The other night I went to dinner at my girlfriend's house. Two of her uncles were over, both of them accomplished doctors. One of them owns several health clinics in palm beach area. We talked a bit about it and what it took to open clinic. I told him my aspirations to be a physical therapist, he then suggested I look into and try PA. He told me the salary for a PA and how it only 2 takes to complete. He made a bunch of other arguments that made it seem very appealing.
Have you guys ever been confused as to which route to take?
These doctor's opinions aren't that unusual, from my experience as a PT. Most physicians' appreciate and respect physical therapists....especially orthopods. I also believe they look at the profession as sort of a lite-healthcare degree. Anyhow, I'm a BSPT,MSATC,PHD person and can appreciate these two physicians' opinions.
I'm not speaking of direct experience as I've never been to PA school, but I'm seriously thinking about applying this year. First, I wouldn't look at PA as one year less than PT school. PA school is condensed and is incredibly rigorous.....PT is much less intense and spread out over three years now. I guess there are some PA schools that are spread out over 3 years, but most are 2-2.5 years. The number of hours you spend in class is insane.....at least like nothing I had to go through in my academic career (it's set up very similar to medical schooling. Although many might have their arguments, the average PA school is something like 120 weeks versus the average medical school averages 150/160 weeks. When you compare hours of classroom/clinical training, the averages get even closer. Of course, medical school is spread out over 4 years and PA is completed in approximately 2 years. THe point is that you shouldn't underestimate the difficulty of PA school as I understand it anyway. My experience as a university prof teaching PT/ATC students is that the time commitments are quite different than those who undergo medical training.
For what it's worth, I will share some considerations I didn't give much weight to when I was younger (I'm still young) preparing for a career:
1. PT/AT is quite physical. You have a lot of lifting. Much of what you do isn't that glorious.....gate training, PRE's with low functioning patients....ect. It can be fairly boring.
2. You spend a lot of time with patients. Probably more than just about any other healthcare provider. 1/2-1 hour is typical. For me, it's more than I wanted to spend with most patients.
3. You're stuck in PT....not a lot of latitude. There really isn't a lot of opportunity to own your own practice.....unless you find a niche market. It's risky in most areas and where I practice (we have direct access) but you still need a medical director who's a physician. Further, direct access is useless unless insurance will pay.....and I don't see that happening, especially as healthcare is moving in a hard direction to contain costs. I wouldn't pay without a referral either if I were the insurance company....it's only common sense and their is no evidence to suggest that there is a more efficient system than the one we already have in place, although some of my PT friends who own their own business love to argue why it only makes sense.
4. You'll eventually become tired of the latest trends in PT with what are framed to be the latest most novel form of manual therapy.....hell you'll even be able to get a certificate in some.....it's really the only gimmick out there to rev the engines of intellectually thirsty PT's.....but eventually in your career you figure out they're all hype and additional certificates you might be able to earn are worth the paper their written on.
5. You will help people.....but the ones I felt like I actually was helping were the lower fuctioning patients who needed to walk again or get out of bed......ect. They are also the most boring to work with (for me), but they actually need our help and we can make a difference with these folks. When you work with truly sick patients, there is always somebody there to bale you out as a PT if something bad happens....when I worked in cadiac/pulmonary rehab, there was always a cadiac nurse, PA or MD there (depending on the type of rehab) just in case somethings serious happened. Essentailly what I'm saying is that when you're working with sick patients, there's always a medical person there to run the show and make the final calls..it's not the PT.
Compared to the PA,
1. Surely, you will typically work for a physician, which is what most PT's do (either MD/DO or PT employers). Approximately 3% of PA's own their own practice and hire a supervising physician.
2. PA's do make more money and have more flexibility to have 2nd and 3rd jobs (weekends, nights, ect.) I know several who work in ortho, 1st assist, work fast track in the evenings or weekends....and make bank. They easily make as much as many PT practice owners do.....without many of the headaches. PA's can work in many specialties at the same time with several supervising physicians.
3. PA's have a lot of autonomy.....more than a PT as far as I'm concerned. just as a PT works and treats their own patients....so don't PA's.....PA's usually seek out consultation from their sup physicians as needed.....similar to how a PT might seek out consultation from the surgeon PRN. Know body is standing over your shoulder giving directions once you're qualified and experienced.
4. PA's have the ability to work in any specialty without going back to school. If you get sick of primary care and want to do derm......you can get a job. No other medical professional can do that I'm aware of without going back to school.....MD's can't even do this.
5. They're respected by their piers....and most PA's have a very interesting and rich life story. Many have served in the military as medics, paramedics, PT's, peace core....it's endless...
I think from a physician perspective and my perspective, the PA is the assistant chief of healthcare....with the MD/DO as the highest rank. Don't be confused by all these new entry level clinical "doctorate" degrees. These are simply mandates by professional organizations as the new entry level degree.....trust me; academia isn't in agreement with labeling them doctorate degrees. The AAPA could easily come out and proclaim the entry level PA degree a "doctorate" and require doctorate degrees be awarded to maintain accreditation......They could do it without changing a thing academically....academically it's already equal or more schooling than all other doctorates other than the MD/DO/PhD.
It is a difficult decision. They truly are apples and oranges. Remember, to qualify for PA school, you'll likely need appreciable medical experience. PA schools generally only like folks with previous healthcare experience. Educate yourself before deciding on a career.....don't end up like me with house and land, family, dogs, bills.....and decide you have to go back to school.
One other thing.....MD isn't a bad choice either, but it's a lot more commitment than the,PT, OT, PharmD, PsychD, other newly formed entry level clinical "doctorate" degrees. There is a little more parity b/t PA and PT commitment wise. Both incredible degrees with good earning potential. Try not to glamorize either one and figure out which one you can see yourself doing the rest of your life.
If it were me graduating from high school today.....my career path would look like this.....ATC program, followed by combined MSPA/MPH program, followed by PhD. I would have everything I have now and more......It's too bad that PT is now a graduate program and not undergrad. I just don't see how PT's are going to justify earning a PhD anymore. The ATC's have it right....although I hear they're considering the MSATC the entry level standard now......stupid.
For what my opinionated thoughts are worth.....L.
Just kidding, that's not a main reason, but it definitely is influential. haha. 