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Physical Therapy a good career?

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Spic-N-SpaN
Posts: 2002 - Karma: 1,465
I don't know all that much about it, I've always been health conscious but not sure I want to go as far as an MD. From the ones I've encountered they seem like there good holistic people and live active lifestyles, and make alright money.

Anyone pursuing this as a career option, or has a parent thats a PT and wants to fill me in?
Aug 6 2013 8:14PM
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JAHpow
Posts: 7282 - Karma: 17,175
My sisters boyfriends parents are both pts. They do very well and seem to really like their jobs. Idk much about it but i dont think it would be a bad career choice at all.
Aug 6 2013 8:17PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
I'm pretty sure Forbes always ranks Physical Therapists up there as some of the most satisfied with their jobs, and they make good money and you can do that anywhere you want. My wife is actually thinking about transferring to that career field.
Aug 6 2013 8:33PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
im in the process now for applying to PT schools, finished with undergrad with a bachelors in exercise science, do yourself a favor and find a 3+3 program, its a 3 year undergrad and 3 year grad program (all grad programs are 3 years where you receive your DPT-Doctorate of Physical Therapy) you will get done way faster, i am so sick of taking bullshit classes and want to start grad school already. With that said i have also been working at a PT office as an aid for about 2 and a half years now, i would HIGHLY recommend checking some out maybe shadowing a PT in a few different settings such as outpatient, inpatient etc. I really enjoy what i do and cannot wait to get my DPT.
Aug 6 2013 8:42PM
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Blake.P
Posts: 9894 - Karma: 3,585
There are always going to be people with muscular injuries and having surgery that need help to recover
Aug 6 2013 9:13PM
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7-3instacall
Posts: 999 - Karma: 1,005
i see a pt every week and shes stoked on life, so are her colleagues.
i mean there job is mellow as fuck, they massage you a bit, do a taping, give you little exercises to do at home and they get $$$ in the bank.
only thing is it would suck getting someone who doesn'T have good hygiene and playing with his feet or shoulders...
oh and getting people whos bodies dont recover well that blame it on you sucks too but hey, thats life, everyone isnt always happy

all in all
i think its a great job
Aug 7 2013 1:11AM
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edai
Posts: 4987 - Karma: 4,653
Physical therapists are fuckin cool dude. The trainer we have at our school has a pt degree and he's the man, always happy, always helpful, basically the man. And all the other PTs I've been to have been the same way. Fun, happy, and always inshape, seems like a great job from the outside
Aug 7 2013 1:26AM
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SurfaceHoar
Posts: 311 - Karma: 240
I major part of my business is in rehab. I don't deal with their clients directly but I do see them working everyday.

It's a relaxed and fun atmosphere for the most part. Except for the rare personality that is noncompliant or difficult to deal with.

It's pretty easy, Build mobility, build stability, build strength. The hard part is getting people to buy into the program and follow through.

The money is ok, the hours are good, the stress is low, and it's pretty stable. People are always going to be hurting themselves.

Aug 7 2013 12:03PM
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7springsprod
Posts: 2661 - Karma: 3,181
It seems like a good field. From what I've heard from a friend going to be a freshman next year she said that they're required to have an M.D. degree now, which is a bit of a time to get I'm guessing.. Other than that it would seem like a good profession. I know they make decent money, and when I was rehabbing for my torn acl, my PT was so cool.
Aug 7 2013 12:35PM
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404404
Posts: 11358 - Karma: 21,034
Do it!

Good money and noble career.

Andy Parry approves.
Aug 7 2013 12:45PM
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WillyTheKid
Posts: 106 - Karma: 639
Andy Parry needs PT fellas so he can maintain a Gandalf-like status of wizardry.

Save Gandalf, do PT.
Aug 7 2013 1:05PM
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Chief.
Posts: 276 - Karma: 399
i broke my leg this year and had to see a pt. some of the doctors he works with wanted to be pts but never got in so they went to med school
every pt ive ever met has always loved their job so go for it
Aug 7 2013 6:00PM
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reBlocke
Posts: 762 - Karma: 1,502
PTs recently changed from a 'masters level' degree to a 'doctorate level' degree (the DPT). DPT programs are three years long, after undergrad.

Maybe that was what your friend meant? PTs don't need an MD degree, and they never will. They're completely separate professions.
Aug 7 2013 7:05PM
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-Dan
Posts: 7125 - Karma: 51,629
Certainly has the potential toe be a great career if you can get into a segment of it you enjoy. In my opinion doing In-patient PT (working with hospitalized people) is very depressing and generally unrewarding. Working in an outpatient clinic, or better yet one focused on recovering from sports related injuries is preferable. Other variable that impact it are where you work, the age of your patients, lifestyles they lead. Various demographic things.

You can do a lot with a DPT if you know how to market yourself.

I decided that PT wasnt for me, and pursued a degree in Athletic Training. Consider exploring that as an option too!
Aug 7 2013 7:12PM
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hendriab
Posts: 990 - Karma: 404
as an athletic trainer and DPT student, I can see how you would like inpatient acute work is depressing and unrewarding. I thought the same way. Working with able bodied kids and other individuals is definetly "cooler" out of the gate, but TKR and total hips and RTC tears get pretty old after a while. Plus, re-teaching someone how to walk and be independent is so fucking rewarding ahha. I figured I would want to be in outpatient ortho when I complete my schooling, but now Im leaning more towards inpatient. its more physically involved, and the money is usually better (unless your with Steadman or some pro organization, or run your own joint ahha)
Aug 7 2013 7:35PM
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YoungJ
Posts: 447 - Karma: 883
Dont be an ass like the trainer at my school if you do that... after i got a note from my physician he still wouldnt let me play until i brought it straight to the athletic director
Aug 7 2013 9:45PM
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Dustin.
Posts: 13839 - Karma: 7,704
Don't be so immature kid.
Aug 7 2013 9:51PM
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JayDope
Posts: 6842 - Karma: 408
your trainer at your school isn't a PT, they're an AT, and they were simply following procedure...... children
Aug 7 2013 9:51PM
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Rafiki
Posts: 3858 - Karma: 2,251
like JayDope said, that's an AT. athletic trainers tape you up and help prevent injuries in sports, etc. physical therapists generally help with rehab after an injury or surgery and most don't work for high schools, or schools in general
Aug 7 2013 9:55PM
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sammy_
Posts: 1597 - Karma: 467
thats the career path for me i think. I have been going to pt for the past few years for multiple injuries and my physical therapist is the fuckin homie..loves his life and is doing his thing. hes also getting a pretty good paycheck
Aug 7 2013 10:12PM
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special-J
Posts: 1572 - Karma: 4,477
random thought- there's probably a bit higher demand for physical therapy in more active/outdoors areas so it wouldn't be very hard to find a job near good skiing.
Aug 8 2013 12:44AM
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KimJong-Illest
Posts: 883 - Karma: 3,110
My cousin went to college for a while to do that but i think it was deffinetly worth it she a quite a bit of money a year and has almost paid off her student loans.
Aug 8 2013 12:52AM
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bigbromskier
Posts: 1175 - Karma: 330
my sister's getting her Ph.D in PT next spring. the schooling's pretty difficult, but not like getting an MD. it takes about 3 years, involving 3 (maybe 2, not totally sure) clinicals (internships basically). classes are basically chem, physics, anatomy, and then more specific in depth courses that delve into the medical part and the more administrative side as well.

career aspects and money are both pretty good, which is good cause PT school is pretty expensive. she's said all her schooling and clinicals have been very rewarding--highly recommend it if you're into a more medical route. plus you'll find a lot of them in outdoorsy mountain towns. I live in Tahoe and I'd probably have at least 20 nearby to choose from, not to mention the chiropractors.
Aug 8 2013 12:53AM
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uyghur
Posts: 993 - Karma: 2,028
Bump, can I get an undergrad degree at a different state and then come back to my home state to get a practioner's license? Also any extra info would be great.
Apr 24 2014 7:05PM
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integralmgmt
Posts: 476 - Karma: 921
If you don't want to go for becoming an MD, I'd shoot for Physician Assistant. They're in high demand right now because its a hell of a lot cheaper to hire a PA than a doctor. Its undergrad and then two years for a PA program. Salaries are usually right around $100,000. The great thing about PA is that you can still specialize to a degree, meaning you could be Emergency Medicine if you wanted to work in the ER, or you could go Pediatrics, or work in a family practice. Also, no malpractice to worry about, but you don't have near the level of autonomy which MDs are able to operate with.
Apr 24 2014 9:47PM
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integralmgmt
Posts: 476 - Karma: 921
integralmgmtIf you don't want to go for becoming an MD, I'd shoot for Physician Assistant. They're in high demand right now because its a hell of a lot cheaper to hire a PA than a doctor. Its undergrad and then two years for a PA program. Salaries are usually right around $100,000. The great thing about PA is that you can still specialize to a degree, meaning you could be Emergency Medicine if you wanted to work in the ER, or you could go Pediatrics, or work in a family practice. Also, no malpractice to worry about, but you don't have near the level of autonomy which MDs are able to operate with.


My bad could be 2 years, but usually 3 after undergrad. Same time as PT though I'm pretty sure. From Dept. of Labor, "Employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 38 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. Increased demand for healthcare services from the growing and aging population and widespread chronic disease, combined with a shortage of physicians, will result in increased demand for healthcare providers, such as physician assistants." So no matter which field you choose, medicine should be looking pretty good as far as long-term occupation goes. Good luck man
Apr 24 2014 9:50PM
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Anathema
Posts: 21048 - Karma: 5,061
some people will work hard to obtain extra credentials that make you a boss, other's just do the easy thing and give people a quick rub where it hurts.

either way, you control the pace of your patient load, you treat in whichever way you see fit, and you make a pretty solid income.
Apr 24 2014 9:54PM
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Bassage.
Posts: 512 - Karma: 822
I am in the process of applying to PT schools right now and hopefully around this time next year ill be starting at one of the grad schools i am applying at.
Apr 24 2014 10:11PM
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-Dan
Posts: 7125 - Karma: 51,629
uyghurBump, can I get an undergrad degree at a different state and then come back to my home state to get a practioner's license? Also any extra info would be great.


You can apply for licensure in any state once you have the DPT from an accredited university.
Apr 25 2014 6:33AM
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