Inspired by her own experiences with sports injuries as a child, Samantha S. found solace and strength in the care of her physical therapist. 

鈥淚 made a really great connection with my (physical therapist), and what I did with (physical therapy) helped me become a better person, both physically and mentally,鈥� she recalled. 

This connection aided her recovery and ignited her passion for helping others achieve their full potential. And at the heart of her studies at 国产主播鈥檚 Center for Graduate Studies in Los Angeles, Samantha has discovered a nurturing environment that fosters growth and support. 

鈥淭he first time I was here, I was really scared because I had no idea what the postgraduate life was going to bring,鈥� she admitted, but that fear quickly dissipated as she found herself embraced by a community that saw her as more than just a number. 

鈥淵ou鈥檙e literally a person here that could make a really big impact on somebody鈥檚 life, and being in a cohort full of 44 people, we’re going to be in the same classes. There’s no competition,鈥� she said, reflecting on her experience with the Doctor of Physical Therapy program faculty and her peers. 鈥淚 just love the overall community because we are here just to help every single one of us.鈥� 

Samantha鈥檚 dedication extends beyond the classroom. As a PT Movement Ambassador and an activities coordinator in the DPT student government, she plays a vital role in educating others about the diverse opportunities within the field of physical therapy. 

鈥淲e represent 国产主播, but we鈥檙e just representing PT as future physical therapists,鈥� she explained. 

Her involvement in community outreach, particularly in educating younger students about PT and occupational therapy, has been both challenging and rewarding. 

鈥淟earning how to communicate with children is a really hard skill鈥� but it鈥檚 a really good thing to learn,鈥� she said. 

Samantha鈥檚 ultimate goal is to specialize in pediatrics, where she hopes to bring joy and positivity to the lives of young patients. 

鈥淎s a physical therapy student, I hope to bring happiness,鈥� she added. 

Her passion for connecting with children and her desire to leave a lasting impact is evident in her every word. Samantha鈥檚 advice to future PT students is to take it 鈥渄ay by day鈥� and to prioritize their mental well-being. 

鈥淵ou鈥檙e learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淒on鈥檛 be too hard on yourself because, in the end, you鈥檙e becoming a great clinician.鈥� 

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Despite setbacks and rejections, Bria J.’s passion for physical therapy led her on a remarkable journey toward achieving her goal of being a physical therapist.

Bria experienced the fulfilling and impactful nature of the profession firsthand when she needed physical therapy for a patella dislocation as a freshman in college.

The compassionate treatment she received inspired her to provide the same level of support and motivation for others.

鈥淚 was surprised at how much my PT cared about me,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 like a regular doctor鈥檚 visit, and I wanted to be able to help people like that too.鈥�

Bria returned to the same clinic after completing her undergraduate degree, but this time as an aide. Patients frequently mistook her for a PT, she said, due to her dedication and enthusiasm for the field.

鈥淚 would tell them I was an aide,鈥� Bria said. 鈥淎nd they would ask when was I going to go to school to become a PT.鈥�

When Bria initially applied to doctoral physical therapy programs, she was turned down. Instead of giving up, she viewed the setbacks as opportunities for growth and reflection and used that time to enhance her academic standing and refine her application.

鈥淚 told myself, 鈥楾hey鈥檙e going to accept me now or later, but I鈥檓 getting in,鈥欌�� she said.

After finally receiving her acceptance letter from 国产主播’s DPT program, Bria said she felt a profound sense of validation and excitement.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been rewarding,鈥� Bria said. 鈥淵ou get to work with so many different people, not just in your rotations, but your classmates in general.鈥�

Now in her final year at WCU, Bria is excited to continue her personal growth and career development. Her advice to others is to never stop believing in yourself.  

鈥淚f you really want to do it, don鈥檛 give up,鈥� she said.

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If you鈥檙e considering a career in movement and mobility healthcare, it鈥檚 possible you鈥檙e torn between becoming an occupational therapist (OT) or a physical therapist (PT). It鈥檚 even possible that, early in your search for a degree program, you aren鈥檛 yet familiar with the differences between the two.

Both professions have a meaningful impact on patients that can significantly enhance quality of life. Both address movement and mobility of the body. But the particular objectives, methodologies and patient outcomes of OTs and PTs are distinct and designed around distinctive healthcare needs.

To better understand the difference between an OT and a PT, we鈥檝e provided an overview of each: what they do, what they study, and how to become one. Then we鈥檒l do a comparison between the two.

Let鈥檚 start with occupational therapists:

What Is an Occupational Therapist (OT)?

Occupational therapists (OTs) are skilled healthcare professionals who help patients with motor-function challenges gain greater autonomy in their daily lives, including at work, home, and school. They also treat developmentally disabled patients to help develop organizational and social coping skills.

In practice, OTs work with a wide range of populations who have permanent disabilities that affect movement and daily function, from patients with conditions such as cerebral palsy to older patients whose mobility has become limited with age. Often, this work involves educating and acclimating patients to the use of assistive and adaptive medical equipment and technology, like wheelchairs or eating devices.

In order to become a practicing OT, you must earn a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT). An MSOT course of study includes academic, clinical, and research coursework in topics that typically include occupational performance, evidence and technology, wellness interventions, and fieldwork.

You can also choose to go beyond the master鈥檚 level OT program to earn your Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD). An OTD program focuses on the integration of scholarly knowledge in professional practice, providing students with a deepened engagement with practice skills, innovation, occupational therapy and occupational science theory, and research.

For a more complete look at OT courses, you can view WCU鈥檚 curriculum and/or OTD curriculum.

Once you complete OT school, you must pass the Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR庐) exam and any additional state-required certification in order to begin licensed practice.

We invite you to read our dedicated Guide to Occupational Therapy, with more details on an occupational therapy degree, OT jobs and what they entail, MSOT/OTD specialties and more. If you鈥檙e eager to start your OT career, we invite you to .

What Is a Physical Therapist (PT)?

A licensed physical therapist is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). These professionals work with patients with injury, illness, or disability. DPTs evaluate, diagnose, develop treatment plans, and implement a course of treatment for each patient. Treatment is designed to rehabilitate or improve mobility, and sometimes to help manage pain. A course of treatment designed by a PT may include massage, exercises, water and light therapy, electrical stimulation, and more.

To begin practice as a physical therapist, you must first earn a DPT. This advanced degree includes academic, clinical, and research study in topics including biology, health science, psychology, physiology and athletic training. For a more comprehensive look at a DPT course of study, you can view WCU鈥檚 DPT curriculum.

Before they can begin licensed practice, DPT graduates are required to pass the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy and obtain any additional state- or specialty-required certification and licensure.

Check out our detailed DPT program page for additional insights or you can .

OT vs. PT Breakdown: Similarities and Differences

Now that we鈥檝e taken a look at these two meaningful professions separately, let鈥檚 talk about how they differ. In summary: An occupational therapist helps patients with mobility as it relates to tasks and daily activities, like eating and driving. A physical therapist, on the other hand, provides rehabilitative treatment to restore things like range of motion and strength.

Below we鈥檝e provided an at-a-glance look at some of the primary differences between an OT and a PT, both in education and profession:

A Snapshot of MSOT, OTD, and DPT Degrees

Explore WCU鈥檚 Programs for Aspiring OTs and PTs

Now that you know more about the career that awaits you as a physical therapist or occupational therapist, are you ready to choose the path that鈥檚 right for you? 国产主播 offers a Los Angeles MSOT program, OTD program, and DPT program at our Center for Graduate Studies. Enrollment is currently open for these programs.

WCU campuses are designed and equipped with industry-current facilities and simulations labs to prepare our students with hands-on practice in realistic educational healthcare environments and scenarios, educated by expert faculty.

Ready to take the next step? To begin your journey, call us at (866) 508-2684. We鈥檙e here to answer questions and help you understand your education options.

Frequently Asked Questions: Comparing Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Careers

Q: How do the work environments differ for occupational therapists and physical therapists?

A: While there’s overlap, OTs and PTs often work in slightly different settings. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), both can work in hospitals, private practices, home healthcare, and nursing facilities. However, OTs are more likely to work in schools, while PTs have more opportunities for self-employment.

To learn more, check out the latest BLS on and.

Q: How do the educational requirements differ between OTs and PTs?

A: Occupational therapists typically need a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MSOT), which takes about 24 months to complete. Physical therapists require a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), usually a 36-month program. For OTs interested in advanced practice, research, and leadership roles, OTD programs offer a doctoral-level education in 32 months.

Q: What are the licensing requirements for OTs and PTs?

A: Occupational therapists must pass the National Board of Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT庐) Occupational Therapist Registered (OTR庐) exam. Physical therapists are required to pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE庐). Both professions also need to meet any additional state-specific licensing requirements.

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鈥淚 think being in the first cohort, it kind of creates some more camaraderie, just because we鈥檙e all taking this leap of faith together. Only your classmates really know what you鈥檙e going through,鈥� Thomas said.聽

鈥淕oing through PT school in itself is a challenge,鈥� Aaron added, 鈥渂ut I think because we were in the first class and we were coming together to make decisions on how we can help shape the program, not only did we come together academically, but we got together in general. It was kind of awesome to see how all of us grew.鈥�

The bonds that started in WCU鈥檚 DPT program have continued to support alumni in their careers. 鈥淛ust recently, I hit someone up via text,鈥� Thomas said, 鈥渏ust like 鈥業 don鈥檛 deal with pelvic health that much. I know you do. Can I get some pointers and can you help me out?鈥� Just like that, we pick up where we left off.鈥澛�

Aaron and Thomas have followed similar career paths since graduating from WCU. They both work for an outpatient orthopedic center and have grown to director roles at their local clinics.

After the program and after having gotten to know all of your classmates, where did you go from there?聽

础补谤辞苍:听It was a straight year of clinical rotation. In my first rotation, I was lucky enough to go to Hawaii. It was amazing. The clinic was on the beach! I learned a lot 鈥� but we all went our separate ways and a year felt like a long time. I finished my rotations in San Francisco. That鈥檚 where I got a real appreciation for orthopedics, which is what I鈥檓 specializing in now.聽

罢丑辞尘补蝉:听I already had a couple of offers lined up, one of them being where both Aaron and I work now. What led me to where I am now was a couple of different factors. I was already familiar with the company since I had done a rotation with them. My commute was pretty much non-existent. I was riding my bike a mile to work. I had a newborn when I started working, so it was nice to be able to go home for lunch. Now, both Aaron and I are clinic directors of our facilities, so we鈥檝e grown a lot together from grad school into the positions we hold today.

You managed to grow in your career rather quickly. To what do you attribute this? Would you say it鈥檚 talent, preparation, or what?聽

罢丑辞尘补蝉:听I think it鈥檚 a combination of everything. Timing is one. Our company is nationwide with hundreds of sites, so there鈥檚 a lot of opportunity for growth. You don鈥檛 cap out the second you start. The other thing is they鈥檙e not going to give you the position if they don鈥檛 believe in you.

From a business standpoint, they want someone who is going to make them money, right? So, if you鈥檙e not good at your job and you don鈥檛 have that business mentality, they鈥檙e not going to choose you. They鈥檙e going to choose someone else who is actually going to drive the numbers, which is a big part as a director.

础补谤辞苍:听For me it was similar. One thing that helped me show that I was capable of being director was mentoring students. Thomas and I, we mentor students year-round. It鈥檚 our way of giving back and showing the next class what working in the real world is. One of my other positions is site clinical coordinator of education. My job is basically to receive all of these schools鈥� requests for internships and manage which clinic can take however many students.

So, is becoming a faculty member 鈥� for WCU or somewhere else 鈥� something that you see in the future?聽

础补谤辞苍:听For me, yes. This is something I saw myself doing a long time ago. I鈥檝e done a lot of things in my young career to try to help me fit a teaching role. I will be in a teaching role at a Physical Therapy Assistant program in January.

罢丑辞尘补蝉:听Most definitely, and I think that鈥檚 why we continue to take students. I used to think CIs 鈥� Clinical Instructors 鈥� existed because students needed experience and the CIs wanted free labor. But the more I do it, the more I realize that doing it right, it鈥檚 actually more work. You have to invest time in them to hopefully have some payoff towards the end of the rotation, where they feel more comfortable practicing more independently.聽

Since leaving the program, how often do you guys get to hang out and has your friendship continued beyond graduation?聽

罢丑辞尘补蝉:听We keep in touch relatively frequently. We know what big things are happening in each other鈥檚 lives. I consider Aaron one of my close friends and he has helped me to acquire job opportunities after graduation. It also helps that we share the same role within the same company, so sometimes it鈥檚 nice just to vent and get other people鈥檚 take on situations.聽

What tips would you give a new student starting the program?聽

罢丑辞尘补蝉:听In undergrad, I wasn鈥檛 really a big group study person, but I don鈥檛 think I could have passed this program had I not done a study group and developed that camaraderie. I鈥檝e seen classmates, some who unfortunately dropped from the program, they tried to do it by themselves for whatever reason, I always saw those people struggle a lot more.

础补谤辞苍:听One thing I would say is, because WCU is so new, our reputation isn鈥檛 really out there yet. I would challenge future students to just really give it their all get WCU鈥檚 reputation up there. There鈥檚 no reason why WCU shouldn鈥檛 have a top tier reputation.

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鈥淲e are so grateful for all our associates and colleagues who worked tirelessly to ensure our DPT program meets and exceeds the highest standards for a doctor of physical therapy program,鈥� Co-President, Academics and Chief Learning Officer Jeb Egbert, Ph.D., shared. The accreditation granted by CAPTE allows WCU doctor of physical therapy students to sit for their licensure exam to become licensed physical therapists, which is critical as they begin their career.

鈥淥ur students and faculty believed in the vision we had for a world-class doctor of physical therapy program beginning more than three years ago, and today we鈥檙e able to honor that commitment by showing we are a fantastic and accredited program,鈥� DPT program director and associate professor Teressa Brown, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS shared. 鈥淚t takes a village to receive accreditation from CAPTE and it could not have been achieved without the collaboration between our faculty, clinical faculty, students and departments within administration.鈥�

The inaugural cohort is in the home stretch of their DPT program and will receive their official graduation hoods at a ceremony on Dec. 8. Dr. Brown added that the cohort would be eligible to sit for the first board exam to become licensed physical therapists in January 2018.

鈥淩eceiving accreditation, and for five years, is such a great feeling and now our students have that extra boost heading into their final exams, presentations and board preparation,鈥� Dr. Brown added.

Congratulations to the WCU DPT program on this accreditation milestone!

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On March 3, the 36 physical therapy doctoral students donned their white lab coats for the first time in front of friends and families at the聽Los Angeles Center for Graduate Studies. The ceremony capped the cohort’s first 18 months of classroom and lab study and signified a shift into the clinical educational experience.

The cohort will have a total of 51 weeks of full-time clinical internships during the academic program at WCU. These will take place in a minimum of three different practice settings to ensure that students are prepared to be a general practitioner at graduation and equipped to work in a range of clinical settings.

鈥淭his marks a pivotal moment in our education where we鈥檙e going to go out and deal with actual patients and be able to go out and make a difference in the real world,” WCU DPT student Thomas Swift said after the event. “It鈥檚 just really exciting.”

国产主播 has clinical agreements nationwide and students will be required to complete at least one 15-week clinic experience outside of the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

鈥淲hat I most like about the school is the faculty diversity and everything they have contributed to our education to help prep us for this next step,” WCU DPT student Hailey Hooper said. “I鈥檝e very excited to start my clinicals 鈥� and prepare for my new career.鈥�

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