PRE-HEALTH

Pathways to Health Professions at South Dakota Mines

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists (PTs) are health care professionals who work with people who have been in accidents or have disabling conditions such as low-back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, stroke, and cerebral palsy.  They help patients who have had surgery or treatment restore function, improve balance and mobility, increase flexibility and coordination, and diminish pain. Physical therapists work in clinics, hospitals, schools, rehabilitation centers, and many make home visits. They are known for improving and restoring mobility without expensive surgery and reducing the need for medications through pain management. PTs are required to complete a graduate degree, either a master’s or clinical doctorate.  

Student Resources

Professional Associations and Accreditation

    Entrance Exam

    Most physical therapy schools require the Graduate Record Exam as an entrance exam. Learn more about the GRE here.

    Selected Regional Programs

    Important Note:

    Consult the admissions/application web pages of the professional programs for information on required pre-requisite courses and admissions tests, application procedures, and application deadlines. Some professional/graduate programs will not accept AP or CLEP credits, online courses, or correspondence courses for the core science and math pre-requisite requirements. Many programs also require that all pre-requisite coursework be completed within a certain period of time, e.g., within 5 years prior to application. Policies vary by school and program. Be sure you know the requirements