Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Port Jefferson Station NY

How to Enroll In a Physical Therapist Degree Program near Port Jefferson Station 11776

Port Jefferson Station NY physical therapy school student with volunteer Obtaining a physical therapist degree near Port Jefferson Station NY is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help individuals who have been disabled as a result of illness or injury gain back function and mobility. But before they may legally practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they need to receive the appropriate training and education. A PT must also become licensed in all states, many mandating that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited school. So before choosing a physical therapy school, it’s necessary to investigate those you are looking at 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 just because it happens to be the nearest to your residence or it has cheapest tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that must be considered along with location and cost. But before we talk about what those qualifications are and the questions you should be asking, we’ll cover what a physical therapist does and what the educational options are.

What is a Physical Therapist’s Job Description?

Port Jefferson Station NY physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists practice in diverse locations, such as Port Jefferson Station NY private practices, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and health clubs. What the facilities all share in common is that they have the equipment for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As previously mentioned, physical therapists help individuals that are suffering from a lack of mobility and often pain caused by illness or injury. After diagnosing a patient, they create a program of treatment to resolve the mobility issues 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
Motor vehicle accidents
Strokes.
Heart attacks.
Sports injuries.
Fire injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Sciatica.
Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close association with other Port Jefferson Station NY medical specialists, including chiropractors, physicians, registered nurses and dentists. They can also manage one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. One thing to take note of for anyone thinking about going into the physical therapy field, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists regularly lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for extended periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degree Options

Port Jefferson Station NY physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are three physical therapy degrees offered for individuals to enroll in at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these alternatives, the only degree that is attainable to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees focus on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or preparing them to progress to the doctoral level. Below are brief explanations of degrees that are offered in the Port Jefferson Station NY area:

Associate Degrees educate students to be physical therapy assistants, or may be the first step toward earning a more advanced degree. Applicants must have earned a high school diploma or GED to qualify for enrollment. The degrees are most often offered by community or junior 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 created as pre-physical therapy training to prepare students to move up to the doctoral level. While they are not a requirement to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an important initial step to practicing as a PT. Similar to the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they generally require 4 years to finish and commonly include an internship program of a minimum of 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). In addition to the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes three years to complete, making the total commitment 7 years in the majority of cases. Clinical or practical training is an essential element along with the extensive lab and classroom instruction. Consequently the fulfillment of an internship is required, not just 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 attainable in the United States. Some practicing physical therapists having a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the present licensing mandate for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapist Online Programs

woman attending physical therapy school online in Port Jefferson Station NY Although not as common as the on campus options, there are many accredited online physical therapist programs available, even more at the graduate level. Due to 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 nearby an available internship. However, the online part of the course of study can be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Port Jefferson Station NY home. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in a number of cases more affordable. Tuition can be somewhat lower than comparable on campus options, and costs for commuting are minimized. And a number of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, guaranteeing a quality education. These benefits may make the online option the best choice for those students that are motivated enough to attend classes at home.

Questions to Ask Physical Therapy Programs

At this point you most likely have come to decision regarding a few of your preliminary queries, like the kind of physical therapy degree you would like to earn, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much you can afford to invest in your education. But considering there are so many PT colleges within the Port Jefferson Station NY area and across New York, you’ll need to explore additional qualifications as well in order to further narrow your list of college choices. Also, you need to make sure that you choose the school that is right for you. That’s why we have put together a list of important questions that you must ask the physical therapist colleges you are considering. Ask each of the potential colleges these questions prior to making a final selection.

Is the Physical Therapy Program Accredited? Ask if the colleges you are considering have received accreditation from a national or a regional agency. 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 enroll in an online college, it can also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s imperative that both the physical therapist program and school you choose are accredited, not just the school. Also, verify that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting organization. Along with guaranteeing that you receive an excellent education, accreditation might be required for state licensing as well as for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the Program’s Ranking? In addition to accreditation, it’s important that the college and program you pick have outstanding reputations within the physical therapist community. There are a number of ways you can research a PT program’s reputation, beginning with requesting references from employers that they refer their students to. You may also check online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. Get in touch with several Port Jefferson Station NY physical therapy centers or other medical care facilities that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can provide any recommendations about your program options. It may also be a good idea to contact the New York Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the colleges.

What is the School’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a couple of significant statistics that you need to know about each of the physical therapist programs you are looking at. First is their graduation rate. A low rate might indicate that students dropped out due to dissatisfaction with the program, the teachers, or both. After the students have graduated, how many of them are being hired with the assistance of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the Port Jefferson Station NY area? If a program has a higher job placement rate, it’s an indication that its reputation within the health care field is good or even outstanding. It also affirms that the program has a broad network of contacts to help students gain internships or employment after graduation.

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

Are Internships Provided? Find out if the physical therapist schools you are assessing have associations with Port Jefferson Station NY clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only an excellent means to receive hands on experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As an ancillary benefit, they may help students and graduates establish professional connections in the Port Jefferson Station health care community and assist with job placement once licensed.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that prefers to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapy colleges you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program as well.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the physical therapy college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Port Jefferson Station NY home. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to bear in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you may be required to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

Is Financial Assistance Provided? The majority of DPT colleges supply some form of financial assistance to their prospective students. Ask if the colleges you are examining have a financial assistance office and find out what type of help is offered. At a minimum they should help in acquiring a student loan or any scholarships you may qualify for. Some physical therapist colleges provide scholarships, while others provide work programs. So before you eliminate a college because the tuition is beyond your budget, find out what financial assistance may be available.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the physical therapist college you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is particularly crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Port Jefferson Station NY area, make certain 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 carry. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Port Jefferson Station New York?

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

New York State Route 112

New York State Route 112 (NY 112) is a state highway located entirely within the town of Brookhaven in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It runs from an intersection with Montauk Highway (formerly part of NY 27A) in the village of Patchogue to a junction with NY 25A in Port Jefferson Station. It is known locally as Medford Avenue in Patchogue and Patchogue Road in Terryville and Port Jefferson Station. The official name for the road outside these areas is "Patchogue–Port Jefferson Road", though it is often signed simply as "Route 112".[3]

NY 112 begins at an intersection with County Route 80 (CR 80; East Main Street) in the village of Patchogue. The route proceeds northward as a four-lane commercial street as Medford Avenue. Near the intersection with Lakewood Street, NY 112 leaves the village of Patchogue, entering the town of Brookhaven. The route does not change going north, passing Medford Elementary School before entering interchange 53 of the Sunrise Highway (NY 27) in the census-designated place of North Patchogue. NY 112 crosses over the Sunrise, continuing north as Medford Avenue as the four-lane boulevard it was prior to the interchange. At the intersection with Shaber Road, the route bends to the northeast, changing names to Medford Road and crossing an intersection with CR 99 (Woodside Avenue), a four-lane arterial through Brookhaven.[4]

Continuing north from CR 99, NY 112 condenses down to two lanes (one in each direction), remaining a commercial arterial. NY 112 passes Tremont Elementary School before crossing Greenport Road, continuing northward into the census-designated place of Medford. In Medford, NY 112 continues north, crossing under the Long Island Rail Road's Greenport Branch next to the Medford station. After crossing under the tracks, NY 112 continues northeast through Medford, entering interchange 64 of the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and expanding to four lanes once again before an intersection with CR 16 (Horse Block Road). The route returns to two lanes after CR 16, passing east of Blue Ridge Golf Club and Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. At this point, NY 112 changes names from Medford Avenue to Port Jefferson–Patchogue Road.[4]

Choose the Best Physical Therapy Degree Program near Port Jefferson Station NY

Selecting the ideal physical therapy college is an important initial decision you need to make to launch a gratifying career in the medical profession. As we have covered in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and college you enroll in should both have outstanding reputations and accreditation. However there are additional important questions that you should ask concerning your school of choice as well. As you start your search for a physical therapy program, bear in mind that a number of factors will guide you toward your final decision. You might want to go to different schools to view their facilities and speak with 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 adhering to 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 accomplish your dream of becoming a practicing physical therapist in Port Jefferson Station NY.