Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – New Palestine IN

How to Pick a Physical Therapist Program near New Palestine 46163

New Palestine IN physical therapy school student with volunteerEarning a physical therapy degree near New Palestine IN is an essential first step to beginning a fulfilling career in the healthcare field. Physical therapists (PT) help patients who have been debilitated as a result of illness or injury gain back mobility and function. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the appropriate training and education. A PT must additionally be licensed in all states, many mandating that the licensee earn a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before choosing a physical therapy school, it’s essential to investigate those you are considering to make certain they will furnish a superior education and satisfy your state’s licensing requirements. What you do not want to do is enroll in a college simply because it happens to be the nearest to your residence or it has cheapest tuition. There are other significant qualifications that need to 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?

New Palestine IN physical therapist helping patient walkPhysical therapists practice in a variety of locations, such as New Palestine IN hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all have in common is that they are equipped for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As earlier touched on, physical therapists help patients that are struggling with a lack of mobility and frequently pain caused by illness or injury. After patient diagnosis, they create a course of treatment to deal with the mobility issues and reduce or eradicate any pain. They also strive to stop any advancement of the disability. Although the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are numerous, they include:

  • Osteoporosis and Arthritis
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Strokes.
  • Heart attacks.
  • Sports injuries.
  • Burn injuries.
  • Hip Replacement.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close affiliation with other New Palestine IN medical professionals, including doctors, chiropractors, registered nurses and dentists. They can also manage one or more physical therapy assistants who work for them assisting with diagnosing and treating their patients. One thing to keep in mind for anyone thinking about getting into the physical therapy profession, 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 Degree Options

New Palestine IN physical therapist applying acupuncture to patientThere are 3 physical therapist degree options available for individuals to enroll in at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these choices, the single degree that is attainable to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees concentrate on either preparing students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or prepping them to advance to the doctoral level. Below are brief summaries of degree levels that are available in the New Palestine IN area:

  • Associate Degrees train students to become physical therapy assistants, or can be the first step toward earning a more advanced degree. Candidates must have obtained a high school diploma or GED to qualify for enrollment. The programs are typically made available by community colleges, and take about two years for completion. An internship or other form of clinical training is usually a component of the curriculum.
  • Bachelor’s Degrees are designed as pre-physical therapist education to ready students to progress to the doctoral level. Although they are not required to be a candidate for the doctoral program, they are an integral initial step to becoming a PT. As with the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they generally require 4 years to complete and often 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). After earning the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes 3 years to finish, making the overall investment of time seven years in most cases. Clinical training is an important element in addition to the considerable lab and classroom instruction. Therefor the fulfillment of an internship is required, not only for graduation but in some states for licensing also.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) has replaced the Master’s of Physical Therapy (MPT), which has been eliminated and is no longer available in the United States. Some licensed physical therapists having a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the current licensing requirement for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapist Colleges Online

woman attending physical therapy school online in New Palestine INAlthough not as common as the more traditional options, there are some accredited online physical therapist degrees offered, even more 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 near the college campus or nearby an available internship. Fortunately, the online portion of the curriculum may be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s New Palestine IN residence. Online schools are not only partially more accessible, but in a number of cases more economical. Tuition can be significantly less than comparable on campus options, and expenses for commuting are minimized. And a number of the online schools are accredited by the CAPTE, ensuring a quality education. These advantages may make the online alternative the best choice for those students that are dedicated enough to learn at home.

Questions to Ask Physical Therapist Schools

By now you probably have made a decision regarding a few of your preliminary queries, such as the type of physical therapist degree you intend to attain, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much money you can afford to spend for your education. But considering there are so many PT colleges within the New Palestine IN area and throughout Indiana, you’ll need to research other qualifications also so as to further narrow your list of college choices. Furthermore, you need to be sure that you select the school that is ideal for you. That’s why we have put together a list of important questions that you must ask the physical therapist schools you are considering. Ask all of the competing schools these questions before making an ultimate decision.

Is the Physical Therapy School Accredited?  Find out if the schools you are considering have earned accreditation from a regional or a national organization. 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 choose an online college, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapy program and school you enroll in are accredited, not simply the school. Additionally, make sure that the accreditation is through a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to ensuring that you obtain a quality education, accreditation may be mandated for state licensing and even for securing student loans or financial aid.

What is the College’s Standing? In addition to accreditation, it’s essential that the college and program you pick have outstanding reputations within the physical therapy community. There are several ways you can investigate a PT program’s reputation, beginning with asking for references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also check online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. Get in touch with some New Palestine IN physical therapist clinics or other healthcare facilities that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations about your program options. It might also be a good idea to check with the Indiana Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the schools.

What is the College’s Job Placement Rate? There are a two important statistics that you should know about each of the physical therapist schools you are considering. One is their graduation rate. A lower rate may mean that students dropped out because of dissatisfaction with the program, the instructors, or both. Once the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the support of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the New Palestine IN area? If a program has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the health care field is good or perhaps exceptional. It also affirms that the program has a broad network of contacts to help students gain internships or jobs after graduation.

Does the Program Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s important that the program you enroll in furnishes both superior training and a curriculum that satisfies the licensing requirements for Indiana 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 program. While licensing requirements vary state by state for PTA and PT graduates, some states require a minimum number of clinical hours be completed and passing scores on supplemental tests.

Are Internships Provided? Find out if the physical therapist colleges you are evaluating have relationships with New Palestine IN hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent way to obtain hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are also a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they may assist graduates and students establish professional relationships in the New Palestine healthcare community and assist with job placement once licensed.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist colleges you are considering what the average 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 some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Where is the School Located? For a lot of students, the physical therapy college they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their New Palestine IN home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of importance. One thing to bear in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges generally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Help Provided? Most DPT colleges supply some form of financial aid to their potential students. Inquire if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department and see what kind of assistance is available. They at least should help in acquiring a student loan or any grants you might be eligible for. Some physical therapy colleges provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before you eliminate a college because the tuition is beyond your budget, learn what financial aid might be available.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must verify that the physical therapist program you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the New Palestine IN area, check that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near New Palestine Indiana?

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

Palestine

Enroll in the Ideal Physical Therapist Degree Program near New Palestine IN

Selecting the ideal physical therapy college is an important first decision you must make to begin a fulfilling career in the healthcare profession. As we have covered in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and college you decide on should both have excellent reputations and accreditation. However there are additional relevant questions that you need to ask regarding your college of choice also. As you start your search for a physical therapist college, keep in mind that many factors will guide you to your ultimate decision. You may want to visit each of the campuses to see their facilities and talk to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this program help me reach my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By following our list of supplemental questions, you will have the ability to narrow down the field so you can make the appropriate selection. And with the necessary training and education, you can achieve your dream to become a licensed physical therapist in New Palestine IN.

A Few More Interesting Locations in Indiana

  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Greentown IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Santa Claus IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Lawrenceburg IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Paoli IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Deputy IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Rushville IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Hardinsburg IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Campbellsburg IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Leroy IN
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Huntingburg IN
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 89

    Chiro 1st
    3 Reviews
    Chiropractors, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    11020 E 10th St, Ste B, Indianapolis, IN 46229

    Physical Therapy and Rehab - East
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    10122 East 10th St, Indianapolis, IN 46229

    ATI Physical Therapy
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Center
    Phone:
    1818 N State St, Greenfield, IN 46140

    Body One Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation
    3 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, Rehabilitation Center
    Phone:
    7855 S Emerson Ave, Ste W, Indianapolis, IN 46237

    OrthoIndy Hospital South
    10 Reviews
    Sports Medicine, Orthopedists, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    1260 Innovation Pkwy, Ste 150, Greenwood, IN 46143

    Body One Physical Therapy
    1 Reviews
    Massage Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pilates
    Phone:
    7855 S Emerson Ave, Ste W, Body One Massage Therapy, Indianapolis, IN 46237

    Billingsley Chiropractic Center
    3 Reviews
    Chiropractors, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    4940 S Emerson Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46203

    Metzger Physical Therapy
    3 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    1111 E 54th St, Indianapolis, IN 46220

    ATI Physical Therapy
    4 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Center
    Phone:
    433 N Capitol Ave, Ste 102, Indianapolis, IN 46204

    ATI Physical Therapy
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Center
    Phone:
    2333 N Post Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46219