Salary of PT vs. DPT

[bigfrank]

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Hi,

My brother is currently in a PT program and has the option of going an extra semester or year (I can't recall) and getting the DPT.

His question is this: Is it worth it in terms of salary? I'm assuming that DPT is going to become the standard of the degree, in the same way the RPh is now becoming Pharm.D. I'm not sure what to tell him.

Does anyone have any insight. Thanks.

 

[doogyhowser]

same thing happened when the master's PT replaced the bachelor degree.

one extra year, that's easy to finish since he's been in this long. even if the salary is not significantly better now, who knows what going to come in the future- DPT may be the new standard. a buddy of mine is finishing up his DPT in vanderbilt and thinks this is the way of the future. plus, he gets to be called doctor and chicks dig that.

 

[uhapt]

Here is the thing, put your self in the position of the hiring person. So two applicants come in both fresh out of school one with a DPT and one with a MSPT. They both had to pass the SAME boards, one had to spend 5 1/2 years in schoo; or 6 (MSPT) and one had to spend at least 7. On that alone knowing the DPT is expecting to get paid b/c of his rightfully earned degree, he/she also have accumulated an extra year of grad school loans, thus they are expecting to be offered more money. So offer the the mspt 45k and get the same quality as a 50k dpt. why not, same boards right. I don't think the pay for DPT's will increase for a while.

But I think your brother should get his DPT, not because of the salary down the road, because education is never a bad investment.

 

[bigfrank]

I think he'll definitely get the DPT, thanks for the advice.

 

[MD2b20004]

it makes no difference, MPT or DPT same salary, u dont seem PharmDs gettin paid more than Rph, or BS Physician Assistants getting paid more than MS ones, and lol a DPT is NOT a doctor, now if you want to be called one because you wish you would have been a real physician and need the title to fill in your insecurities then so be it, but PharmDs and DPTs are not DOCTORS and should not be called Doctors. u said chicks dig it if your brother gets called a doctor when he gets his DPT, not when they know he is a 50K paid doctor

 

[DOctorJay]

I have an MSPT, there is no way I'd get the DPT. I have worked with people who have the DPT and took 4 or 5 times to pass the boards. The letters mean nothing. As mentioned above the DPTs will most likely expect to be paid more but guess what, they're applying for the EXACT SAME JOBS. Most of the time the people doing the hiring have only a MPT if that, the majority probably are still BS level therapists. I love the profession of physical therapy but there are some strange things going on and I didn't want to have to battle for my place in medicine anymore. That's why I went to medical school, but it's awesome that I can work 1 or 2 times a month and make a good amount of money. That's the nice thing about PT, OT, ST - all very flexible schedules and great pay.

-J

 

[truthseeker]

it makes no difference, MPT or DPT same salary, u dont seem PharmDs gettin paid more than Rph, or BS Physician Assistants getting paid more than MS ones, and lol a DPT is NOT a doctor, now if you want to be called one because you wish you would have been a real physician and need the title to fill in your insecurities then so be it, but PharmDs and DPTs are not DOCTORS and should not be called Doctors. u said chicks dig it if your brother gets called a doctor when he gets his DPT, not when they know he is a 50K paid doctor

You are putting words in the original poster's mouth. He never said that chicks dig it when he is called a doctor. Sounds like you might have a problem there. DPTs as a rule do not wish to be called doctor. However, when our patients refer to their chiros as Dr. so and so, we can tell them that they are no more doctors than we are. The real doctors are the MDs and DOs over at the clinic. The patient then replies "well, his title is Dr. so and so" My reply " I have a doctorate too, but you don't call me doctor"

why are you guys so threatened?

 

[truthseeker]

Hi,

My brother is currently in a PT program and has the option of going an extra semester or year (I can't recall) and getting the DPT.

His question is this: Is it worth it in terms of salary? I'm assuming that DPT is going to become the standard of the degree, in the same way the RPh is now becoming Pharm.D. I'm not sure what to tell him.

Does anyone have any insight. Thanks.

I am a PT who has an MS, and I am currently obtaining my DPT. I am also the director of a PT clinic. Therefore I am in charge of hiring new PTs when the need arises. We do not offer more $ for a DPT. I agree with many who have posted here that an entry level PT is an entry level PT no matter what letters are behind their name. That said, a DPT will tend to be more mature, have more clinical time under their belt when they begin their first job. Further, they have more education in pharm, radiology, and motor control theories that a typical BS or MS graduate. I did recently hire a DPT fresh out of school and he is well educated but still wet behind the ears clinically. Proficiency does not come out of a book, but from evaluating and treating patients. The DPT better prepares the new PT to do that.

 

[bigfrank]

...but PharmDs and DPTs are not DOCTORS and should not be called Doctors. u said chicks dig it if your brother gets called a doctor when he gets his DPT, not when they know he is a 50K paid doctor

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