Careers in Physical Therapy – Physical Therapy Education Solutions

Considering a career change: How about Physical Therapist Assistant?

Jon Waxham, PT — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 20:26:22 +0000

The top four reasons people consider a career change are because they are unhappy, they want more money, or they desire greater flexibility or increased job satisfaction. A career as a physical therapist assistant (PTA) can satisfy many, if not all those desires. Careers in physical therapy routinely rank in the top twenty for job satisfaction, flexibility, and job growth.

Why do people change careers?

Despite the general perception, people don’t just change careers on a whim. In my case I chose physical therapy as a second career because I couldn’t find a job after college graduation. It takes some forethought and planning before you can make that jump. According to Indeed.com, a person will think about a career change for an average of 11 months before acting and the top 5 reasons people consider a change include:

Unhappiness in current job/profession
Desire for greater flexibility
A chance to earn more money
Not challenged or satisfied
Looking for more opportunities for advancement

Deciding to make a change is a big first step, but once you have decided to change what do you do? Choosing a new career has a lot to do with the reason(s) you considered a change in the first place. You need to identify what your current job/career is lacking and then try to find a choice that will get you what you need.

What makes physical therapist assistant a good career choice?

If a majority of people make career changes for the reasons listed above then working a physical therapist assistant is worthy of serious consideration as a new career. Physical therapist assistants are licensed healthcare workers that work under the supervision of a physical therapist. They provide physical therapy treatment to persons across all age groups and in all healthcare settings (hospitals, out-patient clinics, nursing homes, etc.). For more specific information about physical therapy, you can check out our blog: What is Physical Therapy?

Annual Salary

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual salary is $58,520 with an average hourly wage of $28.14. Annual salaries are impacted significantly by the healthcare setting where the physical therapist assistant works, with skilled nursing facilities and home health settings paying the best. Geographical location can also have a large impact on compensation. More specific salary data can be found at: https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm

Job satisfaction

Working in physical therapy provides a high degree of job satisfaction. I can’t count the number of patients who told me that physical therapy changed their lives. The treatment that PTs and PTAs perform can provide pain relief and restore the quality of life for patient’s that had little hope before seeking out our services. Making that kind of difference in people’s lives is what being a physical therapist assistant is all about.

Flexibility

The variety of job openings and work settings available provide the physical therapist assistant with a flexibility that is not always available in other careers. Much of the day-to-day routine of a PTA is determined by the type of patients they encounter and the healthcare setting where physical therapy treatment is provided. If you choose to work as a PTA, you will have the choice to work full-time, part-time or on an as needed basis based on your career goals and financial needs. In addition, providing physical therapy treatment in an acute hospital is a completely different work experience than treating patients in a sports medicine clinic. Therefore, if things get a little stale you completely change your daily experience without having to start a new career.

Advancement

As a physical therapist assistant, you can choose to focus on just providing patient care, however opportunities exist for PTAs to advance into management positions and even into ownership. I have had physical therapist assistant students that graduated and within 5 years had accepted clinic director positions. No matter what your level of ambition is, you can be sure to find it as a physical therapist assistant.blog

What attributes make a good PTA?

If you want to become a physical therapist assistant, you will need these 5 attributes:

The ability to work well with people. This applies not only to being able to interact with patients but also to work as part of the physical therapy and the larger healthcare team.
Compassion and energy. When people come to see PTs and PTAs they are usually hurting and not at their best, so it is up to us to empathize and support them until they get back up to speed.
A passion for learning. To be an effective PTA you need to have a strong foundation in human anatomy and physiology and in physical therapy procedures.
Critical thinker. Even though PTAs work under the direction of the PT, they are expected to make daily decisions to ensure that treatment they provide is both safe and effective.
Physical stamina. Providing PT treatment can be a physically demanding task, so you want to make sure you are up to the challenge before starting on your new career path.

What does it take to become a PTA?

You need to complete the following steps to begin working as a physical therapist assistant. First you must graduate from an accredited PTA program which requires two years at a community college or university. Then you must pass the national licensing exam for physical therapist assistants. Finally, you must apply for licensure in the state where you intend to work. Once you have been awarded your state license you can work as a PTA.

Worried about going back to school?

During my time as a physical therapist assistant program director the students that entered our program ranged in age from 17 to 58 with an average age of 28 years old. About 45% of students in our program were changing from a previous job/career into physical therapist assisting. I had multiple students who had retired from one career and were looking for something new to do. The demographics for my program were consistent with trends seen throughout PTA programs, so if you have any concerns about being the only older student you needn’t worry!

Are there physical therapist assistant jobs?

It is natural to have concerns when you start preparing for a change in careers that there won’t be a job for you when you finally get there. That won’t be the case if you choose to become a physical therapist assistant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the need for PTAs will grow by 33% between 2019 and 2029. That gives you plenty of time to complete your training and be sure there will be a job waiting for you.

There are many reasons you might be considering changing careers. A career as a physical therapist assistant just might provide you the income, satisfaction and flexibility that is lacking in your current job. Remember,

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs –

References:

31-2021 Physical Therapist Assistants. (2020, July 06). Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes312021.htm
Career Change Report: An Inside Look at Why Workers Shift Gears. (2019). Retrieved December 15, 2020, from https://www.indeed.com/lead/career-change

How hard is it to get into physical therapy school?

Jon Waxham, PT — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 20:01:47 +0000

As someone who applied more than once before I got in, I can certainly testify that applying to a physical therapy program is a very competitive process. According to the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) as of 2019 there are 256 accredited physical therapy programs. On average each program accepts 45 students out of 440 total applicants for an acceptance rate of about 10.2%.

What criteria do they use to rank students?

Physical therapy school applicants are ranked using a variety of requirements including undergraduate GPA, Graduate Record Examination (GRE) exam scores, observation hours, reference letters, interview performance and extracurricular activities. By having so many requirements PT programs can be sure to get applications from students that are serious about applying. If a student isn’t fully committed, then the chance they will complete all the necessary components is small.

Do I need a Bachelor's Degree?

A large majority of the accredited PT programs require applicants to complete a Baccalaureate degree for their application to be considered. PT programs are graduate level programs that award a Doctorate in Physical Therapy at completion. Research presented in the Journal of Physical Therapy Education (JOPTE) in 2015 found that undergraduate degree status was not a meaningful predictor of student outcomes in PT school. Although there is strong evidence to suggest a Bachelor’s degree is not needed, it is a suggested pre-requisite by CAPTE and remains another way to separate PT school applicants. There are however some programs that are designed as a 3 + 3 program which means you complete 3 years’ worth of undergraduate courses and then complete your Baccalaureate degree once you are accepted into the PT program. Most of these 3 + 3 programs are designed to identify and admit students on a fast-track or preferred eligibility status for the PT program. In these cases, there are other specific requirements that must be met when initially and entry is competitive when applying as an undergraduate freshman.

Does my undergraduate major matter?

In general, the area of study of your undergraduate degree has minimal impact on your ability to get into a PT program. Recent data shows that students got into PT school with over a hundred different types of Bachelor’s degrees. There are certainly undergraduate majors that might do a better job of providing the foundation necessary to be successful in PT school and that might make a small difference in ranking position. Some degrees focus more on information that is foundational in physical therapy education. According to the Physical Therapist Centralized Application Service (PTCAS) the top 5 majors accepted into PT programs in 2018 were Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Biology, Health Science, and Psychology. In the big picture, if you don’t have a Bachelor’s degree in one of those areas don’t let it discourage you from applying to PT school. My undergraduate degree was Physics!

What is the average GPA of students accepted into PT school?

When so many applications need to be ranked, using the GPA is a relatively simple first step. PTCAS reported that in 2018 the mean GPA of applicants accepted into a PT program was 3.57 (on a 4.0 scale). Most programs will have a minimum GPA to be able to apply. On average the minimum GPA accepted is around a 3.0, but different schools have different requirements, so it is always best to check with your program(s) of interest. Because there is a minimum, they can eliminate those applications right of the bat and don’t need to bother evaluating the other criteria used for ranking in those cases. Once the GPA has been considered the admission committee will factor in other requirements to re-order the applicants.

A bit of advice about undergraduate GPA

With the overall competitiveness and requirements for GPA that most PT programs have, if you are considering eventually applying you need to be focused on good grades from day 1 in college. The average GPA of accepted applicants is 3.57. Let’s look at a couple of examples to illustrate my point:

Scenario 1: You take a couple of semesters to get your study habits going and earn an overall 3.0 GPA for your freshman year. To meet the average GPA of accepted PT applicants you will need to earn at least a 3.67 every semester for the next 3 years.
Scenario 2: You decide to party instead of study your first year and end of with a GPA of 2.5 after 2 semesters. To get to a 3.57 cumulative GPA at the end you will need to average a 3.83 over the next 3 years.
Scenario 3: If you are an above average student and manage to maintain a 3.0 (B average) over your first two years, then you will need to earn a 4.0 over your final two years to get to 3.5.

You can think of keeping a high GPA in the same way most of us think of maintaining a low body weight, it is much easier to just do it from the start then to try to recover after you have let it go for a while!

What is the GRE and do I need it?

According to ETS (who created and administers the test), the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) features question types that reflect the kind of thinking necessary for graduate and professional schools and yes, you most likely need it. About 87% of PT programs require their applicants to take the GRE. The test consists of three components, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Scores for the verbal and quantitative reasoning range from 130 – 170 each (one-point increments), and scores for the analytical writing range from 0 – 6 (half-point increments). Some PT schools have minimum GRE requirements to apply.

In order to be competitive with other PT school applicants you should try to score a 155 or above on the verbal reasoning section, a 155 and above on the quantitative reasoning section, and a score of 4.0 or above on the analytical writing section. You can find more information about the GRE at www.ets.org.

Are observation hours a significant ranking factor?

Over 70% of PT programs require some observation of a licensed physical therapist in more than one setting to be eligible for acceptance. While it is one of those requirements the PT program will mark that you have completed, it can be a factor that bumps you up or down a few spots. The minimum number of hours vary by program and range from 1 to 200. Remember only 10% of applicants get accepted, so if you do the minimum number of hours it doesn’t say much about your commitment to a future as a physical therapist. If you want to improve your chances you should air on the side of doing many more hours, then the minimum recommended. The other way to give yourself a competitive advantage is to make sure you observe in a variety of environments where physical therapy care is provided. At some point you will be placed in a variety of clinical settings, so it benefits you to have had some time observing in those settings. Example locations include an acute care hospital, a rehabilitation hospital, a skilled nursing facility, an out-patient PT clinic, or in the school system.

How important is the interview?

Not all programs require an interview but the ones that do value it highly. PT programs are not only evaluating your ability to have academic success but ultimately, they are determining your ability to succeed as a physical therapy provider which requires interacting with patients. I can attest that I had classmates that were book smart but struggled when it came to interaction with other people. The interview process is the only way to gauge an applicant’s ability to communicate verbally and to think on their feet. Different programs will place different weight in the overall application on the interview component, but I can guarantee you that next to GPA and GRE scores it plays a vital role.

How are references used in the ranking process?

Just about every PT program will require written reference letters/forms. It goes without saying that most people are not going to ask for a reference from someone if there is any chance they will say something negative. So, with a PT school application you can think of this requirement as a checking the box to make sure it is done. Different programs may have different demands about who your references come from, but most will want an academic reference and a reference from a physical therapist whom you have observed or worked with. Since most programs require observation hours, it would behoove you (GRE word) to try to form some type of relationship with the PT you are observing. It makes it less awkward when you need to ask them for a reference letter.

Are there any other factors?

The criteria listed above will be how applicants are ranked when determining who gets acceptance letters but for those vying for the last couple of spots these factors may earn you an edge. Volunteer activities in your community can make a good impression and may be the deciding factor between two equal candidates. Giving is big part of what we do in physical therapy and a proven track record helps identify those core values in those individuals hoping to be future physical therapists. Another potential way to move up is if you have previous work as a physical therapy aide or in some other medically related job. Previous work experience in the medical field demonstrates the ability to work with people and other medical professionals as part of the healthcare team.

If you want to apply and be accepted to a physical therapy program you better not fear competition. There are a lot of applicants and significantly fewer spots so it will benefit you to embrace the challenge, understand how you are being ranked, and do everything in your power to maximize your chance for success. If you can do those things, then you will be accepted to a PT program and can start working towards becoming a physical therapist.

8 Strategies to Succeed in Physical Therapist/Physical Therapist Assistant School

Jon Waxham, PT — Wed, 14 Oct 2020 18:07:18 +0000

1. Learn to be Organized

Physical Therapist (PT) and Physical Therapist Assistant (PTA) programs are very different from typical college programs. Most programs are organized into cohorts which means your entrance class goes through the course sequence together in a specific, pre-determined order. Because of this format, there is no opportunity to drop a class or two and come back to them in a different semester. You need to be able to keep up. Therefore, the key is identifying strategies that work for you and getting organized early. One helpful tip is to create a comprehensive calendar for each semester with all quizzes, assignments, and exams for each of your courses. This makes sure that nothing sneaks up on you and can help you prioritize how you spend your time.

If you are tech savvy there are a lot of tools that can help keep you organized including digital calendars, post-its, and reminder pop-ups. Also, it may seem like common sense but use a different notebook for each course. Each course will have plenty of supplemental handouts and it can be frustrating not being able to find what you need. I wouldn’t recommend trying to scan and digitally organize your documents, the time you would spend scanning should be spent learning. If organization isn’t your strongest attribute, do some research on effective strategies before starting your PT/PTA program.

2. Prepare for Class

If the first time you are hearing about a topic is during a lecture or lab then you are already behind! The information comes fast and furious, (like trying to drink from a fire hose) and generally does not let up. The reality is what worked for you in high school or other college courses may not be good enough. The best option is to do any readings or assignments recommended by the instructor in the course syllabus before class. There is enough in a PT/PTA course that there is no need to add “busy work” to your assignments or readings. There is a purpose behind every assignment the instructor has chosen. At the very least you need to do some reviewing about the topic to be covered in class before you get there. This will help you from getting lost and behind in your studies.

3. Ask for Help Early and Often

One of the surest ways to fail is to be afraid to ask for help or to participate in class. Let me spare you from the suspense now, no-one in your class knows it all. Odds are good that if you don’t understand something, someone else is in the same boat. As an instructor I always preferred if a student stopped me during class to seek clarification about something versus not saying anything. If I can clarify something for the whole class, it can save me from explaining the same thing during twenty different office appointments after class. PT and PTA faculty want the same as you, to see you succeed in your program. Keep in mind most faculty started in clinical care which means it is in our DNA to want to help people. So please ask for help if you are struggling. The sooner the better. As we will discuss in a minute, material in PT and PTA programs is designed to build on itself. If you don’t seek help, and struggle learning the early material in the program it will affect your ability to be successful later in the program too.

4. Anatomy and More Anatomy

Having a thorough knowledge of human anatomy and function is the foundation for everything else you will learn in your PT/PTA program. Undergraduate anatomy and physiology courses only scratch the surface of what you need to know to be an effective physical therapy provider, so you have to put in the effort and take the time to learn what is required. You might be able to learn just enough to pass your course, but if you have holes in your knowledge they will get exposed in future classes. There are dozens of digital and print learning tools that can help supplement what you learn in class. Talk with students already in the program and find out which tools they found to be effective. If you need to pay for some supplemental resources, it will be well worth it to ensure you have the depth of understanding necessary to be successful moving forward.

5. Build a Solid Foundation

PT and PTA programs are designed so that later courses build on the foundation learned in earlier courses. You cannot be successful if you have gaps in earlier knowledge. The early stages of PT/PTA programs are designed to teach basic knowledge and skills. As the program progresses, you will be expected to apply those basic skills in more complex situations. Because of the volume of material, there isn’t time to go back and review skills you’ve already learned during your current classes. There is an expectation that once you have learned a skill that you will maintain a competence in performing it. So, it is important that you develop a level of expertise in the knowledge and skills learned in the first couple of semesters, and routinely review the material or techniques. The good news is that PT and PTA faculty are there to make sure you do learn it. If you are struggling, don’t wait, ask for help. Odds are you are not the only one struggling and getting extra help will make sure you don’t get left behind in your learning.

6. Form Study Groups

Working with classmates provides several benefits over studying alone. Working with classmates may introduce you to new study techniques that you had not thought of or tried. Remember all your classmates are in the same boat and trying to adjust to a new learning environment. Studying with others can make learning fun and help motivate you to study when you might not be in the mood. It also gives you an opportunity to compare notes in case you have gaps or there is something you missed during class. Another benefit is the opportunity to engage with other people. Remember the core of what PTs and PTAs do is dealing with people in a clinical setting. You can be an excellent academic student but if you can’t interact with people then all that knowledge will be for nothing. Working in a small group gives you the chance to work on your communication skills and to get comfortable interacting with others. Finally, one of the biggest benefits is the opportunity to teach each other. The best way to determine if you have a good grasp on a concept is to try to teach it to someone else. I found this method particularly helpful when attending PT school. We would take turns explaining important concepts from one of our classes to the rest of our small study group. If I could explain the idea in simple terms, then the chances were good that I had a good understanding of the material we were studying. So, when it comes to small groups remember that there is strength in numbers, and you can learn a lot from your fellow classmates.

7. Practice Your Skills

Both physical therapist and physical therapist assistant programs will require you to demonstrate the skills you have learned during a practical/laboratory exam. Practical exams are high stakes (if you cannot pass you fail the course and cannot continue in the program) and high stress environments. Even the best student can suffer from practical anxiety and make mistakes. Limited lab time with the instructor means you will be shown how to do a particular skill and may get a chance to practice it once or twice with feedback before you are on your own.

Do you think because you did the skill well once or twice that you will be comfortable doing it during a high-stress exam? Odds are the answer is no. If you want to enter a practical exam with confidence, then you must commit to repeated practice of all the skills that will be covered. This requires a commitment on your part to practice outside of normal class times. It is imperative to also make sure when you practice skills that you do not loose focus on the patient interaction component. Most programs are grading you not only on the performance of the skill, but also in the manner with which you interact and communicate with your simulated patient. Use this practice time to work on both components of your skill performance.

A strategy that can be helpful during practice is to work from the grading rubric (score sheet) that the instructor will use during the practical exam. Our goal as instructors is not to trick you or keep you in the dark about how you are being graded, so grading rubrics are typically provided to the student before an exam. This is another opportunity for small group work to be of benefit and another reason to be highly organized with your time. You can take turns “grading” each other using the rubric as you practice. As an instructor it was quite apparent to me during a practical exam who had practiced their skills and who had not. This was reflected in the student’s self-confidence and overall performance during the practical exam. Make sure to commit ample time to practice and prepare for your practical exams, it will pay off with better grades and lower stress!

8. Enjoy the Process

The reason so many of us have chosen a career in physical therapy is because we want to understand how the human body works, how to restore function, and we have a genuine desire to help people. Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist assistant programs are hard and demanding, but that doesn’t mean that learning can’t be fun. Becoming part of a cohort of students affords you the opportunity to spend a lot of time with others who share your same passion. I made many life-long friends during my time in PT school because we took the time to have fun and enjoy our shared experience. As the program nears its conclusion, students are always amazed at how much they have learned and how much they have enjoyed it. The two or three years you will be in the program might seem like an eternity but will pass in the blink of an eye. When you are done you will have the chance to impact people’s lives in ways you can’t possibly imagine. Don’t lose site of the reasons you chose to start this adventure and let the energy and passion inside of you and your classmates make it an enjoyable experience.