Short answers, pulled from the story.
Physical therapy began as a distinct healthcare profession when Per Henrik Ling founded the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in 1813. This event marked the earliest documented origins of actual physical therapy as a professional group.
The Master of Physical Therapy credential became the new standard entry to practice across Canada in 2012. The University of Manitoba was the last Canadian university to transition from three-year Bachelor of Science programs to two-year Master's of Physical Therapy programs that year.
There were approximately 267,200 physical therapists employed in the United States in 2024 earning an average of $101,020 per year. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 11% growth in employment by 2034.
Quebec requires prospective physiotherapists to complete a four-year college diploma program before entering graduate school for a master's degree. Scotland offers degrees at four universities where students must register with the Health and Care Professions Council on qualifying to use the title Physiotherapist.
Physical therapist education curricula in the United States culminate in a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree which typically takes three years after completing a bachelor's degree. The Master of Physical Therapy and Master of Science in Physical Therapy degrees are no longer offered.