Career Choice

[Futuredpt0333]

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I've been working as an aide for almost a year now and I'm almost certain that physical therapy is what I want to do, although sometimes I do question it. I understand that money should be less of a concern when going into a career you're passionate about, but to a certain extent, money is important. The reason I sometimes have second thoughts about PT is that for a 3-year doctorate program ranging from 100-180k debt, the pay is not nearly as high. Compare that to a pharmacy program or PA program where the education is almost the same amount of time for a degree of almost the same level. PA's and pharmacists get paid so much more than PT's do and I feel like they are more respected in society as well.

 

[ya1]

Have you tried to observe/work with PA or pharmacist? If you like those professions just as much as PT, it makes sense to choose the one that you enjoy and make more money off it.
Not sure what you meant by PAs and pharmacists are more respected in society... I have never seen PT profession to be disrespected.

 

[Marky05]

I had a thought of switching from PT to NP a while ago but at the end, I stayed with PT. The main reason is that I hate to deal with blood and body fluid, and I hate to spend my next 40 years doing what I hate to do. I plan to live frugally for my next 3 years of school + 3 years after graduation to fully pay off my student loan (work more than just full time) and will live debt-free comfortably by the age of 32. It is hard but it is doable. Life is all about choices !