Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Prospect Park PA

How to Enroll In a Physical Therapist School near Prospect Park 19076

Prospect Park PA physical therapy school student with volunteer Obtaining a physical therapy degree near Prospect Park PA is an essential first step to starting a fulfilling career in the health care industry. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been disabled due to injury or illness regain function and mobility. But before they may legally practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they need to get the appropriate training and education. A PT must additionally become licensed in every state, many requiring that the licensee hold 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 thinking about to make sure they will deliver a superior education and satisfy your state’s licensing standards. What you should not do is choose a college just because it happens to be the closest to your home or it has cheapest tuition. There are other important qualifications that need to be evaluated in addition to location and cost. But before we discuss what those qualifications are and the questions you should be asking, we’ll address what a physical therapist does and what the educational options are.

What is a Physical Therapist?

Prospect Park PA physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists practice in varying locations, such as Prospect Park PA private practices, hospitals, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all have in common is that they have the equipment for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As earlier stated, physical therapists help people 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 program of treatment to resolve the mobility issues and lessen or eliminate any pain. They also try to prevent any advancement of the disability. Although the causes of disability requiring physical therapy are numerous, they include:

Arthritis or Osteoporosis
Motor vehicle accidents
Strokes.
Cardiac arrest.
Sports injuries.
Fire injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Fibromyalgia.
Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists work in close partnerships with other Prospect Park PA medical specialists, including doctors, chiropractors, registered nurses and dentists. They may also oversee one or more physical therapy assistants who work for them assisting with diagnosing and treating their patients. One thing to take note of for anyone thinking about entering the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists often lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for long periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees Offered

Prospect Park PA physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are three physical therapist degrees available for students to pursue at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these alternatives, the only degree that is available to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees concentrate on either preparing students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or readying them to advance to the doctoral level. Below are short descriptions of degrees that are available in the Prospect Park PA area:

Associate Degrees prepare 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 qualify for enrollment. The degrees are usually made available by community colleges, and take about two years to complete. Clinical training, which may be in the form of an internship is normally a component of the program.
Bachelor’s Degrees are designed as pre-physical therapist training to ready candidates to move up to the doctoral level. Although they are not required to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an essential first step to practicing as a PT. As with most bachelor’s degrees, they typically take four years to complete and often include an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are required if you want 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 seven years in most cases. Clinical or practical training is an essential element in addition to the considerable lab and classroom instruction. Therefor the completion of an internship is mandated, not only for graduation but in some 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 phased out and is no longer available in the United States. A number of licensed physical therapists holding a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the existing licensing mandate for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapy Online Colleges

woman attending physical therapy school online in Prospect Park PA Although not as common as the on-campus options, there are some accredited online physical therapy 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 near the school campus or in proximity of an available internship. However, the online portion of the program can be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Prospect Park PA home. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in many cases more affordable. Tuition may be significantly lower than similar on-campus alternatives, and costs for commuting are reduced. And a number of the online schools are accredited by the CAPTE, assuring a quality education. These advantages may make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are disciplined enough to attend classes at home.

Topics to Ask Physical Therapist Programs

By now you most likely have made a decision regarding several of your initial queries, including the kind of physical therapist degree you want to earn, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much you can afford to invest in your education. But since there are so many PT schools within the Prospect Park PA area and throughout Pennsylvania, you’ll have to explore other qualifications as well in order to further reduce your list of school options. Furthermore, you need to make sure that you select the college that is ideal for you. That’s the reason we have collected a list of important questions that you must ask the physical therapist programs you are thinking about. Ask all of the competing schools these questions before making a final decision.

Is the Physical Therapist College Accredited? Ask if the schools you are reviewing have received accreditation from a regional or a national 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 enroll in an online college, it can also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s imperative that both the physical therapist school and program you select 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 mandated for state licensing as well as for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the School’s Standing? In addition to accreditation, it’s important that the school and program you pick have excellent reputations within the physical therapist profession. There are several ways you can research a PT college’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 organizations for their reviews as well. Call some Prospect Park PA physical therapy centers or other health care 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 check with the Pennsylvania 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 Percentage? There are a couple of relevant statistics that you should know about each of the physical therapist colleges you are reviewing. One is their graduation rate. A lower rate may mean that students left because of displeasure with the program, the instructors, or both. Once the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being hired with the support of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Prospect Park PA area? If a school has a high job placement rate, it’s an indication that its reputation within the health care field is good or perhaps exceptional. It also affirms that the college has a broad network of contacts to help students gain internships or employment upon graduation.

Does the School Support Licensing Requirements? It’s essential that the school you select furnishes both exceptional training and a course of study that satisfies the licensing criteria for Pennsylvania or the state where you will be practicing. In each state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) along with a degree from an accredited physical therapy school. While licensing requirements vary state by state for PTA and PT graduates, a number of states require a minimum number of clinical hours be performed as well as passing scores on additional tests.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the physical therapy colleges you are reviewing have partnerships with Prospect Park PA hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific way to obtain practical experience in a clinical setting, they are additionally a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they may assist graduates and students develop professional relationships in the Prospect Park healthcare community and assist with job placement once licensed.

How Big are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will likely prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapy schools you are reviewing what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final decision. This will also give you a chance to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program also.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the physical therapist school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Prospect Park PA residence. Students who have opted to attend online classes naturally will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. Something 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 usually charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges usually charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

Is Financial Help Provided? Most DPT schools supply some type of financial support to their potential students. Ask if the colleges you are examining have a financial assistance department and find out what kind of help is available. They at least should help in obtaining a student loan or any grants you may qualify for. A number of physical therapy schools provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before you eliminate a school because the tuition is beyond your budget, ask what financial assistance may be available.

Can the Program Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the physical therapy college you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you decide to continue working while you attend classes. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Prospect Park PA area, make sure that they are offered. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, ask what the protocol is for making up any classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Prospect Park Pennsylvania?

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

Pennsylvania Route 420

Pennsylvania Route 420 (PA 420) is a north–south state highway in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. The route runs 5.6 miles (9.0 km) from PA 291 in Tinicum Township, a short distance west of the Philadelphia International Airport, northwest to PA 320 in Springfield Township. PA 420 runs through suburban areas, passing through Prospect Park, Folsom, and Morton. The route interchanges with Interstate 95 (I-95) in Tinicum Township and intersects U.S. Route 13 (US 13) in Prospect Park. PA 420 was first designated by 1928 to run from PA 191 at the intersection of 84th Street and Bartram Avenue in Philadelphia to PA 320 in Springfield. By 1950, the southern terminus was moved to its current location at PA 291.

PA 420 begins at an intersection with PA 291 in Tinicum Township, Delaware County, heading north on four-lane divided Wanamaker Avenue. South of here, Wanamaker Avenue continues south as an unnumbered road into the community of Essington toward the Delaware River. From PA 291, the route passes near businesses and comes to a cloverleaf interchange with I-95, where it curves to the north-northwest. Past this interchange, the road heads through wooded areas within the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum before crossing the Darby Creek into the borough of Prospect Park. Here, PA 420 curves north and becomes four-lane undivided Lincoln Avenue, heading into residential areas. The route turns north-northwest again and intersects US 13 near businesses. The road narrows to two lanes and passes more homes and businesses, running through the downtown of Prospect Park. PA 420 comes to a bridge under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor near the Prospect Park station serving SEPTA's Wilmington/Newark Line before it runs past more homes. The route crosses under CSX's Philadelphia Subdivision, at which point it enters Ridley Township and becomes Kedron Avenue.[2][3]

The road runs into business areas and crosses MacDade Boulevard in the community of Folsom. PA 420 continues through suburban development, curving to the northwest and passing near more residential neighborhoods. The route continues into the borough of Morton, where it passes businesses. PA 420 becomes Woodland Avenue as it intersects Morton Avenue immediately before a grade crossing with SEPTA's Media/Elwyn Line near the Morton station. Past this, the road heads through commercial development with some homes to the northeast, continuing into Springfield Township. The route heads between woods to the west and residential areas to the east, gaining a second southbound lane as it heads into business areas and crosses Baltimore Pike. Past this, PA 420 becomes two lanes again and continues through suburban areas of homes. The road gains a center left-turn lane and passes businesses as it comes to a grade crossing with SEPTA's Route 101 trolley line at the Woodland Avenue station. The route becomes two lanes again and passes near more homes with some patches of woods. PA 420 curves more to the west and comes to its northern terminus at an intersection with PA 320 a short distance to the south of that route's interchange with US 1.[2][3]

Select the Ideal Physical Therapist Training Program near Prospect Park PA

Picking the right physical therapist college is an important first decision you must make to start a gratifying career in the healthcare profession. As we have discussed in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and school you choose should both have outstanding reputations and accreditation. However there are additional relevant questions that you should ask concerning your school of choice as well. As you begin your search for a physical therapy college, keep in mind that a number of factors will guide you toward your final decision. You may want to visit each of the campuses to see their facilities and speak to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this program help me realize my goal of becoming a licensed practicing physical therapist? By adhering to our list of supplemental questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the ideal choice. And with the proper education and training, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a licensed physical therapist in Prospect Park PA.