While both professions aim to improve the quality of life for their patients, they focus on different aspects of rehabilitation and care.

Occupational Therapy (OT): Occupational Therapy helps individuals of all ages participate in the activities they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of everyday activities (occupations). OTs work with patients to develop, recover, or maintain the skills needed for daily living and working. This can include helping children with disabilities participate fully in school and social situations, assisting people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing support for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.

Physical Therapy (PT): Physical Therapy, on the other hand, focuses on improving a patient's movement and physical function. PTs work with individuals to alleviate pain, restore mobility, and prevent or manage physical impairments. They use techniques such as exercise, manual therapy, and modalities like ultrasound or electrical stimulation to treat conditions related to the musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.

When deciding between Occupational Therapy (OT) and Physical Therapy (PT), consider your interests and career goals. If you’re passionate about helping individuals regain independence in their daily lives and enjoy creative problem-solving to adapt environments or activities, OT might be the right fit for you. On the other hand, if you’re interested in working on physical rehabilitation and movement, focusing on exercise and manual techniques to help patients recover from injuries, PT could be more aligned with your goals. Both careers are highly rewarding but focus on different aspects of patient care.

A GRE is not required for admittance into the DPT program at Andrews University. Instead, the program emphasizes other admission criteria such as a minimum GPA of 3.40 in core prerequisite courses, completion of specific prerequisite courses, and a minimum of 60 observation hours supervised by a licensed physical therapist in various settings. Click here for the complete list of prerequisites 

To apply for the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Andrews University, you can have a bachelor's degree in any field, as long as you have completed the required prerequisite courses. Common undergraduate degrees for applicants include Exercise Science, Biology, Kinesiology, and Health Sciences, but other degrees are also acceptable if the necessary prerequisites are met

Yes, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Andrews University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This accreditation ensures that the program meets the high standards required for physical therapy education, preparing students to become competent and effective practitioners.