapy Do?

Physical therapists excel in optimizing human movement, fostering overall wellness, facilitating recovery from injuries, and providing preventative strategies to mitigate further harm. Physical therapists examine each person and then develop a treatment plan to improve their ability to move, reduce or manage pain, restore function, and prevent disability. They leverage hands-on techniques, prescribe custom-made exercises, and engage in patient education, all of which contribute significantly to an individual’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Physical therapists diagnose and treat individuals of all ages. Many patients have injuries, disabilities, or other health conditions that need treatment. PTs also care for people who simply want to become healthier and to prevent future problems.

Not all of your work as a DPT will necessarily revolve around traditional exercise-based therapy. Dedicated professionals stay updated on new modalities and may employ methods such as electric stimulation or ultrasound if deemed suitable for the patient’s needs.

Patients in various settings may require a DPT’s help regaining joint mobilization. Depending on their skillsets or personal motivations, DPTs may choose to utilize their skills in helping patients within any of the following settings and more:

• Orthopedic hospitals
• Spinal cord injury clinics
• Outpatient PT practices
• Nursing homes
• Personal dwellings (homecare therapy)
• Educational facilities
• Sports medicine clinics
• Sports and fitness facilities, workplaces
• Neurological rehab clinics

The Path to Becoming a Doctor of Physical Therapy

To become a DPT, students must graduate from a three-year program at an accredited facility, having acquired enough knowledge to pass their licensure exams. Specific requirements may vary from one institution to another. However, guidelines set by accreditation boards and the American Council of Academic Physical Therapy ensure that most institutions share similar prerequisites.

For instance, prerequisites for new DPT students at WesternU include the following:

• Two semesters of physics labs
• Two semesters of chemistry labs
• Non-introductory human anatomy lab
• Non-introductory human physiology lab
• Two psychology courses
• One three-credit course in English composition
• One three-credit course on statistics

How to Handle The Challenges That Come with Earning a DPT Degree

Studying health sciences requires a true passion for helping others and a curiosity about the human body and its workings. During the course of DPT degree education, students are often fascinated by how much they previously did not know about the physical form. One of the most rewarding aspects of pursuing a DPT degree is that you never stop learning. Each patient is different and requires a unique approach to rehabilitation.

On the path to a DPT degree, time management will be critical. Students who work a job while attending school must become accustomed to balancing several responsibilities at once. Taking a few minutes in the morning to schedule the day can do wonders to help a person manage stress. People feel stressed when they feel out of control. The good news is that sticking to a schedule and setting personal goals can alleviate that pressure. As important as it is to study, be sure to schedule some free time for relaxation and rejuvenation throughout the journey. Taking time for oneself is a great way to refocus and eliminate distractions when the time comes to get back to studying.

A Few More Time Management Tips

The accreditation commission requires a fast-paced and time-intensive curriculum for the benefit of students. Every graduate student should know that feeling overwhelmed at the onset is perfectly normal. They should also know they would not be accepted to a program like the DPT Degree program at WesternU without being completely prepared to rise to the occasion.

Starting off the process, students should block out designated times that are strictly for studying. The digital age has made it so that distractions are ever present in the form of cell phones, tablets, and even laptops that provide easy access to the news and social media apps. By placing the phone in another room or turning on do not disturb, the allotted study time can be much more beneficial. It’s also not a bad idea to block out time where it’s okay to catch up on emails, go out for a walk or simply watch your favorite streaming platform. Blocking out designated time periods is a great time management tool.

Once a schedule is created, the next step is to keep to it consistently. No course load is overbearing when it is divided into manageable chunks. Consistency also requires consistently attending class lectures. Some classes may also be digital, which provides the opportunity to record the lecture. Both visual learners and those who learn best by listening can benefit from these video recordings.

Pathway to a DPT Degree at WesternU

WesternU recognizes the above challenges and works to provide an easier pathway for students. Despite providing a rigorous curriculum, WesternU also keep things intriguing with assignments such as spending 48 hours in a wheelchair to better understand patients’ struggles.

Provided with access to early clinical experiences and a high faculty-to-student ratio of knowledgeable professionals, our DPT students receive the tools to achieve far more than simply passing their licensure exams. They learn how to develop genuine empathy with patients and provide the best care possible.

Prospective DPTs wishing to learn a collaborative, patient-focused, and problem-solving approach to physical therapy should apply today for more information on the three-year program offered at our California and Oregon locations.

Some More Perks of Pursuing a DPT Degree at WesternU

WesternU offers access to an experienced faculty with practice in the field and in the classroom. In fact, most faculty members hold doctoral-level degrees and/or have become American Physical Therapy Assocation board-certified clinical specialists. Because the University believes in the need for student-teacher interaction, there is a much higher faculty-to-student ratio than in typical DPT programs.

To make sure students can put what they are learning to good use, WesternU students are integrated into different clinical environments every few semesters. Access to the incredible staff of WesternU can pay major dividends, especially around the time a student is preparing for graduation. Many core faculty members hold leadership positions at the local and state levels. Students who choose not to stay near our beautiful campus locations can still benefit from teachers who have connections across the country and throughout the globe.

WesternU has a long tradition of educating students to treat patients as people first. This is evident in the way students are respected as colleagues as they progress throughout the DPT program. There’s great energy across the WesternU campus and a real sense of camaraderie that carries on as careers progress. Students who need access to additional tutoring or disability services can take advantage of those services during their WesternU tenure.

The University is committed to welcoming medical professionals from a diverse array of backgrounds. Students are able to access a number of volunteer opportunities within the local community and will remain a member of the WesternU family throughout their professional pursuits.