Physical therapists\u27 attitudes toward the upgrading of entry-level education to the post-baccalaureate degree

The purpose of this research was to determine the attitudes of physical therapists on the subject of raising the entry-level of physical therapy to a master\u27s degree. A survey addressing the advantages and disadvantages of upgrading the physical therapy entry-level was designed. Surveys were sent to 150 physical therapists. Seventy-five of the subjects were selected from a list of APTA members and another 75 subjects were selected from an alumni listing from four master\u27s degree entry level-physical therapy programs. The results showed that therapists with an entry-level degree in physical therapy were much more supportive of the position to upgrade the entry-level. All therapists agreed that the length of education needs to be extended to incorporate the expanding body of knowledge in physical therapy, and that a therapist with master\u27s training is better prepared to do clinical research