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Pediatric physical therapist education requirements
Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
There are several educational requirements to become a pediatric physical therapist. Pediatric physical therapists usually study physical therapy, kinesiology, or biology. 53% of pediatric physical therapists hold a bachelor's degree, and 28% hold an doctoral degree. We analyzed 541 real pediatric physical therapist resumes to see exactly what pediatric physical therapist education sections show.
The most common colleges for pediatric physical therapists are the Northeastern University and the Northeastern University.
There are also many online pediatric physical therapist courses to help get the education required to be a pediatric physical therapist.
What education do you need to become a pediatric physical therapist?
What degree do you need to be a pediatric physical therapist?
- Bachelor's, 53%
- Doctorate, 28%
- Master's, 17%
- Associate, 2%
- Other Degrees, 0%
What should I major in to become a pediatric physical therapist?
- Physical Therapy, 66%
- Kinesiology, 10%
- Biology, 5%
- Psychology, 5%
- Other Majors, 14%
Most common colleges for pediatric physical therapists
| Pediatric physical therapist common college | Percentages |
|---|---|
| Northeastern University | 9.72% |
| University of Florida | 6.94% |
| Cairn University | 6.94% |
| University of Scranton | 5.56% |
| Ithaca College | 5.56% |
Best majors for pediatric physical therapists
| Rank | Major | Percentages |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Physical Therapy | 65.8% |
| 2 | Kinesiology | 10.3% |
| 3 | Biology | 5.5% |
| 4 | Psychology | 4.5% |
| 5 | Health Sciences And Services | 2.6% |
Best colleges for pediatric physical therapists
The best colleges for pediatric physical therapists are Duke University, Northeastern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
A pediatric physical therapist with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for pediatric physical therapists. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become pediatric physical therapists.
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$55,695
Enrollment
6,596
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
In-state tuition
$8,987
Enrollment
18,946
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$59,430
Enrollment
8,216
4. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Enrollment
34,564
5. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$56,225
Enrollment
19,548
6. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,306
Enrollment
6,975
7. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Enrollment
31,503
8. Kettering College
Kettering, OH • Private
In-state tuition
$12,960
Enrollment
610
9. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
In-state tuition
$51,522
Enrollment
13,760
10. San Diego State University
San Diego, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$7,488
Enrollment
30,018
20 best online courses for pediatric physical therapists
Advertising disclosure
1. Introduction to Integrative Therapies and Healing Practices
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5. Introduction to Solution Focused Therapy
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8. Art Therapy: Personal Development and Self Healing with Art
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Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)...
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11. Professional Cupping Therapy Massage Certificate Course 4 CE
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12. Introduction to CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
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16. Deep Tissue Massage: Neuromuscular Therapy Certificate
Neuromuscular Therapy is a highly effective form of Deep Tissue Massage for pain relief (2 CEUs)...
17. Certification in Sound Therapy & Sound Healing - Accredited
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18. Fully Accredited Crystal Therapy Healing Diploma Course
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19. (Oxford) Diploma in Art Therapy (Extended Master Course)
Art Therapy : detailed (116 hours) course to help: interpret, express and resolve emotions - in detail...
20. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Learn ACT: Use cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness to increase psychological flexibility...
Top 10 most affordable universities for pediatric physical therapists
The most affordable schools for pediatric physical therapists are Hunter College of the City University of New York, university of florida, and brigham young university.
If the best universities for pediatric physical therapists are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for pediatric physical therapists.
1. Hunter College of the City University of New York
New York, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,182
Cost of attendance
13,998
2. University of Florida
Gainesville, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,381
Cost of attendance
21,034
3. Brigham Young University
Provo, UT • Private
In-state tuition
$5,620
Cost of attendance
18,136
4. California State University - Long Beach
Long Beach, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,798
Cost of attendance
18,306
5. California State University - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,749
Cost of attendance
14,823
6. Florida International University
Miami, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$6,556
Cost of attendance
19,434
7. Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL • Private
In-state tuition
$5,656
Cost of attendance
21,623
8. Lehman College of the City University of New York
Bronx, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$7,210
Cost of attendance
14,359
9. California State University - Dominguez Hills
Carson, CA • Private
In-state tuition
$6,942
Cost of attendance
14,469
10. SUNY Farmingdale
Farmingdale, NY • Private
In-state tuition
$8,306
Cost of attendance
16,091
Top 10 hardest universities to get into for pediatric physical therapists
The hardest universities for pediatric physical therapists to get into are Duke University, Northeastern University, and Columbia University in the City of New York.
Some great schools for pediatric physical therapists are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for pediatric physical therapists based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.
1. Duke University
Durham, NC • Private
Admissions rate
9%
SAT average
1,516
2. Northeastern University
Boston, MA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,466
3. Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
6%
SAT average
1,512
4. New York University
New York, NY • Private
Admissions rate
20%
SAT average
1,419
5. Emory University
Atlanta, GA • Private
Admissions rate
19%
SAT average
1,449
6. University of Southern California
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
13%
SAT average
1,445
7. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC • Private
Admissions rate
23%
SAT average
1,398
8. University of Miami
Coral Gables, FL • Private
Admissions rate
32%
SAT average
1,365
9. SUNY Stony Brook
Stony Brook, NY • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,326
10. George Washington University, The
Washington, DC • Private
Admissions rate
42%
SAT average
1,380
Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for pediatric physical therapists
The easiest schools for pediatric physical therapists to get into are AdventHealth University, d'youville college, and mount saint mary's university.
Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a pediatric physical therapist without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for pediatric physical therapists.
1. AdventHealth University
Orlando, FL • Private
Admissions rate
87%
SAT average
1,016
2. D'Youville College
Buffalo, NY • Private
Admissions rate
100%
SAT average
1,072
3. Mount Saint Mary's University
Los Angeles, CA • Private
Admissions rate
84%
SAT average
1,031
4. Barry University
Miami, FL • Private
Admissions rate
91%
SAT average
1,006
5. Ottawa University
Ottawa, KS • Private
Admissions rate
78%
SAT average
1,024
6. Kean University
Union, NJ • Private
Admissions rate
86%
SAT average
991
7. University of the Incarnate Word
San Antonio, TX • Private
Admissions rate
88%
SAT average
1,044
8. Notre Dame de Namur University
Belmont, CA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
983
9. American International College
Springfield, MA • Private
Admissions rate
68%
SAT average
1,010
10. Clarke University
Dubuque, IA • Private
Admissions rate
82%
SAT average
1,058
Average pediatric physical therapist salary by education level
| Pediatric physical therapist education level | Pediatric physical therapist salary |
|---|---|
| Master's Degree | $82,010 |
| Bachelor's Degree | $77,092 |
| Doctorate Degree | $79,752 |
Pediatric physical therapist education FAQs
Have more questions? See all answers to common healthcare practitioner and technical questions.
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Updated January 8, 2025
Updated January 8, 2025