Value of PT Technician work before DPT

[Lizarde]

I have an interview Friday for a part-time PT technician job (outpatient ortho), but as I currently teach Pilates I'm wondering if it will be worth juggling two jobs (and making my current boss a little unhappy along the way). I'm not looking at the tech job to help me get into PT school but to have more experience and feel more comfortable once I am in school.

Does anyone have an opinion about whether working as a PT tech will better prepare me for DPT school? I have observed in a similar setting for about 60 hours, but observing and doing are very different of course.

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[MinnDasota]

Truthfully, each practice is different and your experience as a tech can vary. I suggest observing a day at that practice, ask the other techs their experiences, and base your decision on that.

If you haven't had "hands on" experience and have only shadowed, it may benefit you to work as a tech if that's what you're looking for. Either way, what you will get to do is still limited and I don't know how much it will affect your comfort level once in PT school.

 

[markelmarcel]

I'm actually really interested in getting a job as a tech because I will have a free gap of about 9 months between when I'm done with my prereqs and when the program I'm applying to starts. I'm definitely going to try to get the job prior to finishing my reqs but I'm having a hard time finding jobs.

 

[blumonsoon]

To be honest, if you are interested in physical therapy, I would take it. Each setting is very different from the next and the hands-on experience goes a LONG way. Even though tech jobs are mostly cleaning up, in some jobs, you will get to learn a lot about the exercises and help others correct their form, give ice, muscle stem, etc... Plus, extra experience can only help. 🙂 Good luck deciding.

 

[callmecrazy]

I would suggest asking at the interview just what sort of work you will be doing there and then weigh out the benefits. Like others have mentioned, what falls into the job description can vary greatly from one clinic to another. I have seen techs that spend all of their time working with patients, and I've seen techs that spend all their time "stuffing charts" in the front office, and it is dependent on so many factors.