It would indeed give you a broad scope as a clinician but, unfortunately, the transition would be costly and you wouldn’t see a return on your investment. Currently, attaining a DPT does not increase salary from that of a PT and, especially in an inpatient setting, OTs make a very comparable salary to PTs (only we were foolish enough to pay a heap load more for our degrees). The APTA has not yet addressed the major glaring problem with the transition to a DPT: student debt vs actual income potential—it is WAY out of proportion. With the amount we pay to get our degrees we shouldn’t accept salaries less than 80-85k starting out (regardless of setting) but PTs are often starting in the 60k range (namely outpatient settings). I would think long and hard before making this expensive leap into a parallel career that offers approximately the same salaries...If you’re looking for a change have you considered PA? This may actually be less years of schooling (less debt) and significantly better income potential. I love my job but the earning potential just isn’t what it should be with a clinical doctorate under my belt.
