Physical therapy is an important health-related profession that requires many years of intensive study and training.

Schools across the U.S. offer undergraduate and graduate programs in physical therapy, admission to which is quite competitive. Students keen on pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in physical therapy are advised to take courses in subjects like anatomy, biology, chemistry, and physics. Several schools also require an applicant to have done some physical therapy volunteer work.

Once admitted to a physical therapy program, a student is expected to start with basic science courses such as biology, chemistry, and physics. In time, specialized courses such as biomechanics, neuroanatomy, human growth and development, examination techniques, and therapeutic procedures are introduced. While students receive adequate classroom and laboratory instruction, they are also exposed to a fair amount of supervised clinical experience. A physical therapist is also expected to develop compassion and strong interpersonal skills in order to educate patients and their families about treatments.