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MS-DPT Student Requirements
The practice of physical therapy can be physically demanding. Physical therapy students must have the sensory, motor, and cognitive abilities to complete the academic program and carry out the responsibilities required of a general physical therapist. Thus, all physical therapy students must demonstrate the ability to perform the following skills safely, reliably and efficiently, in compliance with legal and ethical standards standards of the profession:
- Utilize appropriate verbal, nonverbal and written communication in the academic and clinical environment with patients, families, faculty, medical staff and cohort students.
- Determine the physical therapy needs of any patient with perceived or potential movement dysfunction (infants, children, adolescents, adults, elderly).
- Develop and document a plan of care for a patient with movement dysfunctions.
- Perform appropriate physical therapy procedures used to assess the function of the cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal and neurological systems. These procedures include the assessment of cognitive/mental status, vital signs, patterns of breathing, wound status and state of repair/healing, endurance, strength, flexibility, joint motion, segmental length, girth and volume, sensation, tone, reflexes (normal and abnormal), coordination, balance and developmental stages, cranial and peripheral nerve function, movement patterns, gait patterns, pain, posture, functional abilities, and assistive device fit/use.
- Perform treatment procedures in the manner that is safe and appropriate for the patient's status, pathology and desired goals. These procedures include application of modalities (heating and electrotherapeutic), wound care (debridement, bandaging), exercise (passive, active, resistive, isotonic, isokinetic, isometric), exercise prescription, endurance training, soft tissue and joint mobilization, neurodevelopmental activities, retraining for fine motor skills, balance training, gait training, coordination training, positioning techniques, self care activities, activities of daily living, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiopulmonary rehabilitation (including postural drainage).
- Recognize the psychosocial impact of dysfunction and disability and integrate the needs of the patient and family into the plan of care.
- Demonstrate the ability to apply universal precautions.
- Participate in the process of scientific inquiry and critical review of the research literature.
- Apply teaching/learning theories and methods in the academic, health care and community environments.
Students with special needs may request reasonable accommodations to meet program and professional expectation. These arrangements must be requested prior to beginning the program.
To be eligible for licensure, applicants must satisfactorily complete an accredited MS program and have:
- no prior felony convictions
- no record for admission of disciplinary action relative to a certificate or license regulated by any state
- be free of addiction
- be willing to provide a photo and fingerprints necessary to register for a state qualifying examination
If you have a problem with 1-4, you should contact the Physical Therapy Board of California in Sacramento at (916) 263-2550 prior to applying for an educational program in physical therapy.
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