Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Occidental CA

How to Pick a Physical Therapist College near Occidental 95465

Occidental CA physical therapy school student with volunteerObtaining a physical therapist degree near Occidental CA is an important first step to launching a fulfilling career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help patients who have been disabled due to injury or illness gain back function and mobility. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the necessary education and training. A PT must additionally become licensed in every state, a large number requiring that the licensee hold a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So prior to enrolling in a physical therapy school, it’s essential to evaluate the ones you are thinking about to make sure they will deliver a superior education and meet your state’s licensing requirements. What you do not want to do is choose a college just because it happens to be the closest to your residence or it has cheapest tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that must be considered in addition to location and cost. But before we cover what those qualifications are and the questions you should be asking, we’ll address what a physical therapist does and what the educational options are.

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

Occidental CA physical therapist helping patient walkPhysical therapists work in varying locations, including Occidental CA hospitals, health clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and health clubs. What the facilities all share in common is that they are equipped for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As previously touched on, physical therapists help individuals that are suffering from a lack of mobility and often pain due to injury or illness. After patient diagnosis, they design a course of treatment to resolve the mobility problems and lessen or eradicate any pain. They also strive to prevent any progression of the disability. Although the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are abundant, they include:

  • Arthritis or Osteoporosis
  • Car or motor cycle accidents
  • Head injuries.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Sports injuries.
  • Fire injuries.
  • Knee Replacement.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists work in close association with other Occidental CA medical specialists, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists and nurses. They may also manage several physical therapy assistants who work for them assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. One thing to keep in mind for anyone considering getting into the physical therapy field, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for extended periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees Available

Occidental CA physical therapist applying acupuncture to patientThere are three physical therapy degree options offered for students to pursue at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these alternatives, the one degree that is offered to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees emphasize either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or prepping them to progress to the doctoral level. Below are brief descriptions of degree levels that are available in the Occidental CA area:

  • Associate Degrees educate students to become physical therapy assistants, or may be used as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree. Applicants must have earned a high school diploma or GED to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are typically made available by junior or community colleges, and require two years for completion. An internship or other form of clinical training is usually a component of the program.
  • Bachelor’s Degrees are created as pre-physical therapist education to prepare candidates to move up to the doctoral level. While they are not a requirement to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an integral initial step to becoming a PT. As with the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they normally take four years to complete and usually include an internship program of at least 500 hours.
  • Doctorate Degrees are a requirement in order to become a licensed practicing physical therapist. The degree program also must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In addition to the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes three years to finish, making the overall commitment 7 years in the majority of cases. Clinical or practical training is an intregal element in addition to the considerable classroom and lab instruction. Consequently the fulfillment of an internship is mandated, not only for graduation but in several states for licensing also.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) has taken the place of the Master’s of Physical Therapy (MPT), which has been phased out and is no longer available in the United States. A number of licensed physical therapists having a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the current licensing requirement for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapy Online Schools

woman attending physical therapy school online in Occidental CAAlthough not as common as the on-campus options, there are many accredited online physical therapy degrees offered, more so at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on nature of the training, clinical lab work and internships are integrated with the online classes. This requires that the student live close to the college campus or in proximity of an available internship. Fortunately, the online segment of the curriculum can be accessed within the convenience and comfort of the student’s Occidental CA home. Online schools are not only to some extent more accessible, but in a number of cases more economical. Tuition might be significantly lower than similar on campus options, and expenses for commuting are reduced. And many of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, ensuring a quality education. These benefits may make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are motivated enough to attend classes at home.

Topics to Ask Physical Therapy Programs

At this point you most likely have come to decision concerning a few of your initial questions, including the type of physical therapy degree you want to obtain, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to invest in your education. But since there are so many PT schools within the Occidental CA area and across California, you’ll have to explore additional qualifications also so as to further reduce your list of school options. Furthermore, you need to be sure that you enroll in the school that is ideal for you. That’s the reason we have compiled a list of critical questions that you need to ask the physical therapy schools you are considering. Ask each of the potential schools these questions prior to making a final decision.

Is the Physical Therapist Program Accredited?  Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have received accreditation from a regional or a national agency. As previously mentioned, if you are pursuing a doctoral degree the program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). If you enroll in an online school, it may also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapist school and program you select are accredited, not just the school. Also, check that the accreditation is through a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides guaranteeing that you obtain a quality education, accreditation might be required for state licensing and even for getting student loans or financial aid.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In addition to accreditation, it’s essential that the college and program you select have excellent reputations within the physical therapist profession. There are several ways you can research a PT school’s reputation, beginning with asking for references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also check online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Get in touch with some Occidental CA physical therapist clinics or other health care facilities that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can give you any recommendations about your college options. It may also be prudent to check with the California Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been submitted against the colleges.

What is the College’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a two useful statistics that you need to know about each of the physical therapy colleges you are considering. First is their graduation rate. A lower rate might mean that students left because of dissatisfaction with the program, the teachers, or both. After the students have graduated, how many of them are being hired with the help of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Occidental CA area? If a program has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the healthcare field is good or even exceptional. It also confirms that the program has a wide network of contacts to help students get internships or jobs upon graduation.

Does the Program Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s imperative that the program you choose provides both superior training and a curriculum that supports the licensing criteria for California or the state where you will be practicing. In every state a passing score is needed on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as well as a degree from an accredited physical therapist school. Although licensing requirements differ state by state for PTA and PT graduates, a number of states require a minimum number of clinical hours be completed and passing scores on supplemental tests.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Inquire if the physical therapy schools you are reviewing have partnerships with Occidental CA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to obtain practical experience in a clinical setting, they are also a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As a supplemental benefit, they can assist graduates and students establish professional connections in the Occidental health care community and help with job placement once licensed.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the physical therapy schools you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program also.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the physical therapist college they decide on will have to be within commuting distance of their Occidental CA home. Those who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Support Provided? Most DPT colleges offer some type of financial aid to their potential students. Inquire if the schools you are looking at have a financial aid office and see what type of help is available. They at least should help in securing a student loan or any scholarships you may be eligible for. Some physical therapy schools provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before eliminating a program because the tuition is beyond your budget, find out what financial assistance may be available.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the physical therapist college you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Occidental CA area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Occidental California?

If you are planning on attending a Physical Therapy School in the Occidental CA area, the following information may prove to be both interesting and educational regarding the location of your future Alma Mater.

Occidental, California

Founded in 1876, Occidental was a stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry. In return for donating right-of-way to the railroad, a local landowner named "Dutch Bill" Howards received a lifetime railway pass, and the station was named after him.[3]

Average January temperatures range from 41.8 °F (5.4 °C) to 54.5 °F (12.5 °C) and average July temperatures range from 51.4 °F (10.8 °C) to 77.9 °F (25.5 °C). The record highest temperature was 103 °F (39.4 °C) on July 22, 2006, and the record lowest temperature was 28 °F (−2.2 °C) on March 11, 2006. There are an average of 12.8 afternoons with highs of 90 °F or 32.2 °C or higher and an average of 2.1 mornings with lows of 32 °F or 0 °C or lower.

Average annual rainfall is 55.19 inches (1,401.8 mm). The wettest “rain year” was from July 1997 to June 1998 with 102.89 inches (2,613.4 mm) and the driest from July 2000 to June 2001 with 29.84 inches (757.9 mm).[5] The most rainfall in one month was 36.62 inches (930.1 mm) in January 1995. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 8.51 inches (216.2 mm) on January 5, 1966. Average annual snowfall is only 0.2 inches or 0.0051 metres. The maximum snowfall was 11.0 inches (0.28 m) in January 1974.[6]

Pick the Ideal Physical Therapist Training Program near Occidental CA

Picking the ideal physical therapy school is an important initial decision you need to make to begin a gratifying career in the medical field. As we have addressed in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and school you choose should both have outstanding reputations and accreditation. However there are additional relevant questions that you need to ask pertaining to your school of choice as well. As you commence your search for a physical therapy college, keep in mind that numerous variables will guide you toward your ultimate decision. You may want to go to different colleges to view their facilities and speak to current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this college help me reach my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By following our list of supplemental questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the ideal selection. And with the necessary education and training, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a licensed physical therapist in Occidental CA.

A Few More Interesting Locations in California

  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Carmel CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Stockton CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Bradley CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Parker Dam CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Montara CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Sierra Madre CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Alameda CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Larkspur CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Blue Lake CA
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Hollister CA
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 151

    Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy
    22 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Trainers, Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    795 Farmers Ln, Ste 10, Santa Rosa, CA 95405

    Patte's Massage
    14 Reviews
    Massage, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    18402 Hwy 116, Guerneville, CA 95446

    Sever Mark Pt
    3 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    6478 Mirabel Rd, Forestville, CA 95436

    Pilates, Postpartum Corrective Exercise, Yoga
    16 Reviews
    Yoga, Physical Therapy, Pilates
    Phone:
    Santa Rosa, CA 95401

    Santa Rosa Physical Therapy
    4 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    2255 Challenger Way, Ste 104, Santa Rosa, CA 95407

    Christina Rivera Massage
    21 Reviews
    Massage, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    Guerneville, CA 95446

    Well and Thriving
    8 Reviews
    Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    3599 Bohemian Hwy, Occidental, CA 95465

    BodyTuning
    15 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Life Coach, Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    7765 Healdsburg Ave, Ste 19, Sebastopol, CA 95472

    Sonoma Hills Physical Therapy
    12 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Massage
    Phone:
    151 Lynch Creek Way, Petaluma, CA 94954

    Palm Drive Hand and Physical Therapy
    8 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    968 Gravenstein Hwy S, Sebastopol, CA 95472