Physical Therapist Assistant or Pt Please help me.?

Question

I got my certificate as a Pt aide and now i want to study further but i don't know that i go for PTA programme for 2 years to get licence or go for straight PT. i live in san jose ca and i can't find any school here who provide pt education.

Answer 1

Go for the PT. It is only one more year of school if you have your Bachelor's and there is more freedom to practice. As a PTA, you would always work for a PT, treat along the PT's plan of care, and there are limitations in what you would be allowed to do (evaluations, assessments, plans, treatments). It is also very difficult to bridge from PTA to PT - you have to go through PT school completely even if you are a PTA. So I would recommend working as an aide while going for the PT degree.

California PT Schools:
Azusa Pacific University
California State University, Fresno
California State University, Long Beach
California State University, Northridge
California State University, Sacramento
Chapman University
Loma Linda University
Mount St Mary's College
Samuel Merritt College
University of California, San Francisco/San Francisco State University
University of Southern California
University of the Pacific
Western University of Health Sciences

California PTA Schools:
Cerritos College
Loma Linda University
Ohlone College
Sacramento City College
San Diego Mesa College
Sonoma College

Education Programs Bridging from PTA to PT

Loma Linda University (D6, E4, E5, F1, PR)
Department of Physical Therapy
School of Allied Health Professions
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, CA 92350
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web site: www.llu.edu/
E-mail: [e-mail]

The University of Findlay (A3, A6, D5, F3, PR)
Physical Therapy Program
The University of Findlay
1000 North Main Street
Findlay, OH 45840
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Web site: www.findlay.edu/academics/colleges/cohp/academicprograms/graduate/PHTH/default.htm
E-mail: [e-mail]

Answer 2

Realove is right...if you have any inclination of becoming a full PT...it's best to start there...there is no good way to transition from PTA to PT other than one or two programs in the US (Ohio, I think). As a PTA, you severly limit your career opportunities and earning potential. The fact that you already have exposure to the setting as an aide gives you an advantage over other applicants, plus you have a way to earn money while going to school (or to build up a college fund)...the hardest financial burden will be that PT school from start to finish is about 7 years (unless you already have some college credits completed) versus 2 years in the PTA program. Yet the average earning for a PT is about 2 times that of a PTA according to a 2005 survery in Advance PT magazine. So, you'd make back that lost income quickly.

Answer 3

i'm engaged on remodeling into a PTA myself. in case you get qualified as a PTA, after which get a job as one optimum of the time your place of artwork will pay (or a minimum of help) you to proceed education to enhance right right into a PT.