Physical Therapy Schools can be Physically Tough

by Melissa Butheau

At 16, Stephen Barbuto, now a physical therapy student at the University of Washington (Seattle, WA), saw a physical therapist to mend his broken foot. He then realized his calling. "I knew when I finished my rehabilitation that this was what I wanted to do," he explains.

Now, at age 33, he is working toward his goal, and will graduate in June 2006 with a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT).

Like any other medical program, getting accepted into physical therapy schools is tough. "Typically 200-300 applicants apply each year, and only 30 are accepted," says Stephen of UW's program. His GRE scores, grades, essay, and letters of recommendation were all considered.

As students are required to earn a bachelor's degree in any field prior to admittance into physical therapy schools, Stephen says his classmates include former lawyers, engineers, and computer programmers.

Once in, the hard work continues for the duration of the physical therapy program, which is nearly three years. Then you'll be closer to a career as a physical therapist.

Stephen's day begins at 8 a.m., and consists of three two-hour classes plus a meeting to discuss his doctoral project. Classes, clerkships, and internships prepare him for what he'll deal with on a daily basis, such as patient safety, evaluation, treatment and documentation.

Once home, he puts in more time hitting the books. Physical therapy schools are physically tough! "I study regularly three to four hours a night," Stephen says. But, he adds, it's worth it.

"Being a physical therapis t is not all glamour and glitz, but it is an honorable profession that you can make a rewarding lifelong career in," says Stephen. "I can't think of anything else I'd rather do."