Here's a breakdown by therapy type:
* Physical Therapist (PT): Requires a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, which is typically a 3-year professional program *after* completing a bachelor's degree. Your existing BS might help with some prerequisite coursework, potentially shortening the time to get into a DPT program slightly, but it's still a significant commitment. Total time could be 7-8 years after high school, depending on your undergraduate coursework.
* Occupational Therapist (OT): Requires a Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) or Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) degree. Similar to PT, your BS *might* offer some credit transfer, but expect a master's program to take 2-3 years. Total time could be 6-7 years after high school.
* Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): Requires a master's degree (MS, MA, or M.S.Ed.) in communication sciences and disorders. Your BS could again help with prerequisites, but this still adds 2-3 years of study. Total time would likely be around 6-7 years after high school.
* Mental Health Therapist (various roles): This is a broad category. It could involve a master's degree in social work (MSW), counseling (MA, MS), psychology (MA, MS), or marriage and family therapy (MFT). These programs typically take 2 years, but some could be longer. Total time would likely be 6-8 years after high school.
* Therapist Assistant (PTA, OTA, etc.): These roles require an associate's or bachelor's degree specifically in the respective therapy assistant program. This will typically take 2 years for an associate's and 4 years for a bachelor's degree.
In short: You'll need to complete additional education, ranging from an associate's to a doctorate degree, depending on your chosen therapy field. Your existing BS will likely be helpful for some prerequisites, potentially reducing the overall time slightly, but it won't eliminate the need for substantial further study. Expect to spend several more years (at least 2, possibly 7 or more) in specialized graduate-level education.