Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Maywood IL

How to Find the Right Physical Therapist School near Maywood 60153

Maywood IL physical therapy school student with volunteerObtaining a physical therapist degree near Maywood IL is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career in the medical care industry. Physical therapists (PT) help individuals who have been disabled due to injury or illness gain back mobility and function. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the appropriate education and training. A PT must additionally become licensed in all states, a large number mandating that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited school. So prior to selecting a physical therapy school, it’s important to research the ones you are looking at to make sure they will provide a superior education and meet your state’s licensing standards. What you do not want to do is enroll in a school simply because it happens to be the closest to your home or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that must be evaluated along with location and cost. But before we discuss what those qualifications are and what questions you should ask, we’ll address what a physical therapist does and what the educational options are.

What is a Physical Therapist’s Job Description?

Maywood IL physical therapist helping patient walkPhysical therapists practice in a variety of settings, such as Maywood IL hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all have in common is that they have the equipment for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As previously stated, physical therapists help individuals that are experiencing a lack of mobility and often pain caused by injury or illness. After diagnosing a patient, they create a course of treatment to resolve the mobility problems and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also endeavor to stop any advancement of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are abundant, they include:

  • Arthritis or Osteoporosis
  • Car or motor cycle accidents
  • Strokes.
  • Heart attacks.
  • Sports injuries.
  • Fire injuries.
  • Hip Replacement.
  • Sciatica.
  • Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists work in close association with other Maywood IL health professionals, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists and nurses. They can also oversee several physical therapy assistants who work under them assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Something to bear in mind for anyone considering going into the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapist Degrees Available

Maywood IL physical therapist applying acupuncture to patientThere are 3 physical therapy degree options offered for individuals to pursue at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these options, the only degree that is offered to practice as a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees emphasize either preparing students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or prepping them to progress to the doctoral level. Following are short explanations of degree levels that are offered in the Maywood IL area:

  • Associate Degrees prepare students to be physical therapy assistants, or can be the first step toward earning a more advanced degree. Candidates must have earned a high school diploma or equivalent to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are usually offered by community colleges, and require 2 years for completion. Clinical training, which may be in the form of an internship is typically part of the program.
  • Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist training to ready candidates to move up to the doctoral level. While they are not required to be a candidate for the doctoral program, they are an important initial step to practicing as a PT. Similar to most bachelor’s degrees, they generally require four years to complete and commonly incorporate an internship program of at least 500 hours.
  • Doctorate Degrees are a requirement in order to become a practicing licensed physical therapist. The degree program must also be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). After earning the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes three years to finish, making the total commitment seven years in the majority of cases. Clinical training is an essential element along with the substantial lab and classroom instruction. Consequently the completion of an internship is required, not only for graduation but in a number of 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 eliminated and is no longer offered in the USA. Some practicing physical therapists having a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the existing licensing requirement for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapist Online Degrees

woman attending physical therapy school online in Maywood ILWhile not as prevalent as the on campus alternatives, there are some accredited online physical therapist degrees offered, even more at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on structure of the training, internships and clinical lab work are incorporated with the online classes. This requires that the student live close to the school campus or in proximity of an available internship. Fortunately, the online part of the curriculum can be accessed within the convenience and comfort of the student’s Maywood IL home. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in a number of instances more economical. Tuition might be significantly lower than comparable on-campus alternatives, and expenses for commuting are minimized. And many of the online schools are accredited by the CAPTE, guaranteeing a quality education. These benefits may make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are disciplined enough to attend classes at home.

What to Ask Physical Therapy Colleges

At this point you probably have made a decision regarding some of your initial questions, such as the type of physical therapist degree you want to attain, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much money you can afford to spend for your education. But because there are numerous PT schools within the Maywood IL area and across Illinois, you’ll need to look into additional qualifications as well so as to further narrow your list of school options. Moreover, you want to make sure that you select the college that is right for you. That’s the reason we have put together a list of critical questions that you must ask the physical therapist programs you are reviewing. Ask each of the potential schools these questions prior to making an ultimate decision.

Is the Physical Therapy College Accredited?  Find out if the programs you are reviewing have received accreditation from a regional or a national agency. As earlier 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 select an online college, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapy school and program you choose are accredited, not simply the school. Also, verify that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Besides ensuring that you obtain an excellent education, accreditation might be mandated for state licensing and even for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the School’s Reputation? Along with accreditation, it’s important that the school and program you choose have excellent reputations within the physical therapy community. There are multiple ways you can look into a PT program’s reputation, beginning with asking for references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also search for online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. Call several Maywood IL physical therapist centers or other healthcare facilities that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can give you any advice about your program options. It may also be a good idea to contact the Illinois Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the schools.

What is the Program’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a two relevant statistics that you should find out about each of the physical therapy colleges you are looking at. First is their graduation rate. A low rate may mean that students left due to displeasure with the program, the teachers, or both. After the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the help of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Maywood IL area? If a school has a high job placement rate, it’s an indication that its reputation within the medical care community is good or even outstanding. It also confirms that the school has a large network of contacts to assist students get internships or employment upon graduation.

Does the College Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s important that the school you choose provides both exceptional training and a course of study that supports the licensing requirements for Illinois or the state where you will be practicing. In each state a passing score is needed on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as well as a degree from an accredited physical therapy school. Although licensing requirements differ state by state for PT and PTA graduates, a number of states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be performed and passing scores on additional exams.

Are Internship Programs Offered? Ask if the physical therapy programs you are interested in have associations with Maywood IL hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent manner to get hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As a supplemental benefit, they may assist students and graduates develop professional connections in the Maywood health care community and assist with obtaining employment after licensing.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist colleges you are reviewing what the average student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the physical therapist school they select will need to be within driving distance of their Maywood IL residence. Those who have chosen to attend classes online naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

Is Financial Support Provided? Most DPT colleges supply some type of financial support to their prospective students. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have a financial assistance office and see what kind of aid is offered. At a minimum they should help in obtaining a student loan or any scholarships you might qualify for. Some physical therapist schools provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before eliminating a school because the tuition is too expensive, find out what financial aid may be available.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to confirm that the physical therapist college you ultimately pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Maywood IL area, make certain that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Maywood Illinois?

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

Maywood, Illinois

Maywood is a village in Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois, United States. It was founded on April 6, 1869,[3] and organized October 22, 1881.[4] The population was 24,090 at the 2010 United States Census.[5]

As an early West Side suburb of Chicago, located along the oldest railway line exiting the city[6], early urban developers of planned subdivisions had been attracted to build in the area after witnessing its unique natural charm of open grass Prairie and scattered groves of ancient trees. Prehistoric Lake Chicago influenced the area's topography some 14,000 years ago, as glacial advance, "still stand" stages, and retreat deposited ridges of till. Within this glacial system, the advance of larger Lake Chicago had claimed its most westward beach head paralleling today's Mannheim road. When the rising lake water finally retreated, a glacial lake had been left behind, forming the flat plateau of present-day Maywood.

In 1868, Vermont businessmen began the Maywood Company. In 1870 streets were laid, construction began on the north side of the railroad tracks, and 20,000 eight year-old nursery-grown trees were planted. In 2010, the last of these 148-year-old trees had succumbed to the emerald ash borer. The oldest ash tree in northeast Illinois has lived in Maywood for the past 250 years, and is being protected from the borers with treatment, until the danger passes locally by year 2020, as it already has in Canton, Michigan where borers first arrived. Named after Jens Jensen, founder of the Midwest's prairie ecology movement a century ago, this tree, dubbed "The Great Dane", is located within the old growth woods just behind Proviso East high school.

Pick the Best Physical Therapist Degree Program near Maywood IL

Choosing the ideal physical therapy college is a necessary first decision you must make to launch a fulfilling career in the healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and school you decide on should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. However there are additional critical questions that you need to ask pertaining to your school of choice also. As you begin your search for a physical therapist school, keep in mind that a number of factors will lead you to your final decision. You might decide to go to each of the campuses to see their facilities and talk with current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this school help me reach my goal of becoming a licensed practicing physical therapist? By following our list of additional questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the best choice. And with the necessary education and training, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a practicing physical therapist in Maywood IL.

A Few More Interesting Locations in Illinois

  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Rantoul IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Carthage IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Evansville IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Valmeyer IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Farmington IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Sheffield IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Edwardsville IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Morrison IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Kingston IL
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Robinson IL
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 1400

    Functional Health and Wellness Physical Therapy
    15 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Nutritionists
    Phone:
    852 Madison St, Oak Park, IL 60302

    Body Gears Physical Therapy
    18 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    1049 Lake St, Ste 201, Oak Park, IL 60301

    River Forest Health & Wellness
    15 Reviews
    Chiropractors, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    7354 Central Ave, River Forest, IL 60305

    Athletico Physical Therapy - River Grove
    6 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    8937 Grand Ave, River Grove, IL 60171

    Body Gears Physical Therapy
    18 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    2311 W 22nd St, Ste 110, Oak Brook, IL 60523

    Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers - Chicago
    5 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    6921 W Archer Ave, Chicago, IL 60638

    Function1st Physical Therapy
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Orthopedists
    Phone:
    3415 W North Ave, Ste A, Melrose Park, IL 60160

    Olympia Chiropractic & Physical Therapy
    37 Reviews
    Chiropractors, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    533 S York Rd, Elmhurst, IL 60126

    Athletico Physical Therapy - Berwyn
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    6347 W. Cermak Rd., Ste A, Berwyn, IL 60402

    NTS Physical Therapy & Medical Supply
    5 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Medical Supplies
    Phone:
    9132 Ogden Ave, Brookfield, IL 60513