Therapeutic Health Careers 101

Things to Consider:

1. Formal education and training typically require 3 years of PT school to achieve the required D.P.T. degree
2. Therapists can practice in the hospital setting or in private practice/physician groups, home health visits, or school settings
3. PT jobs can be physically demanding requiring mobility and strength
4. Excellent job growth is expected

Work Description
Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit physical disabilities. They may also promote physical conditioning and promote overall fitness particularly for accident victims, individuals suffering from back/neck pain, joint discomfort (arthritis), head injuries, and developmental physical limitations (e.g. cerebral palsy). PTs examine patients, measure strength and range of motion, and develop conditioning/treatment plans to produce an anticipated outcome. PTs may be confused with physiatrists who are physicians (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in physical rehabilitation. PTs and physiatrists often work together in-patient care. Approximately 60% of PTs work in hospital/in-patient care settings or in PT offices, 11% work in home health and 7% in nursing homes. Approximately 27% of PTs work part-time. All states regulate the practice of physical therapy through a variety of measures (which vary by state) including passing the national Physical Therapy Examination.

Basic Pre-Physical Therapy Curriculum
The following courses are required by most physical therapy schools in the United States as the minimum background needed for acceptance. Pre-physical therapy courses vary by school. Applicants seeking admission to a physical therapy program should contact the schools they are interested in attending for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements. Students may refer to the PT program directory associated with PTCAS, the centralized application service for PT schools, for specific requirements at the programs in which they are interested.

Major selection
Any undergraduate major is acceptable if you have completed the required pre-requisite courses and taken the application exam (GRE) if required. Application is highly competitive and therefore students should have a strong overall GPA (>3.0) and perform well (“B” or better) in pre-requisite courses to be in consideration.

GRE
Most schools require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which is a standardized test to gauge a student’s ability to do well in a graduate program. The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Appointments to take the test are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the GRE visit their website at http://www.gre.org.

Applying to Physical Therapy School
Most Physical Therapy schools participate in the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) which allows students to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple PT programs.

Pre-PT Advising

Students must regularly meet with their academic advisor in the major and are also encouraged to meet with a Health Professions Advisor (HPA) as they move forward with plans to pursue a career in physical therapy to provide additional support in compilation of a strong portfolio for admission consideration. Pre-PT applicants are encouraged to consider obtain a letter packet as a critical component of their application portfolio. A Letter Packet is a composite letter that includes full content of all required evaluator letters, but it does not additionally include a pre-health committee evaluation. In its place, we include an institutional cover sheet from the Pre-Health Advising Program. The Pre-Health Advising Program’s institutional cover sheet provides context to your academic and experiential preparation.

Things to Consider:

1. Formal education and training typically requires 2 – 4 years of OT school; therapists may currently practice with a Master’s level degree. The Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) has mandated that the entry-level degree requirement for the occupational therapist will move to the doctoral level by July 1, 2027
2. Therapists can practice in the hospital/in-patient setting or in private practice/physician groups, home health visits, or school settings
3. Occupational therapists must enjoy working with people with disabilities
4. Job growth overall is exceptional

Work Description
Occupational Therapists treat people with mental, physical, developmental or emotional disabilities. They employ a variety of techniques which are designed to help individuals to develop or improve daily living skills intended to allow patients to function within their homes. They also counsel patients and their family members on how to cope with the physical and emotional effects of their disability. The OT’s goal is to help clients establish a lifestyle of independence which allows them to be productive and as happy as possible in light of their limitations. OTs work in hospital or other in-patient facilities such as rehabilitation centers where they are central to the discharge planning process working closely with nurses, case managers, physical therapists, and speech language pathologists. They may also work in schools, private practices, or as independent practitioners who participate in at-home care for clients. Approximately 24% work in the hospital setting, 23% in outpatient settings, 13% in schools, and 10% in nursing homes. The OT career provides flexibility of work structure with approximately 30% working part-time. In all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam, OT practice is regulated. OTs must be licensed to practice which includes passing a certification exam.

Basic Pre-Occupational Therapy Curriculum
The following courses are required by most occupational therapy schools in the United States as the minimum background needed for acceptance. Pre-occupational therapy courses vary by school. Applicants seeking admission to an occupational therapy program should contact the schools they are interested in attending for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements. Students may also refer to the American Occupational Therapy Association website for accreditation, transition to doctoral status, and specific requirements for the programs in which they are interested. At present, these are the undergraduate preparation courses that are recommended for pre-OT students:

Major selection
Any undergraduate major is acceptable provided that you have completed the required pre-requisite courses and taken the application exam (GRE) if required. Application is competitive and therefore students should have a strong overall GPA (>3.0) and perform well (“B” or better) in pre-requisite courses to be in consideration.

GRE
Some schools may require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which is a standardized test to gauge a student’s ability to do well in a graduate program. The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Appointments to take the test are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the GRE visit their website at http://www.gre.org.

Applying to Occupational Therapy School
Most Occupational Therapy schools participate in the Occupational Therapist Centralized Application Service (OTCAS) which allows students to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple OT programs. Go to OTCAS for more information.

Pre-OT Advising

Students must regularly meet with their academic advisor in the major and are also encouraged to meet with a Health Professions Advisor (HPA) as they move forward with plans to pursue a career in occupational therapy to provide additional support in compilation of a strong portfolio for admission consideration. Pre-OT applicants are encouraged to consider obtain a letter packet as a critical component of their application portfolio. A Letter Packet is a composite letter that includes full content of all required evaluator letters, but it does not additionally include a pre-health committee evaluation. In its place, we include an institutional cover sheet from the Pre-Health Advising Program. The Pre-Health Advising Program’s institutional cover sheet provides context to your academic and experiential preparation.

Things to Consider:

1. Formal education includes 2-3 years of Speech Language graduate school to receive the master’s degree required for licensure and practice in most states in the U.S.
2. Speech-language pathologists work with people who cannot produce speech sounds, those with cognitive communication impairments, and those with difficulty swallowing
3. Excellent job opportunities are expected

Work Description
Speech-language pathologists evaluate, diagnose, treat and assist individuals of all ages with speech and swallowing disorders. Communication disorders include the inability to produce proper sounds, struggles with stuttering, problems with speech fluency, a desire to modify an accent or memory and other cognitive disorders that affect control of the muscles of vocalization. Approximately 50% of speech-language pathologists work in schools, 16% in general outpatient facilities, 11% in hospitals and 4% in nursing homes.

Basic Pre-Speech Language Pathology Curriculum
The basic course requirements for admission to SLP graduate programs are very specific and vary by program. For students who do not have undergraduate degrees in Speech and Hearing Sciences or Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), graduate programs determine (often on a case-by-case basis) what additional pre-requisites must be met for admission. Some programs require an undergraduate CSD degree. Villanova students interested in SLP should explore programs using the EdFind website of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). If you receive a bachelor’s degree from VU, you may need to complete a glide program (~ 1 year) in which you can complete the mandated pre-requisite courses for entry to graduate programs in SLP. This coursework may be integrated into your graduate program, taken online before starting the program, or transferred from another institution. Students should consult with the graduate program director at the schools they are applying to, in order to determine the specific requirements for each program.

Considering the nature of CSD degree coursework and that of the graduate SLP degree, these courses are recommended as preparation for the SLP pathway while you are an undergraduate at VU. Some courses may fulfill pre-requisites needed for graduate school, depending on the program (relevant topic areas are indicated below for courses on speech and language):

Major selection
Any undergraduate major is acceptable if you have completed the required pre-requisite courses and taken the application exam (GRE) if required. Application is highly competitive and therefore students should have a strong overall GPA (>3.0) and perform well (“C” or better) in pre-requisite courses to be in consideration.

GRE
Many schools require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which is a standardized test to gauge a student’s ability to do well in a graduate program. The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Appointments to take the test are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the GRE visit their website at https://www.ets.org/gre.

Applying to SLP School
Most schools participate in the Communication Sciences Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) which allows students to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs.

Pre-SLP Advising

Students must regularly meet with their academic advisor in the major and are also encouraged to meet with a Health Professions Advisor (HPA) as they move forward with plans to pursue a career in speech language pathology to provide additional support in compilation of a strong portfolio for admission consideration. Pre-SLP applicants are encouraged to consider obtain a letter packet as a critical component of their application portfolio. A Letter Packet is a composite letter that includes full content of all required evaluator letters, but it does not additionally include a pre-health committee evaluation. In its place, we include an institutional cover sheet from the Pre-Health Advising Program. The Pre-Health Advising Program’s institutional cover sheet provides context to your academic and experiential preparation.

Work Description
Audiologists evaluate, diagnose, treat and manage individuals of all ages with hearing and balance disorders. They implement a variety of technologies in assessment of function and often coordinate with physicians in patient care and remediation. Treatment plans may include fitting of hearing aids and other hearing assistance devices. When working with children with hearing disorders they may confer with speech language pathologists, teachers, and school administrators in order to meet the needs of the child in the classroom setting. Approximately 50% of audiologists work in general outpatient settings, 30% work in hospital/in-patient care settings and approximately 20% work in schools.

Basic Audiology Curriculum
The following courses are required by most audiology programs in the United States as the minimum background needed for acceptance. Applicants seeking admission to an Aud. D. program should contact the schools they are interested in attending for information on specific prerequisites and admission requirements. Students may also refer to the Academy of Speech-Language-Hearing Association website for specific requirements at the programs in which they are interested.

Major selection
Any undergraduate major is acceptable provided that you have completed the required pre-requisite courses and taken the application exam (GRE) if required. Application is highly competitive and therefore students should have a strong overall GPA (>3.0) and perform well (“C” or better) in pre-requisite courses to be in consideration.

GRE
Some schools may require students to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) which is a standardized test to gauge a student’s ability to do well in a graduate program. The GRE is given year-round at computer-based test centers in the U.S., Canada, and many other countries. Appointments to take the test are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the GRE visit their website at http://www.gre.org.

Applying to Audiology School
Most audiology schools participate in the Communication Sciences Disorders Centralized Application Service (CSDCAS) which allows students to use a single web-based application and one set of materials to apply to multiple programs. Go to the CSDCAS website to create an application.

Pre-OT Advising

Students must regularly meet with their academic advisor in the major and are also encouraged to meet with a Health Professions Advisor (HPA) as they move forward with plans to pursue a career in audiology to provide additional support in compilation of a strong portfolio for admission consideration. Pre-audiology applicants are encouraged to consider obtain a letter packet as a critical component of their application portfolio. A Letter Packet is a composite letter that includes full content of all required evaluator letters, but it does not additionally include a pre-health committee evaluation. In its place, we include an institutional cover sheet from the Pre-Health Advising Program. The Pre-Health Advising Program’s institutional cover sheet provides context to your academic and experiential preparation.