Continuing Observation hours

[Louisiana2018]

I recently (within the last two months) decided to switch from medical school to physical therapy school. I graduate college in May and then plan to start my observation hours in mid-May. As I am not working, I am free to observe all day. When I apply to physical therapy school with this next cycle, do all my hours have to be completed or can I continue and have then done after I submit my application?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[FlyingGnome]

When you log into PTCAS,
Go to Supporting Information > Observation hours > Add Observation Hours
It should allow you to input hours you already have and hours that are planned/in progress.
For instance, I had 200 completed hours and 700 in progress/planned hours when I submitted my application.

 

[mlb_25]

You can update your observation hours after you submit your application, but some schools will only accept what you have done before submission so I'd check with each school first.

 

[dpthopeful333]

I recently (within the last two months) decided to switch from medical school to physical therapy school. I graduate college in May and then plan to start my observation hours in mid-May. As I am not working, I am free to observe all day. When I apply to physical therapy school with this next cycle, do all my hours have to be completed or can I continue and have then done after I submit my application?

I was in a similar situation as I decided towards the end of college about PT. Right after graduation, I started working as a tech full time and completed the required hours for the programs I was considering in a matter of weeks. I made sure to show on my application that while I had only completed a small amount of hours, additional hours were planned. I also moved and am working as a tech elsewhere now and I updated my application after it had been submitted; schools took those hours into account as well. One thing I wish I would have been able to do is get hours in additional settings beyond outpatient because a few programs I was interested in required inpatient hours. Because I was working full time, I did not have time to shadow in a hospital so that's something to keep in mind when looking at your programs and planning your summer!