Darryl Said:

MASSAGE THERAPY PAY/SCHOOL?

We Answered:

Distance online? You're kidding, right? This is a hands-on job and it requires hands-on training. You're studying physical therapy. You ought to know that. Find yourself a good school in your area. Most massage courses are geared toward people with busy adult lives and meet a few hours a week, and offer evening classes, so it should not be a problem to fit it into your school schedule. Massage and PT are pretty closely linked and if you just do a half-baked job at getting yourself qualified to massage and then do a half-baked job working at it just because you want to make some money, it's going to come back to haunt you. Even if you work in a spa and not in a theraputic setting; your potential employers are going to see on your resume that you have been working as a massage therapist and follow up on it. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. If you're going to do it, do it right.

Timothy Said:

Between Physical Therapy, Respiratory Therapy and Occupational Therapy...which is the easiest?

We Answered:

RT is easiest as it is done in two years. Salary is great for a 2 year degree. Often housed in state cc so they are cheap. OT and PT are both graduate programs. There are PTA and OTA which are also two year degrees. Of RT, PTA and OTA, RT makes the most. There are plenty of PTA and RT positions. I do not know of as many OTA positions nor do I see them advertised.

OF the three I think OTA is the easiest. RT and PTA are both pretty demanding for a 2 year program. They are all possible if it what you really want to do.

If you are considering doing a graduate program in PT, you can get an AAS in RT, then take the rest of your pre reqs as your BS program and then apply to PT school. Many hospitals will pay for your BS degree while you work there esp at teaching hospitals or ones attached to universities. RT is good as in some positions there is a lot of down times between med passes and vent checks so you can study. It is like a fireman, you are waiting for the fire alarm to go off and then you are doing your routine jobs during your shift. The RT info is very beneficial for background information. As for being both, I do not work as an RRT except a few shits a month, but I use my knowledge every day while being a PT.

In response to online courses, your department classes are not online because they are hands on. But your gen ed courses like english, history,psy, med term, pharmacology etc may be online.

www.apta.org
www.aarc.org
www.aoto.org

Evelyn Said:

How much does a Physical Therapy Aide make on average?

We Answered:

I am sorry, an aide is not the same as a physical therapy assistant (PTA). An aide, or tech, is primarily an on the job trained personell who may perform a variety of tasks under the direct supervision and instruction of a PT or PTA (depending on what state you live). Their primary function is often to give the PTs and PTAs direct hands on help with a patient such as helping lift someone, following someone with a wheel chair as they ambulate, etc. In some states, an aide MIGHT be able to "run" a patient through their exercises as long as the therapist is right there...but in most states this is not likely. Aides also perform a variety of clerical functions such as answering phones, filing, scheduling, cleaning the gym, etc.

Most aides make little more than minimum wage...typically about $9-10 an hour. In my opinion, it's a good experience to be an aide (espeically if you hope to become a PTA or PT), but you do not need formal education to do it. None of our techs at our facility have had any previous experience. Furthermore, the cost of the education is not really worth it...most aide training programs are about 6-12 months...the PTA degree is only two years...stick it out for another year and you will almost double your income and become a licensed professional. The PTA degree is offered at many community colleges which may acutally be the same cost of the tech program at a private tech college.

Kristin Said:

im a physical therapy graduate but not a board passer, can i get the refresher course online?

We Answered:

is still there a refresher course after 3 times of not passing the board? i think it was abolished. anyhow i think there is Southwestern University who offers a course.

Nancy Said:

For all you Physical Therapy grad students: Is PT grad school hard?? what are the courses like and their names

We Answered:

Although I am no longer a student, I have been a PT for 8 years and now teach in a PT program on an adjunct basis.

Once you enter the graduate level program, there is no more physics or chemistry, but you have to use those principles in your biomechanics and physiology courses. You will also have to take gross human anatomy which is another biology course. Once in the program, your classes become a lot more discipline specific. You will take courses in orthopedics, spine, medical management, neurological development, acute care practice, cardiopulmonary, etc. The actual names of course will vary between schools, but this gives you an idea of what to expect.

It is a very exciting time to be a PT because of the amount of research being done which is forcing us to look critically at what we do as well as what we have done in the past. This allows us to refine and sharpen our practice. Granted, not every case is the most "exciting"...some days I feel like I'm going to scream if I see one more person who's had a total knee replacement. Yet, in all, it is a very satisfying and rewarding career.

Average salary for new graduates is usually in $45-55,000 range but depends highly on where you live and in what type of practice setting you are employed.

Physical therapy school is challenging...there's no doubt about that. You will find that you have to sacrifice a lot of socializing and buckle down to do well in class.

Finals and practicle exams are always nerve wracking and challenging. Yet, the boards can be a bit of a bear. The topic is broad and the "right" answer isn't always definitive.

I would definetely pick this career again.