Athletic Trainers to DPT

[greco13]

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Has any athletic trainer experienced difficulty in being accepted to DPT programs? I know NATA & APTA butt heads over scope of practice, etc. Or on the other side, do any ATCs feel they had an edge or an advantage in getting accepted to a school because they were ATC?

 

[sierra54]

I was accepted at both PT schools I applied to last year. I have a BS with a concentration in athletic training and a MS in Applied Biomechanics and 11 years experience as an ATC. I had a low undergrad GPA, 3.4 and avg grad GPA 3.7. When I spoke with the program directors of each school they indicated that their expereince was that ATC's performed similar to other PT students. We have 2 ATCs in our PT class and both of us seem to be a step ahead. It may even out eventually, but I think that that my ATC background has definitely helped.

I don't think they will ever hold it against you and that it will give you an edge if it comes down between you and someone else who is not an ATC if everything else is comparable.

 

[greco13]

I suppose it would depend on who was on the admissions committee and their take of the profession of AT. I’ve spoken to a couple of younger DPT, ATCs that work sports medicine and they told me they were ahead of the game for the first 1-1.5 years of PT school. It’s neat to see that confirmed once again.

With what course work do you feel you are more comfortable with because of previous exposure from AT? What courses do you feel you were pretty even with your peers? I know you’ve only been in 1 year..

 

[truthseeker]

I suppose it would depend on who was on the admissions committee and their take of the profession of AT. I’ve spoken to a couple of younger DPT, ATCs that work sports medicine and they told me they were ahead of the game for the first 1-1.5 years of PT school. It’s neat to see that confirmed once again.

With what course work do you feel you are more comfortable with because of previous exposure from AT? What courses do you feel you were pretty even with your peers? I know you’ve only been in 1 year..

I agree. I was essentially a TA (unpaid of course) in the orthopedic assessment classes.

 

[sierra54]

I think I was ahead with kinesiology, musculoskeletal and orthopedics so far. I spent a lot of time in labs helping with MMT, modalities, special tests and kines. I think with Pathophys/Differential Diagnosis and research methods I was even with the rest of the class. Looking ahead I don't see any advantage with the upcoming classes such as neuro, cardiopulm PT and pediatric PT.