PT Career Timeline

By rporche
  • 500 BCE

    Ancient Greece

    Philosophers such as Hippocrates encouraged massage, manual therapy, and exercise for a healthy lifestyle.

  • Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics (Sweden)

    Founded by Per Henrik Ling, an early foundation of PT

  • Reconstruction Aids

    Trained to rehab injured WWI soldiers

  • American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association (APTA)

    Founded by Mary McMillan - important organization in PT history

  • The PT Review

    First U.S. physical therapy journal published

  • Northwestern University establishes first PT program

  • WWII and Polio

    Expanded the demand of Physical Therapists

  • World Confederation for Physical Therapy

    Founded to globally represent physical therapists

  • CAPTE - sole accredit or of PT programs

    Commission on Accreditation
    in Physical Therapy Education
  • Period: to

    Tech Advances

    Telehealth, Robot-assisted therapy, Wearable motion tracking

  • Today’s Requirements

    Must earn Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)
    Must pass National Physical Therapy Examination