“I’m considering physical therapy as a career path. Should I become a physical therapist (PT) or a physical therapist assistant (PTA)?” This was the question in my email inbox recently from a reader of The PT Student.
If I had a nickel for every time someone asked me that question, I would have retired at the age of 35. (Note to self: charge students 5¢ for the answer to this question from now on.)
If you choose physical therapy for your career path, this is one of the most profound questions you’ll answer. It requires research and a lot of thought. This article will get you started with some of the important information you’ll need to make this decision.
Start with what it will take to get you there. What is the difference between PT and PTA school?
Time to Complete Degree Awarded
A PTA program can be completed in about a quarter of the time it takes to become a PT. But, if you love to learn and have the time, physical therapy is an extremely interesting area of study.
Think about where you see yourself in two to seven years. Is it important for you to get to work as soon as possible because you have a family to support? Or are you young and single, and have all the time in the world? What about the degree itself? Is it important to you to have a terminal degree in your field? Or will you be happy with an associate’s degree because you don’t plan to need a graduate degree for teaching or other pursuits?
The curriculum you need to complete to become a PT is rigorous, but rewarding. PTA courses are tough too, but they are usually at the 100 or 200 undergraduate level, and there are a lot less of them. You should also consider that the grades for courses taken to get into PT school will need to be higher than grades for PTA school. You will need to earn an A (or close to it so your GPA is in the 3.5 and above range) for PT school, while for PTA school, the threshold is usually a C or better.
Think about your strengths and weaknesses as a student. How did you perform in the past, especially with tough subjects? Are you academically ready for rigorous course work? Do you have the time to devote to your undergraduate courses so that you can earn top grades?
Working full-time while attending a DPT program is extremely challenging, if not impossible, due to the full-time nature of the program. You are basically there to eat, sleep and breathe physical therapy, and there are very few DPT programs designed to be completed on a part-time basis. PTA programs allow more time to squeeze in work and family commitments on a daily basis.
Think about your current life circumstances, and be honest with yourself. Can you realistically scale back your work and family commitments to accommodate a full-time school schedule? Or, do you need more flexibility? Are you ready to put things on hold while you go to school full time, or are the things in your life too crucial to let go of right now?
These numbers do not take into account your general living expenses. These are just the amounts you pay to the school; it doesn’t cover rent, food, or anything else. Since PT students go to school full-time, many take out additional loans to cover living expenses. So, you can tack on another $20,000 to $30,000 per year (depending on your situation) to the totals above if you choose PT school.
With some loan payback programs stretching over 10, 20 and even 30 years, you want to be positive that you won’t have any buyer’s remorse. Are you willing to take out loans that you may be paying back for decades? Or do you feel more comfortable paying as you go, which is possible in a PTA program given the lower cost? (In our next article in this series, we will discuss salary, which can help you decide whether the cost of tuition, including loans, is worth it for you.)
So, now you know a bit more about the educational requirements. Next, we’ll discuss the differences between being a PT and a PTA, once you have graduated and started working. Make sure you subscribe to this blog, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter to make sure you get the latest from The PT Student as soon as it’s posted!
Hi Jennifer,
This is a great guide to the difference between a PT and PTA. If you had to give a quick summary of the difference what would it be? I would like to reference you on our PTA guide here –
http://www.healthcarecareersguide.com/physical-therapy-assistant/
Sarah
Thank you for writing this, I thinking of be a PTA instead of a PT. I have a bachelor degree in Kinesiology but since I graduated in 2005 I would have to take a lot of the prerequisites over. As much as I want to be a DPT, I have a child custody on going case that I have to resolve next year that would be around the same time beginning of the program so I’ve using Pinterest for insight but this article sure did help. I’ll follow your website closely.
Hi Stella,
Thanks for your comment. Sounds like PTA would be a great path for you. Many of my PTA students have bachelor’s degrees, kids and jobs. The only class you’d probably have to retake is A&P. If you look for a 1 + 1 program (1 year of general courses + 1 year of PTA courses vs. an integrated program where you take a mix of PTA and non-PTA courses over two years), you could be done in a year, depending on the program. Your starting salary as a PTA is great, and your student loans are low. For the DPT degree, you’re looking at four times as long and 4 times the cost (at least!); but not four times the salary!
That being said, if your dream is truly to become a DPT, don’t let anything get in the way of that dream! It might be difficult, but nothing is impossible! Have you checked out the bridge programs? (http://www.capteonline.org/Programs/Bridge/) They are only located in Ohio and Texas, but offer a path from PTA to DPT.
Best,
Jennifer
Thank you so much for posting this. I’ve been looking all over the web for recent post about becoming a PTA. I have just finished all of my PRE-REQS that i intended for nursing (BSN) but i recently found out about PTA and it feels so right. But i am being discouraged because of people saying being a nurse is better for the pay and because there will always be jobs. Any insight would help
Hi Zen!
Thanks for your comment!
Pay for nurses can be higher than for PTAs, but pay for PTs is about on par with nurses. I agree that there will always be jobs for nurses, but that is true for physical therapy as well! We have a very low unemployment rate, which is projected to either stay low or go lower.
Another thing to consider is the length of education required. You will most likely need a BSN to get a job as a nurse (hospitals with Magnet status do not hire nurses without a bachelor’s degree, e.g.), but to work as a PTA, an associates is all that is needed. Your salary will not go as far if you have more loans to pay off.
One last thing you might consider is the typical schedule of each profession. Nursing care occurs around-the-clock in inpatient settings, whereas almost nobody gets physical therapy before 7 am or after 7 pm. Therefore, you will find that overnight shifts are common with nursing positions, and virtually non-existent with physical therapy jobs. Also, fewer patients will schedule their physical therapy appointments on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day, but nursing care happens 365 days a year. It is more likely that you will work a holiday as a nurse than as a PT or PTA.
Hope that helps!
Jen
Jennifer – this is a very good article. It has helped put things into perspective a little more.
I already have a BA in Fine Arts (Graphic Design) but am making a career change at the age of 26, still pretty young in my book. Seeing that I have a Bachelor’s already, my immediate thought is to go for a DPT.
I have the time for a DPT, but feel I would gain more educational and workplace knowledge with a PTA first. Any insight or suggestions on this? Should I go straight for a DPT or start with a PTA?
Hi Josh-
Thanks! I’m glad the article was helpful. I started PT school when I was 26, so I’m right there with you!
My first question is whether or not you have student loan debt from your undergraduate degree, or any other debt for that matter. If it is a significant amount, personally, I would lean toward a PTA degree. If you have no debt, then give serious consideration to the DPT.
Given the student loan debt to potential income ratio, it’s hard to recommend the DPT these days, especially if a student already has significant undergraduate debt. $150,000 in student loans for a career that starts at $60,000, and tops out around $80,000 mid-career, makes little sense from a strictly financial point of view.
Either way, choose one or the other, but not PTA to PT, unless you have a really compelling reason to do so. None of your undergraduate PTA credits will transfer to your graduate DPT degree, so there is no gain there. And pursuing a PTA degree and then a DPT will only take more time and more money. In fact, when I advise PTA graduates about their next career steps, I often steer them away from the DPT and toward a business degree of some kind, like a bachelor’s or master’s in healthcare finance or business administration. With that degree, it’s easier to position yourself to climb the ladder into healthcare administration or clinic ownership.
I hope that helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
All the best,
Jen
Hi Josh,
I find it really interesting that I’m in a very similar boat as you as far as schooling goes. I also have my BA in Graphic Design and I’m 26 right now. The only difference is that I’m no in the military and I’m getting my Masters in Exercise Health science (which unfortunately doesn’t give me the science pre-reqs that I need). I’m on the fence on if I should do a DPT program when I get out soon from the military or go to school again for PTA. I hope you find the answer you need, but it was helpful seeing that someone else was in a similar situation and had the same BA as me.
-Kaitlyn
Hello Jen,
First I want to thank you for this article, the breakdown helps so much. I have an Associate in Applied Sciences. My question is, how long would it take me to get the proper degree to become a PTA? And where could I take the classes needed to make this happen near Shawnee, Oklahoma?
Thank you in advance for all of your help.
Hi Patrina-
Thanks for reading!
The answer to your first question is, it depends on where you want to go to school, and what courses they’ll require beyond the ones you have already taken. You’ll have to contact the school to which you want to apply, and they will do an evaluation of your previous college courses to determine what they will accept. In general, you can expect most general education courses (English, Math, Psychology, Sciences, etc.) to transfer. But, again, each school will have its own criteria, so it’s best to contact the school for a specific answer to your situation. From there, you can determine how many classes you’ll have left to take, when they are offered by the PTA program, and then, how long it will take you to complete the degree.
To find a PTA program in your area, go to the CAPTE website (www.capteonline.org) and click on their Directory of Programs. To find out if you can take courses at another school and then transfer them to a school with a PTA program, you’ll have to contact the PTA program to find out what they will accept from another school.
Hope that helps!
Jen
Hello Jennifer!
I appreciate what you’re doing for us by creating this site. I’m really getting into reading all of the comments and replies following your article.
For 9 years I’ve been a massage therapist. I enjoy what I do and the impact that I make on a person’s life. I want to have massage therapy be a part of my life for many more years but I can’t see myself physically doing solely this for the next 10-20 years. I’m at a point where I’m interested in taking my career to a different level. I feel as though I’d like to have my own practice of some sort, be the head of something that encompasses total health and wellness and injury prevention and rehabilitation.
My interest is with those who are athletic and helping them with their injuries and recovery process. My target group being primarily professional dancers, gymnast, cheerleaders, etc is ideal.
I have my associate in science degree (2009 graduate) and I’m debating on whether or not I want to go back to school. Unfortunately, I feel as though I’m all over the place. If I do, I’ve thought about a BA in exercise science then a master’s in athletic training or BA in exercise science to DPT. If I don’t go back, then I’ve looked into getting certified as a personal trainer (just for more background knowledge), looking into nutrition certifications and taking more specialized CEU courses such as Thomas Myers’ Anatomy Trains courses or his KMI (Kinesis Myofascial Integration) certification being one of them and somehow owning some kind of clinic in the end.
For DPT, I see how intense the school load is and the time needed to invest. I’m 30 with no family commitments at this point in my life but I also think of the potential of having that one day in the near future. I dread the idea of going through 5-6 years of schooling while throwing a family in there later on and how it could weigh me down. Money is another thing I think about being that I’m currently paying off loans now. (Under $30,000) Despite this, I’ve thought about biting the bullet and just going for it.
I see that you mentioned PTA to BA/ BS/Master’s in healthcare finance/business administration. I never thought about that, I’d still gain a deeper knowledge in different injuries and rehabilitation practices as well as the business aspect. What are the opportunities with a degree in healthcare finance/business administration? I’ve always associated that with working in hospitals only. Or my background and thought process and interest, could pursuing my DPT be a better path?
Thank you! Your insight has been great so far.
Hi Natasha-
Thanks for your comment!
The path forward is full of lots of good choices. The hard part is choosing the best one!
The two opportunities I usually refer to, if you take the finance/business administration route, are rehabilitation administration and clinic ownership. Rehabilitation administration could be in a hospital, skilled nursing facility, corporate- or hospital-owned outpatient clinic, or home health care agencies, among others. The clinic ownership refers to opening your own physical therapy clinic. These are the major areas in which a degree in health care, plus a degree in business or health care administration/finance, combine to allow you to either climb an administrative ladder, or open your own shop, with a bit less steep of a learning curve. Keep in mind that there are folks who specialize in health care administration who have never earned a clinical degree, and vice versa (PTs without business or finance degrees that run departments and own clinics).
One difference between personal training and physical therapy is that insurance pays for patients to get physical therapy. As a personal trainer, your payment base is almost exclusively people who can afford it. As a physical therapist your payment base is people with insurance. (There are some PTs that operate on a cash-only basis, but even then, some of those patients will still submit paperwork for reimbursement after paying cash to the PT.) When the economy is in a downturn, or you operate in economically depressed areas of the country, it can be difficult to earn a living as a personal trainer. Physical therapy co-pays can be anywhere from about $15 to $45 per visit because the rest of the payment (up to $200) is being paid by the insurance company. If someone wants personal training, they are footing the entire bill (about $50 to $100 and up) themselves.
Also, few doctors prescribe personal training, but nearly all of them prescribe physical therapy (although in most cases a prescription is not required by law, but that’s a whole separate discussion). This means that personal training ends up being more of a want, and physical therapy more of a need. If your doctor prescribes medication, you feel compelled to take it; same with physical therapy. If you take a look around, there are probably a lot more physical therapy clinics in your area than personal trainer clinics owned by individuals. There’s a reason for that … there is probably not a market for personal trainer clinics. Most people find personal trainers at their gym. But, there is a huge and growing need for physical therapy clinics in most areas of the country, as more people are added to insurance rolls under the Affordable Care Act, and physicians need places to refer them to.
Additionally, most folks with injuries seek out, or are directed by their physician, to a physical therapist. If your goal is to treat patients with injuries through their recovery process, it’s important to realize that our health care system is set up for these folks to see a PT first. Insurance will not reimburse (and laws generally do not allow) a personal trainer to diagnose and treat a musculoskeletal disorder; that function in the health care system falls to the PT.
This is not to say that one profession is better than the other. In fact, this combination you alluded to (wellness, total health, rehabilitation, etc.) is a compelling and growing segment of physical therapy. Having a PT degree in addition to massage therapy, for example, means that you can extend your payment base by offering both. Once physical therapy insurance benefits are exhausted, the patient can become a self-pay personal training or massage client.
If your dream is to own your own clinic, I strongly suggest either the PTA or DPT degree vs. a personal training or other similar certification. Remember, that as a PTA, you’ll need to partner with or hire a PT to operate the clinic because PTAs must work under the direction and supervision of a PT.
If you feel that obtaining a PT or PTA degree is out of your reach for financial or other reasons, maybe you can seek to partner with a PT clinic. They provide the physical therapy, and you provide the personal training (wellness, total body fitness, etc.) and massage therapy.
I hope that helps! Best of luck!
Jen
I’m part of the class of 2017, It’s been my dream to be a PTA for as long as I can remember, a couple years ago I realized I actually wanted to be the one working on patients, helping their recovery process, I have fallen in love with St Ambrose University but they do not have an APTA certified program, Can I go through the Doctoral Program and with that schooling become a PTA or are the programs and schooling too different to do that?
Hi Hannah-
Thanks for your comment!
To become a PTA, you need to select a school that offers a PTA degree. A list of those institutions can be found on the CAPTE website. CAPTE is the organization that accredits PT and PTA programs. All states now require licensing for those wanting to practice as a PT or a PTA, and in order to obtain a license, you must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited school.
Here is CAPTE’s website: http://www.capteonline.org
I hope that helps! Best of luck!
Jen
hi i’m currently studying exercise science at University of texas at austin, and i’m planning to go to PTA school instead of going PT school. So my question is that having bachelor degree of Exercise science have advantage when i getting a job as PTA? and I’m international student, does it really affect when i getting a job without US citizenship?
Hi Jay-
Thanks for your comment!
The answer is … it depends! Each employer will have different qualifications that they look for. Some will see it as an advantage, some won’t, and some will be indifferent to it. The advantage is that you have additional depth of knowledge in the exercise physiology portion of physical therapy treatment. But, that may not matter as much if your patient caseload is, for example, dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
I advise you to speak with employers in your area that you would be happy working for and getting some opinions on how they see your degree.
All the best,
Jen
This is quite personal for myself and I’ve been asking the question: PT or PTA for awhile now. I hope you can help with my situation. I’ve never personally been to a pt clinic but know this is my passion due to a tragic accident leaving a family member physically disabled. I’ve been told pt career is full of paper work. I want to be personal with patients and hands on. So PTA sounds more appealing but I also am indecisive because might as well Persue pt doctorate if it means being able to provide my future family. It’s hard I graduated recently two years early and now I’m stuck. Should I settle for PTA with decent salary or continue and possibly struggle 4-6 years of PT. I don’t want to disappoint anyone including myself later on. I would greatly appreciate your opinion thank you
Hi Bethanie-
Thanks for you comment!
I think the best way for you to find out what you want to do is to experience it first hand. Volunteer in multiple physical therapy environments and speak to both PTs and PTAs. You’ll have an idea of what the paperwork is like (yes, it is a lot!), and whether this career is really for you.
All the best,
Jen
This was a very good read.
A little about myself, I’m 25 years old. I graduated in May 2016 with BS in Supply Chain & Logistics. I used to start off college as a pre-med, but after my father passed away and my family began to struggle financially, I didn’t do very well in my science classes and knew I didn’t have a change to get into Medical School.
I pursued a business degree, because I know how versatile it is, that it can even be applied in the medical field.
I think lately there have been 3 reasons why PT and/or PTA crossed my mind:
(1) I was very good at casually massaging my family and friends, especially whenever they got injured & learning the bio mechanics of the human body to make them feel better was fascinating to me.
(2) I currently work an 8-5 job in logistics, and 70-80% of my time is data entering, which does make time fly but then I get not satisfaction with making a huge difference in someone’s life as I would as a PT or PTA.
(3) I’ve taken care of my student loans, however, I plan to start a family in the next 3-4 years, and I want to not only pursue something I would enjoy but also be able to financially provide for my family and not let money be an issue to travel around the world.
My questions are:
(1) Assuming I wanted to pursue in PT School, with my poor grades in my previous science classes that I took back in 2010-2013, do they still matter? My guess is that they do because PT schools will average the science classes that I retake and I would need to take addtional upper level classes, along with having the time to volunteer and shadow physical therapists, & getting a good score on the GRE.
Sure does sound like a lot of work JUST to get into PT school, & I’m sure it is probable but PTA programs seems like it will play more favors for me financially and is more time friendly.
So my next question is (2) What would you say is the average salary between PT & PTA’s.
(3) How many PTA’s have you known who have participated in the Bridge Program to become DPT’s?
I ask this third question because I know that some nurses go into the field, then go back to school to become a Nurse Practitioner (almost the same as a Doctor). So I would guess it is possible for PTA’s to do the same.
(4) How competitive is it to get into a PTA program?
(5) How do PTA students get their jobs after they complete the program and the board exam?
Last but not least…(6)Will me retaking Anatomy and Physiology replace my old A&P grade or be averaged when trying to get into a PTA Program.
Please feel free to share your input. Thank you so much for your time.
Hi Chandrima-
Thanks for your comment!
I’m sorry to hear about your dad.
I’d love to be able to answer all of your questions, but many of them will depend on the school you apply to. For example, each school will have its own level of competitiveness, so I can’t really tell you how competitive it is to get into overall. And, each school will have its own methods for calculating GPA (some will replace your old A&P grade, and some will average it, e.g.). Plus, I’d need more specifics (your actual GRE, etc.) that I would not feel comfortable asking you to post publicly. Even if I had that information, much of the answers to your questions would still depend on the school you want to apply to.
My best advice is to keep digging and doing a little more research. Start with the schools you are interested in and check their websites for requirements. Also, spend as much time as you can in multiple physical therapy environments, speaking with PTs and PTAs about this career path.
If you keep reading the articles in this series, you can find answers to some of your other questions (i.e., salary differences between PTs and PTAs and whether you should pursue a PTA, then PT degree).
All the best,
Jen
Hello,
It is a too good article post indeed.
You cleared a difference between PT and PTA very well. Thanks a lot for sharing this article.
~Ray
Hello,
This is a great site! Thanks for providing insight into PTA and PT. I have a situation for which I need your expert advice, please. I have a Kinesiology undergrad degree. Currently, I am enrolled in the DPT program. I successfully passed three trimesters. In the fourth trimester I got an F in Neuromuscular II as I could not clear the Written Treatment Plan practical, due to which I have been terminated from the program. What could be my options now? Please advice.
Thanks,
Hi Al-
What are the options are you considering? Starting over at a new DPT program? A PTA program? Trying to transfer credits to another DPT program? In most cases you would either have to apply to the PT/PTA school (to start over), or contact the school and see what there transfer policy is.
All the best,
Jen
Hi Jen,
This article has been very helpful and I appreciate you taking the time to write it. I just graduated in May of 2016 with my Bachelor of Science Degree in Sport and Exercise Science. I had never heard of PTA until the end of my Junior year and by then it was too late. So I just finished my degree and decided not to go onto graduate school because I was ready to be done with school for a little bit and I wanted to start working to pay off some of my debt. I had a hard time finding a job after graduation because I didn’t go onto grad school for athletic training, physical therapy, kinesiology, etc. During those next few months after graduation when I was working at a bank, doing nothing what I went to school for, I started thinking more and more about the PTA program. I thought I could complete the program in a shorter period of time just because a lot of the classes I took in undergrad were also required in the PTA program but the couple schools I talked to said that I would still need the full 2 years to complete their program. I was trying to read some of the comments above and I saw you talking about a 1 + 1 program..just wondering if you could give me a little more information on that. I am really passionate about Physical Therapy and helping people but I am concerned about the DPT program because of all the debt. So I think I have convinced myself that the PTA route is the way to go. Just wanted to see if you had any other advice you could send my way. Right now I am working as a CryoTherapist and I absolutely love my job, but I am still interested in PTA. Just trying to learn more about it and the different programs. If I could go to school and still work that would be ideal! I just don’t know how that would work if I still want to get done in two years.
Thanks in advance for all your help 🙂
Katie
Hi Katie-
I’m so glad this information is helpful to you!
A 1+1 program is set up so that PTA students take all of their general education courses in year one and all of their PTA courses in year two.
Unfortunately, there is no way to filter for these programs on CAPTE’s website listing of all PTA programs. The only way to find them is to look up the curriculum at each school and see how their courses are arranged. If all of the PTA courses are in year two, you have found a 1+1 model.
It is possible that if you emailed CAPTE, they may be able to provide you with a list of programs that operate under the 1+1 model. According to CAPTE, 103 programs, out of a total of 339 PTA programs were classified as 1+1 curricular models.
All the best,
Jen
Hello,
I was wondering if PTA work in school systems like secondary or high school?
Yes, PTAs are employed in the school system. But, I believe there are more occupational therapy (OT) assistant positions than PTA positions in most school districts. So, if you really want to be in the school system, I would advise checking out OT too.
All the best,
Jen
Hi Jennifer! This is an amazing life changing article for myself. I guess what’s really left is to ask you for your opinion, as a long time DPT. Im 28, I’m currently attending the University of Houston. I moved from Miami by myself when I was 25 and made it a priority to finish school and become a DPT. When I moved I waited out a whole year to avoid the out of state tuition. I had received my AA at a community college in Miami but UH only accepted approx. 16 of them! Anyway, I am now about to enter my last 30 credits beginning this spring so I will be graduating in Spring 2018, ill be 30 then. I will also have about 45-50k in undergraduate debt :(. I do need to work to make ends meet as I live with my GF and we split bills so it does help. I looked into the possibility of going to a PT program in Puerto Rico as I noticed the Tuition is about $4,700. Which is absolutely affordable however, as you said I would still need to make some type of money to make ends meet but my gf is on board following me so again it does makes thing less expensive. I figure pulling out about 60-70k in loans for 3 years plus cheap tution and my current loans would all amount to approx. 130k give or take. By the time I am done with the program I will be about 33-34. Basically, do you personally think its worth it or would you go the PTA route? Also is it possible to simultaneously finsih my BS – excercise science and attend the PTA program? I just did A&P 1 this past semester and done with all my pre reqs. Just missing most of my sciences. Thank you so much time for taking the time! You have gave me a lot to think about!
Hi Diego!
Ah, the “should I or shouldn’t I question”. I get this all the time and I always answer the same way … I wish I could give you the answer, but it really is up to you. What would be “worth it” to one person, might not be “worth it” to another. I can give you all of the information about average school fees, time frames, student loans, salaries, and my personal experience, but you have to take that information and decide for yourself.
I wish I could give you an answer to your second question as well, but this is a very personal decision that depends on many factors. Whether or not you can complete a BS and a PTA degree at the same time depends on location, cost, your academic ability, your time management skills, course schedules, personal commitments and more.
Pop back in sometime and let me know what you chose!
All the best,
Jen
Hi Jennifer,
I’m having the same type of trouble with a lot of people here. I’m currently pursuing my bachelor’s degree at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Physical Education and Sport: Exercise Science Emphasis. I’ve had a lot of experience with physical therapy personally from playing sports in high school and as a result had to have reconstructive ankle surgery. I had gone to PT two times beforehand, but something was different about the third time. I just fell in love with physical therapy right then and there. The trouble I’m having is whether to go for the DPT after my bachelor’s or go to a PTA program. I plan on getting my CSCS certification after I graduate because I have an interest in the strength and conditioning field as well, but the pay isn’t good to make a career out of it. I also have recently developed a love for aquatics, so I’m planning on getting certified as a water safety instructor, lifeguard, and aquatic pool operator by taking courses offered within my Kinesiology department. So with those I also wan’t to become a certified aquatic therapist. Alot of my professors have told me that if I plan on doing physical therapy, then taking aquatic courses and becoming an aquatic therapist would be a great addition to my resume. I only have a year of schooling left after this semester. I’ve spoken to the department head from one of the PSU satellite campuses that offer a PTA program. She told me that having a background in exercise science would be very helpful if I wanted to pursue the PTA route. But I don’t know which one to do. I’d like to be there helping my patients and leading them through the exercises and watching them progress through their treatment, thought I’d like to also be apart of the prescription process as well. Though I don’t want to be stuck with a load of paperwork that a lot of people have told me PT’s do. I’ve been thinking that the PTA route would be best because I wouldn’t come out with a lot more debt that I’ve already accumulated and I’d only have to go for four or three semester since some of my courses from my bachelor’s would transfer into the program. Though alot of people have told me that they can see me doing either route, with a lot of them telling me to do the DPT because it’s more money. PTA though from what I’ve researched offers a pretty decent salary in PA and pretty much every state. In PA the median salary for a PTA is about $50,000 and a PT is about $80,000. I just keep going back and forth between both routes. For the amount of schooling a DPT has to go through for that type of salary, it kinda makes more sense to go for the PTA because it’s less schooling, especially for me. Though I just turned 22 so I still have a lot of years ahead of me. What’s your opinion on my situation? Anyone else is welcome to comment as well! Thanks!
Hi Courtney!
Making this choice is a tough one, and it came up so often with my readers that it led me to write this post. The best I can do is provide you with all of the information, but then it is up to you to decide whether you should pursue a DPT or become a PTA. One more piece of information I can add is that PTAs are not exempt from paperwork. All medical professionals are required to document patient care in some way, and in most cases must also submit forms and other paperwork to an insurance company.
Whether a CSCS certification or aquatic courses will be beneficial to you depends on many factors, for example the job market and the consumer market in your area. I’m just not knowledgeable enough about that to provide any advice on that aspect of your career exploration.
Best of luck in whichever path you choose to pursue!
Jen
Hello. I’m 25 years old and have been interested in the PT field during nursing school. I was thinking about going for the PTA. I have observed two Outpatient clinics. The PTA program at the community college doesnt start up again till 2019. In Maryville, I can pursue either biology or exercise science then go do the 6 year DPT THERE. I’m still deciding which path to take. What scholarships can I look into? Thank you for your response.
Hi Britney-
The American Physical Therapy Association’s website (http://www.apta.org/CurrentStudents/ScholarshipsAwards/) is a great place to start.
All the best,
Jen
Hi Jen,
Hope you’re still reading these comments in 2017. Thank you this very helpful article. I wanted to ask for a little advice on my situation. I have a bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, but my cumulative GPA is 3.1 and my science a little lower than that at 2.8. I would have to re take 2-3 science courses at my local community college to raise that 2.8 to around 3.0. I currently have about 40k loans from undergraduate study. Would you recommend the PTA route in my situation? I’ve always had interest in PTA since I am not a fan of paperwork that the PT’s have to do (is it true that there is a lot of paperwork?) and rather be hands-on with patients.
Also, do you know anything about the future outlook of PTA jobs? And how about the job satisfaction of PTA? I’ve been doing a lot of research and have found mixed opinions on satisfaction.
Hi Chris-
Is the cost of PT school worth it? This question is coming up more and more with my students and colleagues.
From a strictly financial point of view (i.e., cost-benefit ratio), there is no question that PTA is better, especially in the short term. But, alas, life is always more complicated! Only you can decide which one you should pursue based on your individual circumstances.
In terms of paperwork, PTs and PTAs have about the same. If a PT must document a treatment session with a patient, so must a PTA. I suppose PTs would have slightly more paperwork considering that PTs examine and evaluate the patient and must create the initial evaluation paperwork. Outside of patient documentation, I have not been in a situation as a PT where I had to do more billing paperwork than a PTA. Every now and again the PT might need to write a letter of medical necessity on behalf of a patient, or perhaps a follow-up letter to a physician. Outside of those differences, to my knowledge, there is not much difference between the paperwork requirements of a PT and a PTA.
The employment outlook for both PTs and PTAs is good. I have yet to find any statistic stating that there will be less jobs in the future; most conclude that the profession is only growing.
I’m sure job satisfaction results will vary depending on the person. One thing I keep hearing anecdotally is about the burn-out from being overworked. This is happening a lot to my colleagues and former students who work in outpatient and skilled nursing facilities that are being bought out by large corporations. The consistent story I hear is that the new management is more focused on financials than patient care and employee satisfaction. I’m not sure how all of that will turn out. If employers consistently find that their employees are leaving due to burn out, and they are having a difficult time finding new employees, they might be forced to change their ways. Or, if there are enough PTs and PTAs in that area to staff the facility (even with high turnover), management could continue on that path. Something to be aware of though. You can get a sense of that kind of environment by volunteering in multiple facilities. It will be very obvious if the staff is burnt out.
All the best,
Jen
Hi Jennifer,
I have read the comments here, and as a PTA I am a little disappointed that I did not go straight to PT school, especially after reading this. I have debt from my undergrad ~27K, and I paid out of state tuition for my PTA degree (roughly 3x as much) so I owe a total of around 35K right now. I had this epiphany last year that I would go back to school because I am poor. Of course living in an area with high cost of living does not help anything. I feel like I work very hard for my money, yet I feel that I still must budget somewhat tightly, and cannot live my life how I want at age 33 because of finances. I took the GRE and matched the score I wanted. I sent in all the things they asked me to, and then – silence. They finally got back to me just to tell me to talk to an advisor. There are so many skills I would love to have as a PT, but it sounds like going back now would be ridiculous based on comments listed here. I am strongly considering attending the UTMB Bridge program (60K for out of staters) for folks like me who have discovered how much they love their job as a PTA, but also how they feel like they do not make enough. I have done my research and been asking many of my PT friends about the cost-benefit ratio and I wanted to pursue it even more because the cost-benefit ratio seemed to be in favor of going through the Bridge program, and I would be more marketable because of my skill set. My PT friends as also very supportive of the idea.
Questions:
Why are there so many PTA’s going to get their DPT?
Is there any other benefit to remaining a PTA besides saving money on the cost of school?
What benefits do you see for becoming a PT if already a PTA, if I do not want to purse business or administration?
Thank you for your help.
Katy
Hi Katy-
Thank you for your comment.
According to APTA only about 10% of PTAs choose to continue their education to become a PT (http://www.apta.org/PTA/Careers/PTAtoPT/). That much I can tell you. I can’t answer your question about why these PTAs choose to follow that path because each individual will have their own circumstances and reasons.
Certainly, if you are already feeling the squeeze of debt from your previous degree(s), adding additional debt won’t improve that situation. And, obtaining a DPT degree does not guarantee that your financial situation will improve. In fact, based on the research I’ve done, your financial situation is likely to get worse and not better if you pursue a DPT degree. DPT programs are nearly always full time, which means that you would be adding to your loans not only the cost of tuition and fees, but the cost of your living expenses, unless you have three year’s worth of living expenses saved, or another way to feed and house yourself while you attend PT school. The employment market right now just doesn’t support the salary required for DPTs to justify the student loan debt, in my opinion. In other words, the bump in salary you would get from becoming a DPT would most likely not cover the bump in your monthly student loan payments. (This is true if you choose to work for someone else, which most PTs do. If you choose to open your own PT clinic, you increase the likelihood that you will make more money.)
So, if you’ll be worse off financially after pursuing a DPT, you would need to decide whether or not the non-financial benefits are worth it. Pursuing a DPT means that you will be practicing at the highest level of the field, creating the patient’s plan of care, instead of following it. If you want to call increased responsibility a benefit, then as the PT, you would have the benefit of being legally responsible for the actions of PTAs to which you delegate elements of the plan of care. In terms of other career path benefits, there is not much difference. Both PTs and PTAs can head rehab departments, own clinics and fill academic roles. For more information about the specifics, see the third article in this series: https://theptstudent.com/pt-or-pta/
Unless you work for an institution willing to pay for your DPT degree or have another way to complete a DPT degree without adding additional debt, strictly financially speaking, there is just no benefit for a PTA to pursue a DPT degree. That being said, there may be intangible benefits such as a sense of accomplishment, being the decision-maker for your patient, or the satisfaction of knowing you hold a terminal degree in your field. It is up to each PTA to decide whether those intangible benefits are worth it, or if you want to pursue something a little outside the box that might be just what you were looking for.
This is why I advocate that PTAs pursue degrees and expertise, or otherwise invest time, in a related or complimentary field. For example, business, healthcare finance, innovation of rehabilitation products, computer coding, law, a second language, research, educational technology, political science, etc. Imagine that you spent three years going to law school instead of PT school, and now you’re a lawyer with healthcare expertise … or, like me, you invested time into learning computer coding and educational technology, and now have a web-based business assisting students through their physical therapy programs and licensure exams … or you pursued an idea you had to invent upper extremity slings that stay put on two-year-olds that fracture their clavicles (true story … I’m still trying to figure it out after my daughter fractured hers!). The point is, don’t get stuck thinking a DPT is your only path for advancement. Be creative and you might find success in unexpected places!
I hope this is helpful!
All the best,
Jen
Jen,
Holy moly, I have looked for guidance, counseled with my colleagues, prayed, researched, etc, for almost a year. I think your response was the cherry on the sundae. It highlighted some of the facts I had found myself about PTA to DPT programs and transitions, as well as provided me with a perspective that I had not yet obtained. I really tried to ask you questions that were quality enough to give me the answer I needed, and I want to thank you for the time you put into your response. I feel like you opened my mind to other things I am interested in and other educational opportunities I have wondered about. I have come to learn that I might be motivated by money for a moment, but that will not get me through the times when school makes me question, “What the heck have I done?” Additionally, I am glad that you are so frank about the financial situation post-DPT. At some point I did read all of the articles you wrote associated with this first one I commented on. It all has brought me to this point of decision, which has taken a weight off my shoulders.
I think I could have been a good PT, and my colleagues feel the same, but I have no need to prove that to anybody – I think I felt a little bit of that as well. I felt as though my fears of not being successful in such a difficult program and making it through the prereqs had got the best of me which is why I chose PTA instead of PT in the first place. As you said, motivations and reasons will vary for everybody and I knew that when I inquired of you, and now I know my motivations and I will likely use them to be successful in some other area. If I invent a sling that stays in place on 2 year-olds after a clavicle fracture, I will give it to you as a gift!! 🙂
Sincerely,
Katy
Hi Katy-
So glad I could help! Can’t wait to see the sling!
All the best,
Jen
Hi! I am Bella. And english is not a native language for me, so i may have some grammar mistake.
The first question is
What does pta program exactly mean? Does it mean that if i do a pta program in college, that becomes my major?….I mean is there a major like pta?…
I hope you can understand the point that i am struggling with…
Does doing a pta program in college have same meaning with majoring pta?
I heard that pta needs a science relevant major..So there isn’t a major like physical therapy?
Hi,
I was wondering if there’s a website where they listed all the 1+1 program. I try searching online, but only can find 1 or 2 schools that offer such program. If not, do you any that offers such program? Thanks
Hi Haifu,
All of the accredited programs in the U.S. are found on CAPTE’s website (www.capteonline.org). There does not appear to be an option to filter results by program design, but at least you can find all of the programs in one spot.
All the best,
Jen
Hi my name is Selena. I am 22 years old and have Associate Degrees. I went to a university for 2 years, transferred to a community college when I go married. My husband is military so we moved out of state. I am currently stuck with what I want to do. I have had two jobs as a PT Tech at two different locations, one in Texas and I currently work as a tech in North Carolina. My husband and I are getting ready to move and the city we are going to has a university where I would be able to continue for a Bachelors degree. But, they also have to CAPTE PTA programs an hour away from each other. Right now I have no kids, but I have $22,000 debt in student loans. This was accumulated when I was going to my first university. I haven’t pulled out a loan since 2015, but I am thinking I might need to with either way I go.
My biggest question I have been thinking about is, should I go the PTA rout or PT rout. I have the Associates already, so I was thinking PTA since its faster and chances are I wont get in much more debt. But, I am not sure if I am making a right choice? What if I go for PT but don’t get accepted in the DPT program. My bio 1, and chem 1 and 2 grades are not strong. I just feel that PTA will be best for me, but then I don’t want to fell that I am cutting myself short for not trying. At my current job we do not have any PTAs in our clinic, but another branch does. My first tech job we have a PTA and she loved it. She and also other PTAs have told me to go the PTA rout since they do almost the same thing and don’t have to worry about student loans as much. I love my job now, but I want to do more. I am almost certain I can be accepted in a PTA program and start either in the summer of 2018 at one school or fall of 2018 in another school. I feel my options may be better going for the PTA rout. That being said, I read in your reply to someone about bridge opportunities. I am from Texas, so hopefully I can qualify for in state tuition there if I chose the PTA rout and apply for the bridge program.
I am sorry for my long post. But Jen, what do you think you’d do in a situation like mine? I am more afraid of continuing for my Bachelors and not getting into a DPT program and then having student loans for that I cannot pay for. If you were in my shoes, what do you think the best option would be?
Some of this information is misleading. This article makes it sound like PTA school is a walk in the park. It’s not. I’m currently a PTA student and school is vigorous and full time. We have classes M-F 9 -4. Attendance is required. It is recommended we don’t work or work very little. We have 3 full time externship we must complete. I’m in a public university and the cost is 45,000. My program accepts 24 students a year. The minimum requirement is a 2.8 GPA but no one in my cohort had less than 3.5. The other half that applied didn’t get in. Most of us in my class have a bachelor’s prior to the program and some of us Master’s degrees. I would say a good portion of us PTA is a career change. Most of us made straight A’s for our prerequistes. There are very few of us who are maintaining straight A’s because it’s challenging content. PTA school isn’t the easy way out. You still need to be dedicated.
Also you need to research what each Job entails. What role do you want to have? Do you want to be in charge them go to PT school. Do you want to help people be better versions of themselves but don’t want the extra responsibility then go to PTA school.
Hi Jen,
I’ve been reading through all the comments on this post and everything has been very helpful so far. I commented on another person’s post involving a person with a similar degree as me. Just to recap: I have a BA in Graphic Design, and I’m almost done with my Master’s in Exercise Health Science and Human Performance. I have been very lucky in the finance department because the Military has paid for all of my school–when I finish my contract, I have the GI Bill to pay for further school. I noticed many people talking about how a huge reason why they didn’t go the DPT route was because they didn’t want to go into further debt. Based on my situation, it is pushing me to want to go the DPT route because after school is over, I luckily won’t have as much of the burden. I am also looking into the option of returning back to the military as a PT in the National Guard or Reserves (but that is an idea that I need to funnel towards a recruiter on how that career would look). Part of me wants to go the full route, but it is a hard pill to swallow thinking about at least 5-7 more years of school is in my future. I’m 26 now and have a year left of my masters, then I need to get my pre-reqs to even qualify for the DPT program (1-2years of work), then hopefully make it in a DPT program on the first try (if I get in I assume 3-4years). A lot to think about, but I feel that if I have the opportunity to have school pay for it…maybe it will be worth it. Thank you for your opinion, and I understand if you can’t answer any of these questions due to the fact that it is really just up to what I want in the long run.
Cheers!
Kaitlyn
I have an AA in biology graduated in 2015 and a BS in pre-PT graduated in 2018. Do you think I have to take other classes or could I just study for the NPTE to be a PTA? I took bio, physics, chem, anatomy and physiology, medical science, all 1 and 2 English math..etc. Thank you
To obtain a license to practice physical therapy in the U.S. you must graduate from a CAPTE-accredited PT or PTA school (www.capteonline.org).
Each state has licensing requirements for PTs and PTAs. Those requirements state that that individual has to graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program. To find the requirements of the state you want to practice in, go to fsbpt.org, or search for your state’s healthcare licensing agency (Department of Public Health, e.g.).
Jennifer -I am close to ending my fall semester in my second year with pursing a B.A in Community Health and considering to transfer in the summer to get begin a PTA program but unsure if is a good idea or if I should wait until I get my B.A in 2021 then go and get my associates in the PTA program.
I think I want to become a PTA but I wanna work with sports physical therapist and maybe be a travel pta what would be the starting salary and how much would I make with 1-2 years of experience. Would either of them be 60k ?
Jennifer- I got my A.A in education elementary, in 2016. I realized I don’t enjoy teaching. It’s now 2019 I am 25 years old. No kids or anything holding me back. I am having a hard time on deciding should I get an A.S in PTA. Because I already have an “A”.A, I don’t feel that it would be smart to get another “A”.S. I am not sure if want to do 6 years of school for PT. Is it smart to get an A.S in PTA? Is it smart to get another “A”? I honesty like PTA, but I want a bachelor degree. What should I do?
– HELP!
Hi Jennifer,
Thank you so much for this post. It was really helpful. I am about to graduate with my MS in kinesiology this year. I have been contemplating DPT for years now. Looking back, I thought i shouldve just tried reapplying to DPT after BA but no luck for me during those time. Ive only tried applying once. After a year break, I thought a MS would be nice. so I did. Long story short, I am now contemplating whether to take on DPT or PA or PTA.I know it sounds very unorthodox. DPT tuition scares me but the schooling is fine. I will have loans after my MS but no other ones besides that. if you were in my position what would you do? I would really appreciate it hearing back from you!
Kindly,
Marian
I think it changed a lot in past years now… my PT did not know if PTA was that competitive program now either. I told her that some of the students couldn’t get into the PTA program even though they had all As in pre reqs. And some students even had to wait for three semesters to get in because of waiting list. I think job market is challenging. But it is true that PTA is still less time consuming anyways and less cost but not less competitive. So this article and her comments are more like “it all depends your situation.” I think it is true but some comments are misunderstanding. But thanks to the author I could clear my mind at some point anyways 🙂
Hope your journey goes well.
Best wishes
I graduated in 2010 with a bachelors in kinesiology and have done over 150 hours of physical therapy hours. I was going to go straight into PT school but i had a brain tumor found with many set backs. I still want to move forward. I am now a personal trainer and debating on becoming a physical therapy assistant. I know its less school and less money but i am struggling with income as it is. I dont know what schools I can apply to for PTA in New York and dont know if i have to take the GRE. (which im currently trying to study for but really dont want to) Does anyone have advice or information that can help?
I graduated in 2010 with a bachelors in kinesiology and have done over 150 hours of physical therapy hours. I was going to go straight into PT school but i had a brain tumor found with many set backs. I still want to move forward. I am now a personal trainer and debating on becoming a physical therapy assistant. I know its less school and less money but i am struggling with income as it is. I dont know what schools I can apply to for PTA in New York and dont know if i have to take the GRE. (which im currently trying to study for but really dont want to) Does anyone have advice or information that can help?
Im also confused on whether or not i would have to re take courses for PT or PTA since there is a 5-7 year acceptance on credits from graduation. Or is it 10 years?