How to Enroll In a Physical Therapy Program near Cranberry Isles 04625
Earning a physical therapist degree near Cranberry Isles ME is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career in the healthcare field. Physical therapists (PT) help individuals who have been debilitated as a result of illness or injury regain function and mobility. But before they can practice and provide treatment for the rehabilitation of patients, they must acquire the necessary training and education. A PT must also be licensed in every state, a large number requiring that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited school. So prior to selecting a physical therapy school, it’s necessary to research the ones you are considering to make certain they will provide a superior education and satisfy your state’s licensing criteria. What you should not do is select a college just because it happens to be the nearest to your residence or it has the lowest tuition. There are other important qualifications that must be considered in addition to cost and location. But before we talk about 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 Does a Physical Therapist Do?
Physical therapists practice in varying settings, such as Cranberry Isles ME private practices, hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and sports facilities. What the facilities all share in common is that they have the equipment for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As earlier touched on, physical therapists help individuals that are suffering from a lack of mobility and in many cases pain due to injury or illness. After patient diagnosis, they design a course of treatment to deal with the mobility problems and reduce or eradicate any pain. They also strive to stop any progression of the disability. While the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are numerous, they include:
- Arthritis or Osteoporosis
- Car or motor cycle accidents
- Strokes.
- Heart attacks.
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
- Burn injuries.
- Knee Replacement.
- Sciatica.
- Cerebral Palsy.
Licensed physical therapists practice in close affiliation with other Cranberry Isles ME health professionals, including doctors, chiropractors, registered nurses and dentists. They may also manage several physical therapy assistants who work for them in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Something to take note of for anyone considering entering the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for long periods of time on a daily basis.
Physical Therapist Degree Options
There are three physical therapy degrees offered for students to enroll in at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these alternatives, the only degree that is offered to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees concentrate on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or readying them to progress to the doctoral level. Following are short descriptions of degree levels that are offered in the Cranberry Isles ME area:
- Associate Degrees prepare students to be 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 usually provided by junior or community colleges, and require two years to complete. Clinical training, which may be in the form of an internship is typically a component of the curriculum.
- Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist training to prep candidates to advance to the doctoral level. While they are not a requirement to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an integral first step to practicing as a PT. As with most bachelor’s degrees, they generally take 4 years to complete and commonly incorporate an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
- Doctorate Degrees are required in order to become a practicing licensed 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 3 years to finish, making the total investment of time seven years in the majority of cases. Clinical or practical training is an important element in addition to the extensive lab and classroom instruction. Consequently the completion of an internship is mandated, not solely for graduation but in a number of states for licensing as well.
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 available in the United States. A number of practicing physical therapists holding a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the present licensing requirement for a doctorate was instituted.
Physical Therapy Degrees Online
Although not as prevalent as the more traditional options, there are a number of accredited online physical therapy degrees available, more so at the graduate level. Due to the hands-on nature of the training, clinical lab work and internships are incorporated with the online classes. This necessitates that the student live close to the college campus or in proximity of a sponsored internship. However, the online segment of the curriculum can be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Cranberry Isles ME residence. Online schools are not only partially more accessible, but in many instances more affordable. Tuition may be somewhat less than comparable on campus alternatives, and costs for commuting are reduced. And many of the online schools are accredited by the CAPTE, ensuring a quality education. These advantages can make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are disciplined enough to attend classes at home.
Questions to Ask Physical Therapy Programs
By now you undoubtedly have made a decision regarding several of your preliminary questions, such as the type of physical therapist degree you would like to earn, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But because there are numerous PT schools within the Cranberry Isles ME area and across Maine, you’ll need to research additional qualifications as well in order to further narrow your list of college choices. Furthermore, you want to make sure that you select the program that is ideal for you. That’s why we have collected a list of essential questions that you need to ask the physical therapy colleges you are thinking about. Ask each of the competing schools these questions prior to making an ultimate decision.
Is the Physical Therapy School Accredited? Find out if the programs you are considering have earned accreditation from a national or a regional organization. As earlier stated, if you are pursuing a doctorate the program must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). If you choose an online college, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapy program and school you choose are accredited, not just the school. Additionally, make sure that the accreditation is through a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with guaranteeing that you receive an excellent education, accreditation may be required for state licensing as well as for securing student loans or financial aid.
What is the School’s Ranking? Along with accreditation, it’s essential that the college and program you pick have excellent reputations within the physical therapy community. There are several ways you can research a PT school’s reputation, starting with requesting references from employers that they refer their students to. You may also check online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. Call a few Cranberry Isles ME physical therapist clinics or other healthcare facilities that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any insight about your college selections. It may also be a good idea to contact the Maine Attorney General and school licensing authority to see if any complaints have been submitted against the colleges.
What is the College’s Job Placement Rate? There are a two relevant statistics that you need to find out about each of the physical therapist colleges you are looking at. One is their graduation rate. A low rate might mean that students dropped out due to dissatisfaction with the program, the instructors, or both. Once the students have graduated, how many of them are being placed in jobs with the support of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Cranberry Isles ME area? If a program has a higher job placement rate, it’s an indication that its reputation within the health care community is good or even outstanding. It also verifies that the school has a large network of contacts to assist students obtain internships or jobs upon graduation.
Does the School Support Licensing Requirements? It’s imperative that the program you select furnishes both exceptional training and a curriculum that supports the licensing requirements for Maine or the state where you will be practicing. In every state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as well as a degree from an accredited physical therapy college. 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 Internships Offered? Inquire if the physical therapy programs you are reviewing have relationships with Cranberry Isles ME clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent means to get practical training in a clinical setting, they are additionally a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they can assist students and graduates establish professional connections in the Cranberry Isles health care community and assist with job placement once licensed.
How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of student that likes to sit way in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the physical therapy schools you are considering what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you a chance to talk with some of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.
Where is the Program Located? For many students, the physical therapist college they decide on will have to be within travelling distance of their Cranberry Isles ME residence. Those who have opted to attend online classes obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. 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 might be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.
Is Financial Support Provided? Most DPT colleges supply some type of financial aid to their potential students. Ask if the schools you are examining have a financial aid department and see what kind of assistance is obtainable. They at least should help in getting a student loan or any scholarships you may be eligible for. Some physical therapy schools offer scholarships, while others provide 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 last you must verify that the physical therapist program you finally pick can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Cranberry Isles ME area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family obligations.
Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Cranberry Isles Maine?
If you are planning on attending a Physical Therapy School in the Cranberry Isles ME area, the following information may prove to be both interesting and educational regarding the location of your future Alma Mater.
Cranberry Isles, Maine
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 45.57 square miles (118.03 km2), of which 3.17 square miles (8.21 km2) is land and 42.40 square miles (109.82 km2) is water.[1]
The Town of Cranberry Isles includes five islands: Great Cranberry Island (with the postal designation Cranberry Isles, ZIP code 04625), Little Cranberry Island (with the postal designation Islesford, ZIP code 04646), Sutton Island, Bear Island, and Baker Island. Only the first two islands have post offices or year-round populations.
As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 141 people, 70 households, and 33 families residing in the town. The population density was 44.5 inhabitants per square mile (17.2/km2). There were 375 housing units at an average density of 118.3 per square mile (45.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.9% White, 0.7% African American, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.1% of the population.
Select the Best Physical Therapist Training Program near Cranberry Isles ME
Deciding on the ideal physical therapy program is an important initial decision you must make to begin a gratifying career in the health care field. As we have discussed in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and school you pick should both have excellent reputations and accreditation. But there are additional critical questions that you need to ask regarding your college of choice also. As you commence your search for a physical therapy college, keep in mind that a number of variables will guide you toward your final decision. You may decide to go to different campuses to see their facilities and speak to current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this program help me achieve 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 choice. And with the proper education and training, you can fulfill your dream to become a licensed physical therapist in Cranberry Isles ME.
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