The Master of Physical Therapy (MPT or MSPT) is a post baccalaureate
degree
Degree may refer to:
As a unit of measurement
* Degree (angle), a unit of angle measurement
** Degree of geographical latitude
** Degree of geographical longitude
* Degree symbol (°), a notation used in science, engineering, and mathematics
...
conferred upon successful completion of an accredited
physical therapy professional education program.
United States
Successful candidates are then qualified to apply for and take the Physical Therapy national licensure exam (in their particular
state
State may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Literature
* ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State
* ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States
* ''Our S ...
); students who pass this exam are then licensed as Physical Therapists (and may typically use the designation MPT or simply PT).
Until the late-1990s, Physical therapy education was structured as a
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...
. Those who completed the program were qualified to apply for the exam (and to subsequently enter Physical Therapy practice). However, with the ongoing support of the
American Physical Therapy Association
The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a U.S-based individual membership professional organization representing more than 100,000 member physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students of physical therapy. The nonpr ...
(the accrediting organization for all American PT academic programs), the bachelor's degree in physical therapy was slowly replaced by the Master of Physical Therapy. Physical therapy education is currently transitioning to a clinical doctorate, the
Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, with the majority of current programs offering the DPT.
References
External links
The MPT discussed at About.comHomepage of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
{{Academic degrees
Physical therapy
Physical Therapy