Your Physical Therapist’s Education

People often are curious what type of education physical therapists have. Physical therapy education actually started out as a 4-year bachelors degree, but soon progressed to a master’s degree. Currently physical therapy education is a doctorate level program. PT’s typically get a 4-year undergraduate degree in a science or health related field, and then progress to graduate school. In graduate school they spend 3 full years learning in the classroom and completing internships.

During graduate school they take a multitude of classes that consist of anatomy and physiology, neuroscience, kinesiology, exercises physiology, pathology, pharmacology, radiology/imaging, medical screening, cardiovascular/pulmonary, acute care, pediatrics, sports medicine, sports medicine, ethics, business management, clinical reasoning, and evidence-based practice to name a few.

Just like an eye doctor (Doctor of Optometry) or dentist (Doctor of Dental Surgery), PT’s finish school with a doctorate degree in Physical Therapy. These degrees are advanced professional degrees that allow practitioners to practice in their respective fields. Sometimes are degrees are confused with the degrees that physicians obtain (Doctor of Medicine, MD), but they are not the same.

Physical therapists are experts in treating musculoskeletal injuries and pathology related to movement. We are not trained to directly treat or manage systemic and complex diseases like physicians are.

One of the great things about Apex Physical Therapy & Wellness is that we really value continuing education. Our therapists spend a lot of time traveling all over the country attending courses to grow their knowledge to be able to provide the highest quality of care to our patients.

Apex has therapists with advanced training in manual therapy, women’s health, dry needling, vestibular disorders, and orthopedics to name a few. If you have questions about other services we offer, feel free to give us a call anytime!