1. What is Physical Therapy & what do Physical Therapists do?
2. What should I major in to be a Physical Therapist?
3. What are the current prerequisites for PT schools?
4. What is the difference between an MPT, MSPT and DPT, and which one should I pursue?
5. What are some of the current legislative issues relevant to Physical Therapy?

What is Physical Therapy & what do Physical Therapists do?

This is one of the major things you can explore by joining the UT PTO and attending meetings.  You can also do some independent research, and the APTA website is a great place to start.  If you are considering a career in PT, the best way to really know what it is like is to volunteer in the setting (which is required as part of admission to PT school anyway!)  Check out our volunteer information page to find out contact info for PT places in the Austin area that accept student volunteers.

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What should I major in to be a Physical Therapist?

Pre- PT, much like pre-med, has no specific major at UT.  You may major in whatever you like during your undergraduate, provided you complete certain pre-requisites to apply for graduate school  (see our schools page for links to different graduate PT programs in Texas)  Some of the most common majors are biology, kinesiology, or psychology.  You can talk to an advisor in the Health Professions Office in PAI 5.03 about what is best for you.

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What are the current prerequisites for PT schools?

Every school is a little different.  The Health Professions Office  in PAI 5.03 has a nice sheet with prerequisites for all of the PT schools in Texas and specific UT classes that fulfill those requirements.  We no longer include the pre-requisites on our site, due to copyrights held by the HPO.  They prefer students to make an appointment to talk to an advisor so they can talk to you about it in person, since not every case is black and white.  However, if you are just interested in general requirements, or if you are looking into an out of state school, check the APTA website.

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What is the difference between an MPT, MSPT and DPT, and which one should I pursue?

Masters of Physical Therapy, Masters of Science in Physical Therapy, and Doctorate of Physical Therapy are all graduate-level degrees that allow you to practice PT (provided you pass a licensing exam).  Most Texas schools offer Masters programs.  The APTA has good information and latest news involving policy, health care reform, legislative issues, and updates..

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What are some of the current legislative issues relevant to Physical Therapy?

If you are interested in legal issues, or lobbying, visit the the APTA website for government affairs on the national and state level to find out more information and how you can get involved.  This is something you should be familiar with in preparation for PT school admissions interviews.

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