DPT or PA.....input requested?

[gnxsam]

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I do not intend for this to be a PA vs DPT debate- but rather seeking input based on my situation and what others have done previously.

I am 35, hold a double major from Old Dominion in Business/Econ for which I graduated Magna Cum Laude (3.94). I serve as with the Army ARNG, and prior service active duty with about 10 years of non-military management experience in HR and Program Management. Considering grad programs and have past experience as a PTA and Personal Trainer, so either of the above programs "DPT' or "PA" are of interest. I am considering because of my interest and the Illinois Veterans Grant- which would pick up most of the tab for either program.

1. The PA route limits me to Southern Illinois with no guarantee of acceptance next fall and leaves me with two semesters of pre-req courses I need to finish, which would be no-cost IIVG) but I do work full-time and again an expenditure of significant time.

2. DPt gives me several options: Univ. Illinois Chicago, Northern Illinois, Governors State- all of which are covered by IVG. I would again need to take pre-req courses between now and next year (program starts summer 2012).

Thoughts? Ideas? If I go this route, will definitely start doing volunteer PT work at VA and other places- as well as unit change with ARNG to a medical support battalion.


thanks all- 🙂

 

[johncronejr]

I had similar thoughts. I am a 45 year old non-trad and have had other careers. What it came down to for me was: What type of environment do I want to be in?

With PA, I would likely be in a Dr's office type setting, walking into the private room, seeing the patient for 5-15 minutes and on to the next, utilizing stethoscopes, BP cuffs, tongue depressors, etc....

With PT, I could work in a "gym-like" setting utilizing equipment such as plate-loaded weight machines, Thera-bands, Bosu balls, Stationary bikes, etc....

From what I have observed in life, PT dress code seems to be much more relaxed than what Dr's office dress code is as well.

Combine all this with the fact that I have been a national level powerlifter, lifelong weightlifter, football player, and general athlete......it just seems like a better fit for me to go into an environment like PT. I have the option of getting a PhD and teaching, opening a gym/PT office and also doing some sports performance training. It just seems more "up my alley".

 

[markelmarcel]

I think John has some great advice as far as which environment seems more "you".

Also, how do you have experience as a PTA ? Did you get your associate degree?

 

[CJonesrun]

On average it looks like your lifelong earnings as a DPT could be higher. I have friends who are PA's and even after a few years make barely $100k, while there are entry-level PT jobs posted at that or higher. But is about the work or the money?

Of course, you could be a PA and work in an orthopedic or neuro practice. If you were to do PT, where would you want to specialize? Most people think of basic rehab or sports medicine, but there is also spinal cord injury, amputee, neuro, cardiac rehab, pediatrics, etc. Both PA and PT give you lots of options.

I looked at it and decided to seek a PT program. If that doesn't work out I have a back up plan to do a nursing BA to BSN program and then nurse practitioner, and work in neuro (I hope). The one PA program in my area seems to just want young students (a conversation with an admissions rep was very discouraging) and I just want to work in medicine and help people. PT is a first choice but if not, I'll be happy to be a nurse.

 

[TheOx777]

On average it looks like your lifelong earnings as a DPT could be higher. I have friends who are PA's and even after a few years make barely $100k, while there are entry-level PT jobs posted at that or higher. But is about the work or the money?

Of course, you could be a PA and work in an orthopedic or neuro practice. If you were to do PT, where would you want to specialize? Most people think of basic rehab or sports medicine, but there is also spinal cord injury, amputee, neuro, cardiac rehab, pediatrics, etc. Both PA and PT give you lots of options.

I looked at it and decided to seek a PT program. If that doesn't work out I have a back up plan to do a nursing BA to BSN program and then nurse practitioner, and work in neuro (I hope). The one PA program in my area seems to just want young students (a conversation with an admissions rep was very discouraging) and I just want to work in medicine and help people. PT is a first choice but if not, I'll be happy to be a nurse.

CJonesRun,

I may be behind the 8-ball, but can you please direct me to entry level positions for a DPT of more than 100K. I have seen a number of the salaries up to 150K in certain areas of the country, but I have rarely(if ever) seen an entry level salary that high. I am not saying that this is not true, but apparently I missed something. I was under the impression that entry level for a DPT would be somewhere in the 50-80K range depending on geographic location, work setting, etc. After several years of experience, then I see the salaries of 90K-150K.

Personally, I don't see how or why an entry level job should pay much less than 70-75K for a DPT. There may be extreme cases, but with the amount of training and school costs 70-75K seems like that should at least be a starting point!

 

[CJonesrun]

TheOX777, No need to attack dude. We're all under enough stress as it is.

I have a lot of friends and coaching clients in the medical field. Certain hospitals are paying $106k to start, plus relocation in some cases. I was sent job postings by a friend in one of the hospital systems, and the posting indicated that the position pay started there and was adjusted up for education and/or experience. Postings from the same hospital showed PA and NP positions in the $70 - 90k range. I suppose I should qualify that some of these are more challenging environments in "bad" or underserved areas, and in specialties that pay more like cardiac rehab and neuro. I really don't care where I practice as long as it's in the field that I want. Plus, those people deserve caring clinicians as much as anyone.
I also know some PTs that make $50k but with a Master's, and have been working for years. But they work less than 40 hours sometimes and never weekends. Healthcare is like any business: work longer hours or crappy shifts, make more money. Work in a school system, make less.
Who knows what healthcare reform might do to pay in the future for any profession. The only guarantee is that if you learn how to do what you love, at least you'll enjoy your job. Good pay is an added bonus. I make decent enough money right but really don't love the industry that I'm in which is why I want to make the change.

 

[TheOx777]

CJonesRun,

It was certainly not my intention to "attack" you, so I apologize if my post came across that way. I was sincerely interested in hearing about these positions, because I have seen what I consider relatively "high" salaries for PTs, but not as high as you were referring to for entry level jobs. I do agree that there is money to be made out there as a physical therapist, and I am beginning to see more hospital systems and outpatient clinics that prefer DPTs.

 

[drift]

TheOX777, No need to attack dude. We're all under enough stress as it is.

I have a lot of friends and coaching clients in the medical field. Certain hospitals are paying $106k to start, plus relocation in some cases. I was sent job postings by a friend in one of the hospital systems, and the posting indicated that the position pay started there and was adjusted up for education and/or experience. Postings from the same hospital showed PA and NP positions in the $70 - 90k range. I suppose I should qualify that some of these are more challenging environments in "bad" or underserved areas, and in specialties that pay more like cardiac rehab and neuro. I really don't care where I practice as long as it's in the field that I want. Plus, those people deserve caring clinicians as much as anyone.
I also know some PTs that make $50k but with a Master's, and have been working for years. But they work less than 40 hours sometimes and never weekends. Healthcare is like any business: work longer hours or crappy shifts, make more money. Work in a school system, make less.
Who knows what healthcare reform might do to pay in the future for any profession. The only guarantee is that if you learn how to do what you love, at least you'll enjoy your job. Good pay is an added bonus. I make decent enough money right but really don't love the industry that I'm in which is why I want to make the change.

Your anecdotal information says otherwise, but PAs right now make about ~10k more than PTs on average. Check out bls or any reliable source. The median wage for a DPT is $72,790 and the median wage for a PA is $84,420. The 150k postings for PTs are exceptions to the norm and not what 95% of PTs will make. Personally, I believe PTs need to be compensated more. PAs in ortho/neuro/pain/ED/derm/CT/CV and other specialty fields often can make 120-130k easily.

Eitherway, I would not let salaries cloud your dream. Being a PT can be extremely rewarding and if that is your dream, don't let anything come in-between it.

 

[jbizzle]

Haven't we seen these PA or PT threads before...mmmm...I understand the OP being new to the forum and all but....anyway.

Check out this post I found while I was snooping around on the OT forum, it shows that the money is there for PT, just depends on location <-- this is getting old to the fact that I dont worry about the numbers people put on here anymore.

Hello all,

I know that I'm bringing up an old thread, but seeing that I have information on this topic.... I am a former director of inpatient rehabilitation from south texas and our starting salary for both PT and OT was $90,000 along with a $5000 sign on bonus. PTAs and COTAs were significantly lower (which I found unusual, but there was a COTA program nearby) at around $50,000. This was for full time employees. My PRN staff made $65-75 and $35-50 respectively. Initially, I though this was very good pay for these positions, but I found Home Health to be paying $65-$85 and $45-60 (again, respectively) per 30min visit. There was always plenty of opportunities for picking up additional hours with the multiple SNFs and outpatient clinics in the area as well. I have to admit I felt the outpatient clinics were a scam, having 10 techs doing almost all treatments and the Therapist was just there for paperwork... Regardless, if you can handle living in the Valley (and there are some decent areas) and being 2+ hours from civilization as most of us know, you can make really good money. One PT who I know very well cleared over $200,000 in just over one year while she was down there. Nice Indeed!

 

[hefe]

PA generally will earn slightly more than PT and can with time and investment in owning a clinic pull down salary >200k. There will always be outliers and top-earners in every profession. This does not make it the norm however, and the PA average is reporter higher (this is just how the chips fall).

Earning pissing match aside, do you prefer medicine or rehabilitation based settings? What will you find most fulfilling? These differences to me are more important than a 10k difference. Choose what suits you, everyone's different.

 

[freddydpt]

Why don't you shadow both fields and get a feeling of what you'd want to practice? The factor with becoming a PA is that there are many more specialties to choose from and in most cases PA's are fast-tracked into whatever specialty they desire to practice right out of school.

If you'd rather order and interpret lab and diagnostic tests then go with PA. If you'd rather guide patients through exercise programs and get them walking again, go with PT.

Those are generalizations but decently good ones. Bottom line, find a profession in a setting you really enjoy and will thrive in... and then go full steam ahead.