Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Salt Point NY

How to Choose a Physical Therapy Degree Program near Salt Point 12578

Salt Point NY physical therapy school student with volunteer Earning a physical therapist degree near Salt Point NY is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been incapacitated as a result of illness or injury gain back mobility and function. But before they may legally practice and provide treatment for the rehabilitation of patients, they must acquire the necessary education and training. A PT must also be licensed in every state, many requiring that the licensee hold a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So prior to enrolling in a physical therapy school, it’s necessary to investigate the ones you are considering to ensure they will deliver a quality education and meet your state’s licensing standards. What you should not 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 evaluated along with location and cost. But before we cover 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 Do Physical Therapists Do?

Salt Point NY physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists practice in a variety of settings, such as Salt Point NY hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and sports facilities. What the facilities all have in common is that they are equipped for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As previously mentioned, physical therapists help individuals that are suffering from a lack of mobility and frequently pain caused by injury or illness. After patient diagnosis, they design a program of treatment to address the mobility problems and reduce or eradicate any pain. They also endeavor to prevent any progression of the disability. Although the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are numerous, they include:

Arthritis or Osteoporosis
Motor vehicle accidents
Strokes.
Heart attacks.
Sports injuries.
Burn injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Fibromyalgia.
Cerebral Palsy.

Licensed physical therapists work in close association with other Salt Point NY health professionals, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists and nurses. They may also manage one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them in diagnosing and treating their patients. Something to bear in mind for anyone thinking about entering the physical therapy field, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists often lift heavy equipment as well as patients, and stand, crouch and kneel for extended periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees Available

Salt Point NY physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are 3 physical therapist degree options offered for individuals to enroll in at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these alternatives, the only degree that is offered to practice as a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees focus on either preparing students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or preparing them to progress to the doctoral level. Following are short summaries of degrees that are available in the Salt Point NY area:

Associate Degrees educate students to become physical therapy assistants, or can be used as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are most often made available by community colleges, and require two years for completion. An internship or other form of clinical training is typically part of the curriculum.
Bachelor’s Degrees are designed as pre-physical therapist training to prepare candidates to move up to the doctoral level. While they are not a requirement to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an important first step to practicing as a PT. Similar to most bachelor’s degrees, they generally take four years to finish and often include an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are mandated 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 3 years to finish, making the total investment of time seven years in most cases. Practical or clinical training is an important element in addition to the considerable classroom and lab instruction. Consequently the fulfillment of an internship is mandated, not only for graduation but in a number of 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 offered in the USA. A number of licensed physical therapists holding a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the current licensing requirement for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapist Online Degrees

woman attending physical therapy school online in Salt Point NY While not as prevalent as the more traditional alternatives, there are many accredited online physical therapy degrees offered, even more at the graduate level. Due to the hands-on nature of the training, clinical lab work and internships are combined with the online classes. This requires that the student live close to the school campus or nearby an available internship. Fortunately, the online portion of the course of study may be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Salt Point NY residence. Online schools are not only partially more accessible, but in many instances more economical. Tuition might be significantly lower 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 can make the online alternative the ideal choice for those students that are disciplined enough to learn at home.

Subjects to Ask Physical Therapist Programs

At this point you probably have made a decision regarding some of your preliminary questions, such as the type of physical therapy degree you would like to attain, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much money you can afford to invest in your education. But considering there are so many PT schools within the Salt Point NY area and throughout New York, you’ll have to research other qualifications also so as to further narrow your list of school choices. Moreover, you need to be sure that you pick the school that is best for you. That’s why we have compiled a list of critical questions that you must 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 Therapist College Accredited? Ask if the programs you are reviewing have earned accreditation from a national or a regional agency. As previously 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 program, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s essential that both the physical therapy program and school you choose are accredited, not simply the school. Also, check that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to ensuring that you receive an excellent education, accreditation may be mandated for state licensing as well as for getting student loans or financial aid.

What is the School’s Reputation? In addition to accreditation, it’s imperative that the school and program you choose have outstanding reputations within the physical therapy profession. There are several ways you can research a PT college’s reputation, starting with asking for references from employers that they refer their students to. You may also search for online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Contact a few Salt Point NY physical therapy clinics or other health care facilities that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insight about your school selections. It might also be a good idea to contact the New York Attorney General and school licensing authority to see if any complaints have been submitted against the schools.

What is the College’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a two useful statistics that you should know about all of the physical therapy colleges you are looking at. First is their graduation rate. A low rate may mean that students left because of displeasure with the program, the teachers, or both. Once the students have graduated, how many of them are being hired with the support of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Salt Point NY 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 perhaps excellent. It also affirms that the college has a wide network of contacts to assist students get internships or jobs after graduation.

Does the Program Support Licensing Requirements? It’s essential that the college you enroll in furnishes both excellent training and a course of study that satisfies the licensing requirements for New York or the state where you will be practicing. In each state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in addition to a degree from an accredited physical therapy college. Although licensing requirements fluctuate state by state for PTA and PT graduates, many states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be completed as well as passing scores on supplemental exams.

Are Internships Provided? Ask if the physical therapy schools you are reviewing have relationships with Salt Point NY clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific means to get practical training in a clinical environment, they are also a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they can assist graduates and students develop professional connections in the Salt Point medical community and help with job placement after licensing.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of person that likes to sit far in the rear of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist colleges you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on 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 opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the physical therapist college they choose will have to be within commuting distance of their Salt Point NY residence. Those who have chosen to attend online classes obviously 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 school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges normally charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Support Provided? Most DPT schools offer some form of financial assistance to their prospective students. Inquire if the colleges you are considering have a financial assistance office and see what type of help is offered. At a minimum they should help in acquiring a student loan or any grants you might qualify for. A number of physical therapy schools offer scholarships, while others provide work programs. So before you eliminate a program because the tuition is beyond your budget, ask what financial aid may be available.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the physical therapist college you finally pick can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you choose to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Salt Point NY area, verify that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would need to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Salt Point New York?

If you are planning on attending a Physical Therapy School in the Salt Point 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 115

New York State Route 115 (NY 115) is a 12.45-mile (20.04 km) long state highway located entirely within Dutchess County, New York. The route runs from an intersection with U.S. Route 44 (US 44) and NY 55 in the city of Poughkeepsie along the former Salt Point Turnpike to an interchange with the Taconic State Parkway in Clinton. Throughout its length NY 115 is maintained by the city of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County (as CR 75), and the New York State Department of Transportation. When NY 115 terminates at the Taconic State Parkway, the Salt Point Turnpike continues as County Route 17 (CR 17) for another four miles to NY 82 in Stanford. NY 115 was designated on April 1, 1980 as part of a maintenance swap by the New York State Department of Transportation, which took over the portion from Smith Street to the Taconic Parkway that was originally CR 75. The portion of the turnpike from the Poughkeepsie city line to Innis Avenue was re-designated New York State Route 984A.

NY 115 begins at West Baker Street (eastbound US 44 and NY 55) in eastern Poughkeepsie. As Worrall Avenue, it heads north through the easternmost portion of the city. An intersection with West Maple Street (westbound US 44 and NY 55) soon follows after and then gains the moniker of Innis Avenue. NY 115 continues on, passing King Street Park to the east before crossing into the town of Poughkeepsie at Arnold Road.[3] Here, maintenance of the roadway shifts from the city of Poughkeepsie to Dutchess County, which maintains the road as CR 75. This designation continues north along NY 115 to the Salt Point Turnpike, where CR 75 ends and maintenance of NY 115 switches once more to the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).[4] NY 115 joins the Salt Point Turnpike northward, paralleling the St. Peter's Cemetery and passing near the Dutchess Community College as it enters Hyde Park.[3]

Across the town line, NY 115 intersects with both CR 39, a connector route leading north toward the hamlet of Hyde Park, and CR 16, a parallel route to NY 9G between Hyde Park and Clinton, as it turns northeast and crosses into Pleasant Valley. NY 115 then meets CR 71 and CR 73 in quick succession as it parallels CR 72 toward the hamlet of Salt Point. The two routes converge just outside the hamlet, with NY 115 continuing toward the hamlet. Once in Salt Point, NY 115 crosses over Wappinger Creek just south of an intersection with CR 18 near the northern edge of the community. NY 115 progresses onward, paralleling Wappinger Creek into the town of Clinton, where NY 115 intersects CR 14 as Wappinger Creek turns away from the Salt Point Turnpike. The Turnpike, as well as NY 115, continue northeast to the Taconic State Parkway, where NY 115 terminates at the northbound exit ramps to the parkway. Past the Taconic, the Salt Point Turnpike continues for another 4 miles (6 km) to NY 82 in Stanford as CR 17.[3]

Select the Right Physical Therapy Degree Program near Salt Point NY

Deciding on the right physical therapist college is a necessary first decision you have to make to start a gratifying career in the medical profession. As we have discussed in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and school you choose should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. But there are additional relevant questions that you should ask regarding your school of choice also. As you begin your search for a physical therapist school, keep in mind that a number of factors will guide you toward your final decision. You might decide to visit each of the campuses to see their facilities and speak to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this critical question: will this program help me reach my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By following our list of additional questions, you will have the ability to narrow down the options so you can make the appropriate choice. And with the necessary education and training, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a licensed physical therapist in Salt Point NY.