Other Health Professions
UMKC Pre-Professional advising can prepare you for a variety of healthcare professions.
Physical Therapy
Students interested in becoming a physical therapist are not required to have any specific major of study for their bachelor’s degree, though they are often required to complete specific prerequisite coursework as required by the specific program for application. Once admitted, students will typically then spend three years in their program earning their Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and then pass a state licensure exam in the state in which they plan to practice.
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
- Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS)
- Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
- Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists help people recovering from illness, injury or disability as they relearn how to function and perform daily tasks and activities. Occupational therapists may also advise patients in ways they can adapt their environment to fit their new needs. Students interested in applying to occupational therapy programs are not required to have a specific major but are required to have a bachelor’s degree upon entering the program. Most programs last two to three years, and upon completion, students are awarded a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy (OTd).
Prerequisite coursework and requirements for each program may vary, so students should consult each program they wish to attend.
- American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA)
- Occupational Therapy Centralized Application Service (OTCAS)
Optometry
Optometrists (or doctors of optometry) help to diagnose, treat, examine, and manage the health of the eye. Optometrists also provide patients with vision care, prescribe medications, perform certain surgical procedures, and provide vision therapy including contact lenses and glasses.
If you are interested in becoming an optometrist, you will need to complete a bachelor's degree, though no specific undergraduate major is required. You will also want to plan to complete the necessary coursework and prerequisites that are required for your chosen program. After admission to a Doctor of Optometry program, students will spend approximately four years in professional education with the option to continue their studies through an additional residency in a chosen specialty area.
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarians work to prevent, treat, diagnose and heal injured and diseased animals. If you are interested in becoming a veterinarian, you may be required to complete a bachelor's degree, including specific prerequisite coursework. Some programs do allow students to apply after only two years of undergraduate coursework if they have met the prerequisite requirements. Students typically spend four years completing their professional education to become Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DvM).