PTA and DPT...

[PsychadelicTech]

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Hi,I don't want anyone to feel I am looking at PTA school as a runner up. Feel it is important and pivotal career in Healthcare. I originally considered PTA school, buy chose nursing due to it's advancement opportunities.

So the story is this. I was going to apply to a BSN program, but missed out on some pre-requisites and was unable to apply for the 2017 Fall program. Now working on finishing the last pre reqs for nursing and hoping to get into the program by Fall of 2017. It's very competitive at the CC and I could be wait listed. My fiancée was wait listed due to her TEAS score nerd 80 or above to be considered. We are both horrible test takers. Taking my TEAS in December.

I would of choose the LPN route as my back up, but the program at the State level is gone and private LPN programs are around $30K. The BSN route is too long and expensive. Have to wait a year to enter into the program and once in takes 3 years to complete the program. An accelerated program might work. I have to be sure I can pay off my bills and debt. I am not 100% certain if an ABSN would work in regards to my academic skill level. Definitely feel need a slower program to absorb the material.

Now minus microbiology the pre requisites are the same as nursing for the PTA program and those with a bachelor degree are encouraged to apply. In addition to, over the summer I have to complete 20 hours of job shadowing to apply.

The program starts in the Spring where Nursing school is in the fall. I am considering it a backup plan.

Now I could apply to the DPT program that would take about 4 to 5 years to complete. I question if I can do it. The programs in the area require 2 physic classes, 2 chemistry classes (Hoping I can get away with one with my intro class), a pre-calculus class, and a stats class prior to applying.

What are advancement opportunities for PTAs?

Appreciate the feedback.

 

[beyoutiful_sunshine]

What is it that you REALLY want to do?
Although both professions are in the healthcare fields those are two completely different careers. Maybe that's something that could help you decide, analyzing the two professions and choosing what is the more you? How much patient contact do you want? What kind of pace do you want your job to have? What setting do you want to work at? Nurses and PTA/PTs just have two completely different jobs.

Yes you can make the decision looking at duration of program/time frame for applying/ money etc but my thing is you want to do something you're completely passionate about. The more you love your job, the better care you will provide for your patients because you actually - genuinely- care.

 

[PsychadelicTech]

I will be honest. I have been in the health care biz for 8 to 10 years. Worked as a tech with anesthesiology department, radiology, Cath Lab, ECT, and so forth. Volunteered in EMS. Have worked 4 to 5 years as a psychiatric counselor residential and inpatient.

Job stability fluctuates. I've been laid off from places, job location/pay changed at will, limited job opportunities, and limited full time job opportunities.

I am looking for a position in Healthcare that will give me stability and decent income. Right now working part time was 24 at 32 right now. Make about $22 an hour, which is equivalent to $15 an hour down South with the high COL where I live. I made about $11.25 with a bachelor's degree required for some jobs I worked with.

I love psych, but it's a burn out. Sucking in to much emotions daily, be yelled/sweated at/hit at times, and seeing the same patients cycle through its tiring. I love writing notes and care plans. Love talking to patients. I figure nursing be he next step.

Like I said before be honest. I'll be 30 in 2017. I want to be in a program by the time 30 and before 31. Want to be done with a program by the time 34. I want a job to have some stability and decent pay to start raiding a family.

I like PT and PTA as well because I am into sports, nutrition, and living healthy. What turns me off about PTA is now there is no longer any opportunity to advance. Your a lifer. Where nursing can advance from an LPN to a DNP throughout the years.

I guess the same can be said with PTA cam go back to school for your DNP. Some APRN programs cost the same as the DNP and same amount of time/effort put into. Some can only work per diem through out the program. So there is that.

 

[kdhdpt]

I will be honest. I have been in the health care biz for 8 to 10 years. Worked as a tech with anesthesiology department, radiology, Cath Lab, ECT, and so forth. Volunteered in EMS. Have worked 4 to 5 years as a psychiatric counselor residential and inpatient.

Job stability fluctuates. I've been laid off from places, job location/pay changed at will, limited job opportunities, and limited full time job opportunities.

I am looking for a position in Healthcare that will give me stability and decent income. Right now working part time was 24 at 32 right now. Make about $22 an hour, which is equivalent to $15 an hour down South with the high COL where I live. I made about $11.25 with a bachelor's degree required for some jobs I worked with.

I love psych, but it's a burn out. Sucking in to much emotions daily, be yelled/sweated at/hit at times, and seeing the same patients cycle through its tiring. I love writing notes and care plans. Love talking to patients. I figure nursing be he next step.

Like I said before be honest. I'll be 30 in 2017. I want to be in a program by the time 30 and before 31. Want to be done with a program by the time 34. I want a job to have some stability and decent pay to start raiding a family.

I like PT and PTA as well because I am into sports, nutrition, and living healthy. What turns me off about PTA is now there is no longer any opportunity to advance. Your a lifer. Where nursing can advance from an LPN to a DNP throughout the years.

I guess the same can be said with PTA cam go back to school for your DNP. Some APRN programs cost the same as the DNP and same amount of time/effort put into. Some can only work per diem through out the program. So there is that.

I noticed you said you were located in the South... If it's any interest to you Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA has a 3 semester Accelerated BSN program! It sounds like you want something with a lot of advancement opportunities... And I would say nursing is your best shot to climb that ladder. Although DPT does have its opportunities as well, but it sounds like time is a big factor for you. Nonetheless, research and do what you feel will make you the happiest in the end!

 

[PsychadelicTech]

Me I am from the North stuck here. Trying to find a job in Healthcare that can get me out of the North and down South into an area with cheaper living and more job opportunities.

Only concern with a ABSN is uncertainty if I can handle the load. I took a 4 week online pre-calc course and failed miserably. I need time to soak in the material and feel I be setting myself up for failure.

The cheapest ABSN program is $25K up here where it jumps to $50K and higher. Difficult to fund that.

Where the nursing and pta programs will cost me $5K for 2 years with reimbursement from work.

Other concern is pay starts around $30 am hour for PTAs up here where I top out with my current job. Then the PTAs after ten years cap out at $40 an hour, which isn't bad. That's it your stuck as a PTA. I can always advance with various degrees. I can save up enough money to fund my way through PT school.

Cheapest PT school is about $80K up where I live to $120K should add. Just don't have the financial resources to do a program costing that much.

I don't know if it is strange I am hoping I do get wait listed for nursing so I can go for PTA. I think I be happier in the physical therapy world due to how much I enjoy exercise, nutrition, hands on work with individuals, and being a kinsthetic learner.

 

[PsychadelicTech]

I was debating the possibility of looking to move closer to my family in NY. I be 30 minutes away from Mercy College heard they have a weekend DPT program. I still have to take 6 more pre requisites (Probably space them out in a 2 year period) before I can apply. The PTA program think would be beneficial to the application process. In addition to, I would be more financially stable with an increase in pay and have the ability to find work outside of my State.

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

I will be honest. I have been in the health care biz for 8 to 10 years. Worked as a tech with anesthesiology department, radiology, Cath Lab, ECT, and so forth. Volunteered in EMS. Have worked 4 to 5 years as a psychiatric counselor residential and inpatient.

Job stability fluctuates. I've been laid off from places, job location/pay changed at will, limited job opportunities, and limited full time job opportunities.

I am looking for a position in Healthcare that will give me stability and decent income. Right now working part time was 24 at 32 right now. Make about $22 an hour, which is equivalent to $15 an hour down South with the high COL where I live. I made about $11.25 with a bachelor's degree required for some jobs I worked with.

I love psych, but it's a burn out. Sucking in to much emotions daily, be yelled/sweated at/hit at times, and seeing the same patients cycle through its tiring. I love writing notes and care plans. Love talking to patients. I figure nursing be he next step.

Like I said before be honest. I'll be 30 in 2017. I want to be in a program by the time 30 and before 31. Want to be done with a program by the time 34. I want a job to have some stability and decent pay to start raiding a family.

I like PT and PTA as well because I am into sports, nutrition, and living healthy. What turns me off about PTA is now there is no longer any opportunity to advance. Your a lifer. Where nursing can advance from an LPN to a DNP throughout the years.

I guess the same can be said with PTA cam go back to school for your DNP. Some APRN programs cost the same as the DNP and same amount of time/effort put into. Some can only work per diem through out the program. So there is that.

You seem to be all over the place here, it also seems like you are putting a lot of pressure on yourself based on age. I think the first thing you need to do is relax and consider what you want to do. And what you have towards completing those goals. It's more important that you get to the right stop than that you get there a few months earlier.

So from reading through your posts, you have a bachelors, I'm not sure where you GPA sits at. You have a lot of pre-reqs left on the DPT route, and programs want physics 1 and 2 for the pre-req. If you decide you want a DPT, there is no need for you to get a PTA and frankly it would be a waste of time, you would need to have a competitive gpa and pre reqs done. You will go into debt and have to study hard for a few years, but that's life. PTA I can't really comment on because it was never something I considered, but I do know that it is not a stepping stone to a DPT, it's a separate career choice.

One final point that I want to make is that it seems you are only considering this PTA route because it starts a semester sooner than the nursing career you want. If this is the case, do you really think it is a smart idea to pick a career you are less interested in because it starts one semester sooner? Starting a program at 30 is not really any different from starting at 31, 32, 33 when it is the career that you are going to be working in for the next 35 years

 

[PsychadelicTech]

I appreciate the insight.

Unfortunately age and money are a very big issue. I am 30 making very little to live off in an unstable job position. Fiancée who I am marrying the end of the year is finishing school at the end of the year. Once she gets her BSN in a year or so wants children. I have about $5000 in debt and $1000 in bills/rent/food. I like to at least pay off some debt prior to entering the DPT program. Currently only making $28K to $30K with being a PTA my yearly pay would increase by $20K a year.

I am not interested in nursing view it as a way to place me in a stable job market and improve my financial situation.

I really do want to do DPT school. PTA won't cost to much of an arm and a leg. At most $6,000. I figure once a PTA can place myself in a stable job position, improve my financial job situation, move to a cheaper State to live in, a State with a weekend or PTA to DPT bridge program, and work in a job related to the Physical Therapy field.

It take me 6 to 7 years to go from PTA to DPT. Where if I did an Entry DPT program it take me 5 to 6 years from pre-requisites to finishing the DPT program. So it's just an extra year in the long run.

In regards to enrollment periods nursing is in February and PTA is in September.

 

[NJ DPT HOPEFUL]

I can see where your train of thought is. The only thing I want to make sure I stress is that you are aware that PTA does not help you get a DPT. You still need the same pre reqs and the competitive GPA to get in, and there are very few bridge programs or weekend DPT programs

Make sure you're competitive before putting all of your eggs in that basket, best of luck

 

[Sean90]

Would it be beneficial to retake some pre-req classes (pre-req GPA 3.3, work as a PT aide (or in the healthcare field), and retake the GRE (140V 146Q 3.0AW) if I do not get in this cycle? I have had the thought of the PTA to DPT, but after looking at some of the posts on here and different threads I have strayed away from that path and taken the one I just mentioned (pre-req, work, GRE). This is all still dependent on hearing back from a few more schools till april

 

[rundrewrun]

Maybe get pre gpa up to 3.5, your gonna need to get the gre to at least 150 in each category and a 4 in AW.