Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Orrtanna PA

How to Choose a Physical Therapist Degree Program near Orrtanna 17353

Orrtanna PA physical therapy school student with volunteer Getting a physical therapist degree near Orrtanna PA is a critical first step to launching a rewarding career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been disabled due to injury or illness regain mobility and function. But before they may legally practice and provide treatment for the rehabilitation of patients, they need to acquire the appropriate training and education. A PT must also become licensed in every state, a large number requiring that the licensee hold a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before selecting a physical therapy school, it’s essential to evaluate the ones you are looking at to make sure they will furnish a quality 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 closest to your home or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that need to be considered besides cost and location. But before we discuss what those qualifications are and the questions you should be asking, we’ll cover what a physical therapist does and the options for education.

What Does a Physical Therapist Do?

Orrtanna PA physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including Orrtanna PA private practices, hospitals, 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 individuals that are suffering from a lack of mobility and in many cases pain caused by injury or illness. After diagnosing a patient, they develop a course of treatment to deal with the mobility issues and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also endeavor to stop any progression of the disability. While the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are numerous, they include:

Arthritis or Osteoporosis
Motor vehicle accidents
Head injuries.
Cardiac arrest.
Sports injuries.
Fire injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Fibromyalgia.
Cerebral Palsy.

Licensed physical therapists work in close association with other Orrtanna PA health specialists, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists and nurses. They can also supervise one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them in diagnosing and treating their patients. One thing to keep in mind for anyone considering entering the physical therapy field, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists often lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees

Orrtanna PA 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 options, the one degree that is available to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees emphasize either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or preparing them to progress to the doctoral level. Following are short explanations of degree levels that are offered in the Orrtanna PA area:

Associate Degrees educate students to practice as 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 qualify for enrollment. The degrees are most often offered by community colleges, and take about two years to complete. An internship or other form of clinical training is usually a portion of the course of study.
Bachelor’s Degrees are designed as pre-physical therapy training to prepare candidates to progress to the doctoral level. Although they are not required to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an integral first step to becoming a PT. As with most bachelor’s degrees, they generally require 4 years to complete and usually incorporate an internship program of at least 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are required if you want to become a licensed practicing 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 3 years to complete, making the total commitment seven years in most cases. Clinical training is an important component in addition to the considerable classroom and lab instruction. Therefor the completion of an internship is required, not only for graduation but in some 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 attainable in the United States. Some practicing physical therapists having a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the existing licensing mandate for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapy Online Colleges

woman attending physical therapy school online in Orrtanna PA Although not as common as the on-campus options, there are a number of accredited online physical therapy 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 necessitates that the student live close to the school campus or in proximity of a sponsored internship. Fortunately, the online segment of the course of study can be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Orrtanna PA residence. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in a number of cases more economical. Tuition may be significantly less than comparable on campus alternatives, and costs for commuting are reduced. And many of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, guaranteeing a quality education. These benefits can make the online option the ideal choice for those students that are motivated enough to learn at home.

Subjects to Ask Physical Therapist Programs

By now you most likely have made a decision concerning a few of your preliminary queries, including the type of physical therapist degree you want to obtain, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But considering there are numerous PT schools within the Orrtanna PA area and throughout Pennsylvania, you’ll need to look into other qualifications as well in order to further narrow your list of school options. Also, you need to make certain that you pick the program that is right for you. That’s why we have put together a list of essential questions that you must ask the physical therapist programs you are reviewing. Ask each of the competing schools these questions before making an ultimate decision.

Is the Physical Therapy College Accredited? Ask if the colleges you are considering have earned accreditation from a regional or a national agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 essential that both the physical therapist school and program you enroll in are accredited, not simply the school. Additionally, make sure that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Besides guaranteeing that you receive 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? Along with accreditation, it’s important that the school and program you select have exceptional reputations within the physical therapy community. There are a number of 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 rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Call several Orrtanna PA physical therapy clinics or other healthcare facilities that you might have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any insight about your college options. It might also be a good idea to contact the Pennsylvania 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 couple of useful statistics that you should know about each of the physical therapy schools you are looking at. One is their graduation rate. A low rate might indicate that students left due to dissatisfaction with the program, the teachers, or both. Once the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the help of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the Orrtanna PA 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 confirms that the school has a large network of contacts to help students gain internships or jobs upon graduation.

Does the School Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s important that the school you choose provides both excellent training and a curriculum that satisfies the licensing requirements for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be working. In each state a passing score is needed on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in addition to a degree from an accredited physical therapist college. Although licensing requirements differ state by state for PTA and PT graduates, some states require a minimum number of clinical hours be completed and passing scores on additional exams.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Find out if the physical therapist schools you are interested in have relationships with Orrtanna PA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to receive hands on training in a clinical environment, they are additionally a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As an ancillary benefit, they may help graduates and students form professional connections in the Orrtanna medical community and help with job placement once licensed.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit way in the back of class or hide in the crowd, you will undoubtedly want a small class size. Small classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy tech program as well.

Where is the College Located? For a lot of students, the physical therapist school they pick will need to be within driving distance of their Orrtanna PA home. Students who have chosen 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 often charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Support Provided? The majority of DPT colleges provide some form of financial assistance to their prospective students. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have a financial assistance department and find out what kind of help is obtainable. At a minimum they should help in obtaining a student loan or any scholarships you may be eligible for. Some physical therapy schools offer scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before you eliminate a school because the tuition is too expensive, find out what financial aid might be available.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And last you must confirm that the physical therapist school you finally select can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially crucial if you decide to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Orrtanna PA area, make sure 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 carry. Also, find out what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Orrtanna Pennsylvania?

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

Orrtanna, Pennsylvania

Orrtanna was established in 1885 around Orr Station, a stop on the Baltimore and Harrisburg Railway.[2] It originally was known as Wortzville after George Wortz, a local businessman, but was changed to Orr Station and then Orr Glen. The establishment of the post office in 1892 lead to the realization that Orr Glen was already a registered town name in Pennsylvania, so the name finally became Orrtanna in 1892, for Isaiah Orr, a large property owner in the area, and a nearby tannery.[3]

A number of businesses have existed in Orrtanna. The Orrtanna Canning Company was founded in 1913 by John S. Musselman and Ivan Z. Musselman.[3] Notably, in October 1919, approximately 30 women apple peelers walked out of the factory as part of a general movement for greater wages in canning factories in Gardners and Biglerville.[4] In 1949, the Orrtanna Canning Company was sold to Knouse Foods Cooperative.[3] The Adams County Winery opened in 1975, making it the fifth oldest operating winery in Pennsylvania[5] and Hickory Bridge Farm opened in 1977 as a bed and breakfast.[6] The post office was closed at the end of 2010 though.[7]

Orrtanna is located in western Adams County at 39°50′53″N 77°21′27″W / 39.84806°N 77.35750°W / 39.84806; -77.35750 (39.848021, -77.357446),[8] at the eastern foot of South Mountain. The community is primarily in the northeast corner of Hamiltonban Township, with a small portion extending into the northwest corner of Highland Township.

Enroll in the Right Physical Therapist College near Orrtanna PA

Deciding on the best physical therapy college is an important initial decision you have to make to launch a fulfilling career in the medical field. As we have covered in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and college you pick should both have excellent reputations and be accredited. However there are other critical questions that you should ask regarding your college of choice also. As you commence your search for a physical therapy program, bear in mind that a number of variables will guide you to your ultimate decision. You may decide to visit different schools to see their facilities and talk to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this critical question: will this program help me achieve my goal of becoming a licensed practicing physical therapist? By following our list of additional questions, you will have the ability to narrow down the options so you can make the ideal selection. And with the proper education and training, you can achieve your dream to become a practicing physical therapist in Orrtanna PA.