Balance Physical Therapy

How do you go about becoming a physical therapist?What colleges in Chicago offer physical therapy program?

My best friend is interested in becoming a physical therapist.She has been to 2 community colleges here in Chicago to see if they offer the physical therapy program but unfortunately they don't. How does one go about becoming a physical therapist? What colleges/schools in Chicago or in the suburbs offers a physical therapy program?

Public Comments

1. PT is a graduate degree. PTA is an associates degree. PT schools in IL are Illinois Bradley University (A4, D6, F1, PR) Governors State University (A4, D6, F1, PU) Midwestern University (A4, D6, F1, PR) Northern Illinois University (D5, F1, PU) Northwestern University (A4, D6, F1, PR) Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science (A4, D6, F1, PR) The University of Illinois at Chicago (A4, D6, PU) PTA programs Illinois Black Hawk College (D2, F1, PU) College of DuPage (D2, F5, PU) Elgin Community College (F1, PU) Illinois Central College (D2, F1, PU) Kaskaskia College (D2, F1, PU) Lake Land College (D2, F1, PU) Morton College (A3, D2, F1, PU) Oakton Community College (D2, F1, PU) Southern Illinois University (D2, F1, PU) Southwestern Illinois College (A3, D2, F1, PU) Good info on a career in PT/PTA is http://www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Career_as_PT_PTA&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=242&ContentID=31095
2. PT is a graduate program. This means, she will need to go beyond community college, earn a bachelor's degree and apply to a PT program as a graduate student. The closest programs to Chicago include UIC, Midwestern, Govener's State, Northwestern, Rosland Franklin University and Northern Illinois University for the graduate programs. However, if your friend is interested in becoming a physical therapist assistant (PTA), this can be completed at the community college level with a two year degree. The closest programs to Chicago are Moton community college (Cicero), Elgin Community College, College of DuPage, and Oakton Community College (Arlington Heights area). Long story short, if she wants to become a PT, she can start at any community college or university by taking the prerequisite courses required for entrance into a PT program. After 3 or 4 years in college, she can apply to the graduate program. I'd also suggest she go to the APTA website at www.apta.org to view schools and get links to their websites.