Getting job as a Physical Therapy Tech to help DPT application.

[Coolrun402]

I'm making a career change to become a physical therapist. I've been out of school for 3 years and have a double major in communications and psychology. I've already signed up for 3 fall classes to start my pre-requisite science courses and have talked to a few admissions offices about what I can do to make my application as competitive as possible and most have told me I should get a job as a Physical Therapy Tech.

From what I've seen, you don't really need much experience to land a PT Tech job, but given my lack of experience in PT I don't know if I'd actually get hired.

The only experience I have now is being an NCAA D1 track/cross country athlete and my current coaching job as a high school cross country and track coach.

Any guidance on how I should go about applying and being competitive for a PT Tech job would be much appreciated.

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[jblil]

A PT Tech or PT Aide position is a non-skilled position. As long as you have something between your ears, can follow directions and show initiative, you'll be hired. Just go to a PT clinic and ask them if they need help. Bring a resume along and dress somewhat nicely, in case the manager wants to talk to you on the spot.

 

[low5059]

Try to do some hours of shadowing even before you apply to the jobs. Many clinics are phasing out hiring aides, so jobs will be more competitive where they still use them. Many like to see you're at least somewhat experienced in the field as they'll often get resumes/cover letters from people who "like sports/to work out" and think that will make them a good aide.

 

[jtb93]

Definitely call around to check if clinics are looking for aides. Took me a while to find an aide job, but I was offered a full-time position after shadowing a PT at an SNF. Wasn't my ideal setting, but definitely helped my PT application!

 

[Coolrun402]

Thanks for the advise guys/gals, I'll put that to work right away. I've emailed an office and It looks like I'll be getting some observation hours to start off there. Hopefully will be able to transition that into a PT Tech opportunity.

Regards
Coolrun402

 

[Abudara]

Just some advice... I got a job as a PT aide at an outpatient clinic, with over 1000 hours there now. I would advise you to first try to get your observation hours at a couple of inpatient settings if you can, before starting to work as an aide. I regret not doing that

Right now I only have 20 in patient hours and am really trying to find other settings besides snf to add to my inpatient hours.

Basically, don't think you're fine in hours just cause you got a thousand at one setting. Try your best to get a variety of hours in different settings. A big pro of getting a job as an aide is that I believe I'll have a couple of very good letters of rec from working with the same therapists for over a year and a half.

 

[Abudara]

As far as tips to getting a job in a clinic...
I first observed at a clinic for about 10-15 hours and asked if they were hiring after. After applying, I was hired a month later in a part time position. Try to ask questions that you might have at the end of the day and show that you're actually interested instead of just standing there for hours.

The only prerequisite you really need is a general knowledge of anatomy