title: Review of the postbaccalaureate degree for professional entry into physical therapy.
abstract: The American Physical Therapy Association has endorsed the postbaccalaureate entry-level degree for the physical therapy profession. This article reviews the purpose of entry-level professional training and contrasts various options of educational systems with degree structures. Professional economic, political, and educational factors are considered. After analysis of these variables, the Master of Physical Therapy degree is my recommendation for the postbaccalaureate entry-level degree for physical therapists.
mesh_terms: D004500:Education, Graduate / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D006281:Health Occupations / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence; D014481:United States