Do you think its an ok career to go in? I know they start off with like 45k then sooner or later up to 50k. So what type of house can I afford if I have a wife bringing in around the same amount as me ( 45k- 50k) also type of car? Is there a way I can practice this and go back to school and Become a Physical Therapist ( not an assistant) ?
#1 by jannsody on January 15, 2010 - 2:15 pm
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The job of a PTA is supposed to be quite physically as well as emotionally draining, just fyi. The salary may depend on one’s geographic location, if one works under a contract (usually a higher hourly wage but without health benefits) and the type of setting (nursing homes usually pay a lot more than hospitals). To become a Physical Therapist, a master’s degree in PT is usually the minimum which is basically about six years of college if attending on a full-time basis.. The PTA degree doesn’t act as a stepping stone for PT school but, as you’d mentioned, may help to pay for further schooling if the facility that one is employed with offers tuition reimbursement. For PTA or PT, one must successfully complete clinical fieldwork where one has an actual patient caseload and then pass the licensing or registration examination.
For general career info: http://www.bls.gov/oco and can type into search.
For possible volunteer opportunites: http://www.volunteermatch.org
#2 by *au natural* on January 15, 2010 - 2:55 pm
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I think it’s a good career. It’s a bad idea if you eventually want to become a physical therapist. You’d be wasting time and money. But you can definitely work as a PTA and go to school for PT because that is what A LOT of PTA’s are doing. Which should tell you something. (*wink*wink*)
If you know for sure that you want to be a PTA and stay that way then definitely go for it. But if you think somewhere down the line you’ll want to change your mind and become a PT, don’t waste your time going to school for PTA. Like the first poster said, it’s not a stepping stone (as far as schooling is concerned).