How to become a physical therapist

1. 1Earn a bachelor's degree with the DPT prerequisites

   Time: 4 yearsCost: Undergraduate tuitionSources 2, 1

   Most DPT programs require a bachelor's degree, but not a particular major. Kinesiology, exercise science and biology are common choices because they cover much of what programs ask for: anatomy and physiology, chemistry, physics, biology, statistics and psychology. Each program sets its own list and minimum grades, so check the schools you plan to apply to early. A few universities offer 3+3 tracks or freshman-entry programs that move straight from undergraduate study into the DPT.

2. 2Get observation hours and apply through PTCAS

   Time: About 1 year before entryCost: Application feesSources 2

   Most programs accept applications through the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS), which lets you send one application to several accredited programs. Many programs ask for hours spent observing or volunteering with a licensed PT, often in more than one setting, such as a hospital and an outpatient clinic. Expect to submit transcripts, letters of recommendation and essays. Apply to several schools and confirm each program's deadlines and prerequisites in the PTCAS directory.

3. 3Complete a CAPTE-accredited DPT program

   Time: About 3 yearsCost: $74,348 (public in-state mean) to $129,942 (private mean)Sources 3, 2, 4

   DPT programs mix classroom and lab work in anatomy, biomechanics, neuroscience, pharmacology and examination techniques with full-time clinical rotations. In CAPTE's 2025 data, programs averaged 87.6 weeks of classroom and lab time and 34.7 weeks of full-time clinical education. Rotations usually cover settings such as acute care hospitals and outpatient orthopedics. Accreditation by CAPTE matters, because it is what makes you eligible for the national exam.

4. 4Pass the National Physical Therapy Examination

   Time: Usually within a few months of graduationCost: $597 ($485 FSBPT fee + $112 Prometric fee)Sources 4, 5, 3

   The NPTE is a computer-based, multiple-choice exam run by FSBPT and given at Prometric test centers. Questions come in sections of 45 and include case scenarios. Your school confirms you are on track to graduate, and your state board approves you to test; FSBPT allows testing up to 90 days before graduation, though some states are stricter. FSBPT allows no more than three attempts in 12 months and six in a lifetime. In 2025, 86.3% of first-time takers from accredited programs passed.

5. 5Get your state license

   Time: A few weeks to a few monthsCost: State license feeSources 6, 1, 8

   Apply to the physical therapy board in the state where you will work. Requirements beyond the NPTE vary: some states require a jurisprudence exam or FSBPT's jurisprudence assessment module on their practice law, and some require a criminal background check. Use the CareerOneStop License Finder to reach your state board. If you later want to practice in other states, check whether they belong to the PT Compact, which grants practice privileges without a separate full license.

6. 6Consider a residency or board certification

   Time: About 1 year (residency); later in your career (certification)Cost: Varies by programSources 1, 9

   Residencies are optional and usually last about a year. They give new PTs mentored training in an area such as orthopedics, neurology or sports. The American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties certifies PTs in 10 specialty areas, including orthopaedics, geriatrics, pediatrics and sports. To qualify you need 2,000 hours of direct patient care in the specialty within the past 10 years, or an accredited clinical residency in that area, and then you must pass the specialty exam.

Programs, tuition and graduates’ earnings

U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (most recent cohorts, released 2026-10-15). Scorecard groups programs by 4-digit field, so a row can include related programs. Tuition is the median published undergraduate tuition and fees of the colleges offering the program (shown only for undergraduate credentials); debt is the median of programs’ median federal loan debt at completion; earnings are the national median for the field and credential four years after completion.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Clinical reasoning

You have to sort out whether a patient's knee pain comes from the knee, the hip or the back, and change the plan when progress stalls.

Clear teaching

Most recovery happens between visits, so patients must understand and actually do their home exercises.

Physical stamina

A full day of standing, demonstrating movements and helping people transfer and walk is hard on the body.

Manual skill

Joint mobilization and soft-tissue techniques depend on precise hand placement and pressure.

Documentation

Insurers and Medicare pay for therapy based on notes that show measurable progress toward goals.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: reading comprehension, active listening, speaking, critical thinking, writing.

Training cost

$74.9K–$131K

Before financial aid

Time

7 years

Typical path

Median pay

$102,760

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

1.4–2.5 yrs

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

DPT program only. Low: CAPTE's 2025 mean total cost of a public in-state DPT program, $74,348 (tuition and fees, room and board excluded), plus the NPTE fee of $485 and the Prometric seat fee of $112. High: the mean for private programs, $129,942, plus the same $597 in exam fees. Not included: the bachelor's degree, application fees, state license and jurisprudence fees, books and living costs. For reference, the median federal loan debt of graduates of these programs is $117,112 (College Scorecard).

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• Board-certified specialist or clinic director

  After a few years of practice, PTs can earn ABPTS specialist certification or move into running a clinic or rehab department, which adds staffing and budget work to patient care.

• Occupational therapist$100,330 median

  A separate graduate degree in occupational therapy and the NBCOT exam are needed; a DPT does not transfer, but anatomy and rehab experience help.

• Healthcare administrator$123,860 median

  PTs who manage rehab departments sometimes add a master's in health administration or business to move into broader hospital leadership.

• Orthopedic surgeon$358,550 median

  This requires starting over with medical school, the MCAT and a 5-year orthopedic residency, so it is rare, but some PTs make the switch.