If you are a Colorado resident with an interest in attending physical therapy school, you should know that you have many different options and opportunities available to you in the state. Which ones will be the best fit for you will depend upon where you are currently at in your education and what your next step is.? In order to help you make those tough decisions and to find the right school, we?ve provided a few simple tips that every prospective physical therapist in the state should know.
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Tip #1: Choose a Strong Undergraduate Institution
If you are truly starting your education from scratch, then your first step is to pursue an undergraduate degree. While many colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade or technical schools do not offer undergraduate programs in physical therapy specifically, your best bet is to either find one that does or to choose a school with a related program. Any kind of behavioral, bodily, or general science is a good choice. Some students also choose a pre-medical course of study, and some schools do offer pre-physical therapy programs. Remember that your undergraduate degree lays the foundation for the rest of your education, so you?ll want to make sure you earn it from the right institution.
Tip #2: Earn Your Master?s
Those who already have an undergraduate degree are eligible for master?s degree programs in physical therapy. A master?s degree is an excellent way to get started in the field. Master?s level programs are completed, on average, in about one to two years, and qualify you to work as an actual physical therapist, something no undergraduate degree can do. Unfortunately, however, Colorado does not offer any accredited master?s degree programs in physical therapy. This is not something to blame the state for; it?s just that the majority of accredited physical therapy programs are at the doctorate level. If you have your heart set on a master?s, though, look for an accredited online program or a school based in another state that offers an accredited program online.
Tip #3: Go All the Way with a Doctorate Degree
Once you have a master?s, you can either start working in the field right away or continue your education. Whether you want to get in some experience and then go back to school or whether you want to just go straight through and get that PhD doesn?t matter. What matters is that you do get your doctorate degree. While this degree is not absolutely necessary to work in the field, having one will practically ensure success and a long and happy career, and will greatly increase your job prospects. The good news, too, is that Colorado is home to two fine institutions offering accredited doctorate degree programs in physical therapy. These include Regis University and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, both of which are located in the capital city of Denver.
Tip #4: Take Advantage of Experiential Learning Opportunities
Should you decide to attend one of the schools listed above, you?ll be glad to know that both are well known for offering many great experiential learning opportunities to their students. This means you might have the option of taking on an internship. Your internship may be without pay, with pay, and/or for classroom credit. In any case, it will help you to start building a resume early on and to increase your practical knowledge in the field, making it easier for you to find a job when you graduate. Be aware too that there are some internships and other experiential learning opportunities available to those who have recently graduated.
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Tip #5: Don?t Be Afraid of Online Schooling
While we have definitely played up the positive side of Colorado?s fine schools, don?t feel pressured to choose one of those schools if neither sounds like the best fit for you personally. If you feel that way, and if you don?t want to leave the state, you still have options thanks to the work of online schooling. Online schools often get an unfairly bad reputation, but there are truly a lot of good ones out there. Do your research, and you can have a wonderful experience with online schooling.
Source: http://www.ptschools.com/5-tips-on-getting-started-at-the-right-colorado-physical-therapy-school/
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