Thinking of going PTA route than PT later

[lee9786]

I can say right now in my life things are going a little bit crazy. I'm running around getting my volunteer hours in. I'm taking the GRE in a couple days. I have been crushed with school and work. My girlfriend has a bigtime career opportunity in the area at one of the local colleges. On top of this I have family issues going on. This has me looking more at the PTA route a lot more. The local college offers this curriculum.

I've heard that PTA is not a stepping stone to PT. I know that none of the clinical trial classes will transfer. On top of this there are only two PTA to DPT transitional programs in the country. The PTA will not necessarily give an applicant an edge over other applicants. I've heard all of this although I disagree with the last one.

On top of the personal stuff going on, the cost of the PTA degree is nil to the DPT at this time. My location is not DPT friendly. Every college is looking to put me over 100k of debt at least.

I'm thinking it may be wise to just complete this PTA program here, work for a while, and position myself in a state where the tuition is more reasonable, and then go whenever it looks more financially feasible. I've also heard that some employers may actually pay for the education in exchange for a signing off on a couple of years of service. Considering I'll have all of the prereqs done for PT maybe this would be more likely.

I've heard people say if you want to do therapy then just go for the PT. Most of this rationale comes from the extra year and costs that would encur to go PTA then PT. Some say it's difficult to go back and get the prereqs. Well if I have all the prereqs then that component is taken out of the equation. The cost of the PTA program really is only 10k which isn't very much in the scope of things. The PT program I currently on track to applying to will put me at around the 120k loan debt mark easily. I just don't know if that is responsible. Of course their is no gaurantee that I'd get into either program. Last sixty credit hours of 3.92 is the best I can do so I'm making calculated assumptions.

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[pttrac]

Do the PTA program and save yourself some money.

 

[DancerFutureDPT]

The only thing regarding prereqs is that most PT schools will only count them for 5 years, so if you have already taken all your prereqs, then take 2 years of PTA programming and then work for a few years, you may have passed your prerequisite window and have to retake them.

That said, depending on where you want to work you can do almost as much with a PTA degree as you can with a DPT (at my current location our PTA has her BS degree and a CSCS certification, and treats patients exactly as the DPTs do, except her progress notes and SOAP notes are electronically verified by a DPT, even though in reality the DPT doesn't oversee what she does). There is also definitely a difference in salary, but when you compare the price of a DPT degree to a PTA community college degree, the salary difference won't make much of a difference until many years down the road after you pay off all your debt.

If I could do it all over again, I would have gotten my PTA degree and then transferred to my university to complete my bachelors, while working part time as a PTA and then apply to PT school. Of course at the time I started college I wanted to be a high school English teacher, so things have changed quite a bit. haha.

Good luck in whatever you decide to do!

 

[MJHUSKERS]

There are plenty of schools that don't care when your pre-req were taken. So don't let that bother you. However...you don't want to be to far out from taking A&P since that class is crucial.

 

[pwrtrainer]

...

 

[lee9786]

Prereqs expiring is definitely a big concern. I'm not too worried about Anat/Physio so if I had to take that again it would be tolerable. I would be worried about taking the chemistries and physics classes though since these classes take up so much time. Unfortunately life doesn't follow the five year prereq rule all the time. I guess I'm hoping some schools would take this component into account.

pwrtrainer the idea would be to position myself in an area where I could attend a good DPT school at the in-state rate. Hopefully school inflation doesn't get that out of control in the next five or so years. At that time I could be an even stronger candidate for DPT school which would allow me to stay close to home so I could take care of my family and maintain a reasonable amount of debt.

I'm definitely aware that I could be making a big mistake. I'm also aware that I could be making a big mistake if I inherit this type of financial responsibility.

There is another component that I've been thinking of recently. I'll be 29 years old relatively soon. Not ancient by any stretch of the imagination but am already starting to feel my body not respond like it use to. I'd be lying if I said I was not concerned about the physical nature of the work and how that might affect me years down the road. I've already had a lower back injury (sacroiliac joint specifically) that seems like it's here to stay. I've flirted with the idea of doing this for ten or so years (or when by body tells me when) as a PTA and then going back to school as a PA at a later time. I could do this with the PTA more than the PT degree because I wouldn't have that financial responsibility making decisions for me.

 

[clo]

for reasons similar to yours I too am strongly looking into the PTA program. As i've stated in past threads I have a family and my income is still needed.

going to school full time and not working is not an option at this time. I am waiting for a call back from one school here in Md. so i can go in and talk to them about my prereqs, etc.....

One concern I have however is the pay scale of the PTA. seeing stats from last year it appears PTA's in the area were making $45k+. What I'd like to find out is how much experience or certifications play into that.

I'm going to start a cert from NASM called Corrective Exercise Specialist. Seeing disfunction and muscle imbalances in the gym kills me and I want to get a cert to gain more knowledge over what I already know.

I am hoping that this will help give me an edge when it comes time start working.

sorry....not trying to hi jack your thread.

 

[PTtoBe]

The route to DPT you're considering (becoming a PTA, then repositioning yourself to an area where DPT is more affordable as a resident) would mean roughly 7 years until you're a DPT (2 for PTA education, 3 for DPT education, a couple for employment and relocation). If you're in your early 20s, it's no big a deal, but if you're in your 30s it's more significant.

Regarding finances, have you factored in the cost of the PTA education, and the difference in PTA vs. DPT salary over the additional amount of time before you're a DPT? The PTA path to DPT could end up actually being more expensive, depending on how things turn out.

At the end of the day, there's no easy route to the DPT. My wife worked, and I studied and took the GRE while simultaneously taking prerequisite classes and shadowing for experience, after which I worked as an aide for 6 months. It was crazy busy, but now I'm in the program. The funny thing is, that all seemed pretty easy-going compared to how busy I am now just as a full-time DPT student. My life revolves around physical therapy. But I'm finding I love it, and I got in, and that's what counts.

I'm not telling you anything new, but only you can decide what you want to do of course. Just think it over carefully and commit yourself once you decide.

There may be a third option too: becoming a PTA and planning on doing that for the next 35 years. PTA's make a decent living, and their demand seems to be increasing due to the shortage of PTs in some areas.

 

[DPTinFL]

This scenario is very specific to the individual and there aren't any correct paths. If your goal is to become a PT and be autonomous then you should not go to PTA school. I agree with PTtoBe, the difference in PT vs PTA salary in 4 yrs can be 150K which is pretty much your DPT tuition but you didn't have to go through the 2 years of PTA school. Remember nothing transfers from PTA to PT school so academically it is a waste of time if you ultimately go to PT school. If you are competitive now with your app and can get into a PT school then do not waste the opportunity. Also it is harder to leave the work force once you are working, making a salary and have to quit to go back to DPT school, basically you get stuck with the lifestyle.
Of course if you just want to be involve in physical therapy then PTA is a great career with good salary and benefits. Just depends on what you want.

 

[Danae00]

.

 

[lee9786]

The cost of going to school for PTA is far more than 10K. You also need to factor in all the money you could have been earning while you were instead in school.

I don't know much about the PTA program you are looking at so I'm going to make some assumptions:

* It is 12 months long
* Tution + books + other fees is $10K
* You currently could find a job (sales, office work, carpenter, etc) that paid $35K a year for a 40h week

Stay with me, this is going to get boring: Given those assumptions above the true cost of going to PTA school would be $10K (tution) + $35K (lost wages) = $45K.

But let's assume that the PTA program isn't all that intensive, and it only takes 25 hours of your week. That means, compared to the situation of working full time, you would have (40-25=) 15 hours free-time to work. Assuming the same hourly wage, that means you would make [35K*(15h/40h)=] $13.5K (approx) a year. In other words, PTA school is really going to cost you (45-13.5K=) $31.5K. Let's round down to $30K to make things easy.

If you were to get a PTA job immediately after finishing PTA school you would need to make at least $45K/year just to *break even* after 3 years. After 5 years you would had only earned $20K more than you would have if you never went to school at all.

That is not all. You have now used up 6 years (1 in school + 5 working) of your prime working years. Therefore, unless you plan on pushing back your retirement 6 years, you have also lost all the money you could have earned those years as a DPT at the height of their career.

What am I trying to get at? If you *know* you truly want to be a DPT then don't waste your time with PTA school. If it is at all possible try to get into DPT as soon as you can. But if you need to save money for a couple of years first then do it in the work force with the skills you have now.

Of course, my numbers may be way off. So plug in the numbers you think are accurate and do the math yourself. Maybe then it will make more sense to do PTA first. But my thought is that it almost never makes sense to go to school for one career when you already know you are planning on switching fields a few years later. School is far more expensive than people tend to realize.

Phew. Sorry for the long post!

Point taken. It would ultimately just be a waste of time and money. Thanks for bringing back to the reality of the educational system. Considering I'll have all my prereqs for PT school prior to PTA that would be a pretty dumb move.

 

[clo]

wow.....I really don't know what to do here....... lee9786 you mind if I jump in here since we are in the same boat?

 

[MIDPT2012]

Let's do some other math here.

PTA program in my state is 2 years. Cost approximately $10K. It is full time for the two years. Maybe you can work 10 hours/week.
Start working end of year 2 for $20.00/hour.
Make approximately $40K a year for year 3 and year 4.
Total $80K in earnings - $10K in school = $70K earnings over 4 years.

DPT is 3.5 years long. Most programs recommend working less than 10 hours per week while in school. It's approximately $74K for school in 3.5 years. Graduate and make $65K - $70K per year.

So end of year 4 as a PTA, you have cleared $70K with a potential to earn $40K to $50K per year. No loans

At end of year 4 as a DPT, have worked 6 months and have $75K in student loans, but have made $35K with the potential to make $70K plus per year.

So, you're making $30K + more per year as a DPT than a PTA. Put that towards your loans and they are paid off in less than 3 years. This puts you at year 7. So you are now a DPT, making more money, and loans paid off.

 

[johncronejr]

I agree with te above poster. Sure the PTA is cheaper and takes less time. But....what's the old saying "Anything worth having is worth working for"? If you think you would be happier as a PTA, then by al means go for that. If you really wat to be a PT, then just do it. When you graduate, put the salary difference (approx. 25K-30K) a year towards student loans and live on what you would have as a PTA, and then you pay the loans off quick and you are doing what you want.

As far as your girlfriend having a great career opportunity.....It is not my intent to offend you, but I have to say this having lived for 44 years and being through quite a few relationships....Your girlfriends great opportunity is just that...HER opportunity. You may, in fact, marry her, have 5 kids and grow old together on a porch swing in the sunshine. However, you may also not do that. Either way, you will be happier in the end if you follow your aspirations. She will understand if she's a keeper.

 

[lee9786]

wow.....I really don't know what to do here....... lee9786 you mind if I jump in here since we are in the same boat?

nope it's a big decision. Everyone's situation is different and people are in different stages of their life. I think the fact that I don't have family obligations now should play into this. Going for PT now seems more doable and less invasive. For some reason I have this notion that if I went for the PTA I'd work in it for a while and then never end up going back for the PT because of other things in life going on. Since I will have all the prereqs I'd also be working against the clock hoping my prereqs didn't expire. Add the fact right now I'm in the acadamia mindset so all the info will be fresh for PT school the material would be more manageable now. It's very possible that if I went for the PTA I'd never go back for the PT.

 

[lee9786]

clo I do know that you would be more marketable to work in an orthopedic outpatient clinic as a PTA than other PTAs because you are currently an ATC.

 

[superCOTA]

At 27 I had a BA in psych. I was taking extra pre-reqs for the MOT.
I got a letter from a local admissions department letting me know that there were a few seats left in the OT assistant program. Having a weak GPA I went for 'any port in a storm.'


Now, at 39 I found a COTA to OT laddering program which I am now hacking away at, but this time I have 2 jobs, 2 kids, and a house to pay on. My GPA sucked and I probably wouln't have done very well at chem202 (waived), but if you can find ANY PT program to say yes, don't waste another minute of time. Just go for it, you will do FINE.

The extra $$$ will be worth more now than 10 years from now, in more ways than one.

 

[clo]

clo I do know that you would be more marketable to work in an orthopedic outpatient clinic as a PTA than other PTAs because you are currently an ATC.

that's one area I'd like to work in. although I'm not an ATC I'm a personal trainer. big difference on the education side. However I could argue that with my 10+ years of experience I'm probably better than some ATC's out there.