PTA or PT ... the crossroads... please provide your professional insight

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lee9786

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At this time I'm on track to apply to DPT school this Dec. 2009. I'm currently taking prerequisite classes at a college and am almost completely finished with them (except for physics.) I see data, however, consisting of low salaries/debt ratio and individuals that are moving on to other careers (particularly medicine) that have been working as a PT for some time. With 55k of debt already hanging over my head I'm concerned that I'll be struggling when I finally get out of all of this.

It's been a constant debate for me whether or not to pursue a DPT or a PA career. PA's a little more difficult because most of the programs require some type of patient-related work. At one point in time my plan was to work as a PTA and then apply to PA school after a couple years. I decided at that time that DPT would be the better option because I'm so close to having the required criteria for admissions. Now once again I'm not so sure.

I question why professional PTs want to leave the profession to pursue another career. After the amount of debt/years and the pressure of being in school to attain the PT credential these professional are going back to do something different. I just don't want to be in a position where after all is said and done, it's not enough. I'm not doing enough and thus plunge back into school and thus more dept on top of what I have already.

Where PTA comes in is that it is offered at my current school. With a mere 7k investent. The salary looks around 37k/ year. From what I hear this salary is going up as well do to basic supply and demand (there's not enough PTAs). Does this sound right to you? I figure this could also get me the experience needed for applying to PT or PA school.

What do you think?
 
lee9786 said:
At this time I'm on track to apply to DPT school this Dec. 2009. I'm currently taking prerequisite classes at a college and am almost completely finished with them (except for physics.) I see data, however, consisting of low salaries/debt ratio and individuals that are moving on to other careers (particularly medicine) that have been working as a PT for some time. With 55k of debt already hanging over my head I'm concerned that I'll be struggling when I finally get out of all of this.

It's been a constant debate for me whether or not to pursue a DPT or a PA career. PA's a little more difficult because most of the programs require some type of patient-related work. At one point in time my plan was to work as a PTA and then apply to PA school after a couple years. I decided at that time that DPT would be the better option because I'm so close to having the required criteria for admissions. Now once again I'm not so sure.

I question why professional PTs want to leave the profession to pursue another career. After the amount of debt/years and the pressure of being in school to attain the PT credential these professional are going back to do something different. I just don't want to be in a position where after all is said and done, it's not enough. I'm not doing enough and thus plunge back into school and thus more dept on top of what I have already.

Where PTA comes in is that it is offered at my current school. With a mere 7k investent. The salary looks around 37k/ year. From what I hear this salary is going up as well do to basic supply and demand (there's not enough PTAs). Does this sound right to you? I figure this could also get me the experience needed for applying to PT or PA school.

What do you think?
Click to expand...

I would take much of what has been historically published on this forum by former PTs with a grain of salt. The DPT forum on SDN is new compared to the rest of the professional forums on the website, so the large majority of contributors are pre-meds, pre-dents so you must consider the population of contributors. I can tell you with absolute certainty SDN is not a representative sample of the PT population.

As for PTA programs, yes, they are not a bad investment but their future is a hotly debated within the profession right now. I like being the professional in charge, not working underneath someone else. I guess for the same reason I couldn't see myself as a PA.

The income discussion exhausts me because it's been way over discussed on this website. I am quite comfortable right now making the salary I do as a trade off for career satisfaction. I get to spend 45' with one patient right now, seeing only 10 patients per day on average. I do not generate as much revenue as other healthcare providers who are expected to see a new patient every 10 minutes. I'll take sanity and satisfied patients as the trade-off for a fatter wallet anyday.
 
Elbrus pleasure to meet you and thank you for taking your time to answer my questions. I understand what you're saying considering a more consistent and relaxed work environment. I believe this work environment fits my personality. I'm generally pretty laid back, likable, and friendly. I'm not sure if my personality fits that of a PA. This would then just contribute to burnout and result in me either leaving the profession or just being unhappy day to day.

Could you elaborate on your statement stating that the future of the PTA is "hotly debated." From what I've been hearing their demand is only increasing. What do you foresee in the future of the PTA?

thanks again
 
From what I am aware of, the biggest differences are a PTA cannot perform evals, and can not perform certain manual manipulations. PTA's definitely offer a valuable service to the field and I don't see why the profession would be eliminated, however I think that many practices in general need to shape up in the field. There needs to be more standards and structure for the field as a whole to progress.

As far as why PT's are leaving the field...Many become bored with the work, complacent, or feel that they have reached a ceiling in income. It should be no secret that there are plenty of issues in the field(just like all other fields), and it only helps that you are aware of them before pursuing a career in physical therapy. But the bottom line is that there are tons of opportunities in the field that exist for those who are passionate enough about something in the field.

I am telling you now though, nobody will make the decision for you. Ultimately only you will be able to decide if this is the right field for you. Other people can only help put things in perspective...Remember that you are putting yourself in more debt by doing a PTA program and then going back to school for PT unless you are going to be working as a PTA while in school.
 
myr11 thanks for the contribution. I'm an individual that needs to know the details. I try to gather information from all sides to make important decisions. When I ask "what do you think" I'm not asking someone else to make a decision for me. I'm just looking for more insight so I can make a more informed decision before investing ~$75k. Why should I go on to PT and invest another ~75k + 3 years? This is my thought process and the question I've been asking myself. I'm on track right now to do this. I just need reassurance that I'm doing the right thing.

Right now my confusion lies with the PTA and their role as well as the future of both PTAs and PTs. I've also been researching the career of PA. I think I'm more of a PT than a PA though. Thank you again for your input.
 
You sound like you are definitely taking the appropriate steps to figuring out what to do. What I meant by nobody will make the decision for you was that even with all of the detailed information and what not it always comes down to you going with your gut instinct or going with what feels right to you regardless of the facts or what others think, even if it means taking on a lot of debt. Even with the facts you may still feel like doing something that goes against that logic. The reason I say this is because I was in the same situation as many of my friends are. I was debating between medical school and physical therapy after seeing the same things you are. The reason you would invest another 75k and go the PT route would have to be because you want to fully treat, and diagnose your patients. Have you had any experience in physical therapy yet?
 
Are you asking about Physician Assistant or Physical Therapy Assistant?😕

Edit: sorry I didn't read the full post.
 
Last edited:
lee9786 what did you end up doing?
 
clo said:
lee9786 what did you end up doing?
Click to expand...

I've decided to pursue the DPT over PA. It suits my personality and goals better. With as far as I am into this process it would be a slap in the face for me to backtrack and go the PTA route. I'm hoping to start a DPT program in 2010.
 
thanks for the update! pm'ed you
 
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