How to Select a Physical Therapist Training Program near Tompkinsville 42167

Obtaining a physical therapist degree near Tompkinsville KY is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career in the healthcare industry. Physical therapists (PT) help individuals who have been disabled due to illness or injury regain mobility and function. But before they can practice and provide treatment for the rehabilitation of patients, they need to obtain the proper training and education. A PT must also be licensed in every state, a large number requiring that the licensee hold a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before choosing a physical therapy school, it’s important to evaluate those you are considering to ensure they will furnish a quality education and comply with your state’s licensing criteria. What you do not want to do is enroll in a college simply because it happens to be the closest to your residence or it has the lowest tuition. There are other important qualifications that need to be evaluated along with cost and location. But before we talk about what those qualifications are and what questions you should ask, we’ll address what a physical therapist does and the options for education.

What is a Physical Therapist?

Physical therapists practice in varying locations, such as Tompkinsville KY hospitals, health clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and health clubs. What the facilities all share in common is that they are equipped for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As previously stated, physical therapists help patients that are suffering from a lack of mobility and often pain caused by injury or illness. After patient diagnosis, they design a program of treatment to deal with the mobility problems and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also strive to stop any progression of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are numerous, they include:

• Osteoporosis and Arthritis
• Motor vehicle accidents
• Strokes.
• Heart attacks.
• Sports injuries.
• Fire injuries.
• Hip Replacement.
• Sciatica.
• Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close association with other Tompkinsville KY health specialists, including chiropractors, physicians, registered nurses and dentists. They may also supervise one or more physical therapy assistants who work for them assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Something to take note of for anyone thinking about going into the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists regularly lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapist Degrees

There are 3 physical therapist degrees available for students to pursue at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these alternatives, the single degree that is offered to practice as 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 summaries of degree levels that are offered in the Tompkinsville KY area:

• Associate Degrees prepare students to become physical therapy assistants, or may 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 most often provided by community or junior colleges, and take about 2 years for completion. An internship or other form of clinical training is typically a component of the curriculum.
• Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist education to ready students to move up to the doctoral level. While they are not a requirement to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an essential preliminary step to becoming a PT. As with the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they normally require 4 years to finish and usually incorporate an internship program of at least 500 hours.
• Doctorate Degrees are required 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). After earning the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes 3 years to complete, making the overall commitment seven years in most cases. Clinical training is an essential component in addition to the substantial lab and classroom instruction. Therefor the completion 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 taken the place of the Master’s of Physical Therapy (MPT), which has been eliminated and is no longer offered in the USA. Some practicing physical therapists having a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the current licensing mandate for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapist Schools Online

Although not as common as the more traditional options, there are many accredited online physical therapist degrees offered, more so at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on structure of the training, internships and clinical lab work are integrated with the online classes. This requires that the student live close to the college campus or nearby a sponsored internship. Fortunately, the online portion of the program may be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Tompkinsville KY residence. Online programs are not only to some extent more accessible, but in a number of cases more affordable. Tuition might be significantly less than similar on campus options, and costs for commuting are minimized. And a number of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, assuring a quality education. These advantages may make the online alternative the best choice for those students that are disciplined enough to attend classes at home.

What to Ask Physical Therapist Colleges

By now you probably have come to decision regarding several of your preliminary questions, including the kind of physical therapy degree you want to obtain, where you want to attend classes, and how much money you can afford to spend for your education. But considering there are so many PT schools within the Tompkinsville KY area and throughout Kentucky, you’ll need to explore additional qualifications also in order to further narrow your list of college choices. Moreover, you want to make certain that you choose the college that is right for you. That’s the reason we have compiled a list of critical questions that you need to ask the physical therapist programs you are reviewing. Ask all of the competing schools these questions before making a final decision.

Is the Physical Therapist Program Accredited?  Find out if the programs you are reviewing have earned accreditation from a national or a regional 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 select an online college, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s imperative that both the physical therapist school and program you choose are accredited, not simply the school. Additionally, verify that the accreditation is through a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. In addition to ensuring that you obtain an excellent education, accreditation may be required for state licensing and even for getting student loans or financial aid.

What is the School’s Standing? Along with accreditation, it’s essential that the college and program you select have outstanding reputations within the physical therapist profession. There are multiple ways you can investigate a PT college’s reputation, starting with requesting references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also search for online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. Get in touch with a few Tompkinsville KY physical therapy centers or other medical care facilities that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations about your program options. It might also be prudent to check with the Kentucky Attorney General and school licensing authority to see if any complaints have been filed against the schools.

What is the Program’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a couple of important statistics that you should find out about all of the physical therapy colleges you are reviewing. One is their graduation rate. A lower rate might mean that students dropped out because of dissatisfaction with the program, the instructors, or both. Once the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the assistance of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the Tompkinsville KY area? If a school has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the medical care field is good or perhaps outstanding. It also verifies that the school has a large network of contacts to help students gain internships or employment upon graduation.

Does the School Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s important that the college you enroll in furnishes both superior training and a curriculum that satisfies the licensing criteria for Kentucky or the state where you will be practicing. In every state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as well as a degree from an accredited physical therapy college. While licensing requirements fluctuate state by state for PT and PTA graduates, many states require a minimum number of clinical hours be completed as well as passing scores on additional exams.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the physical therapy colleges you are interested in have associations with Tompkinsville KY hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a great means to get hands on experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As an ancillary benefit, they may help students and graduates develop professional connections in the Tompkinsville medical community and help with job placement after licensing.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the type of student that likes to sit far in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will undoubtedly prefer a smaller class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the physical therapy schools you are researching what the average teacher to student ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may want to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate decision. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the students and instructors to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Where is the Program Located? For a lot of students, the physical therapy college they pick will need to be within commuting distance of their Tompkinsville KY home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes naturally will not have to concern themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you might need to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges often charge a higher tuition for those students that don’t reside within their districts.

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

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the physical therapy program you ultimately select can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while you attend classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Tompkinsville KY area, verify that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, find out if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would have to carry. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Tompkinsville Kentucky?

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

Choose the Ideal Physical Therapist Training Program near Tompkinsville KY

Deciding on the right physical therapy college is an important first decision you need to make to start a rewarding career in the health care profession. As we have covered in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and school you choose should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. However there are other relevant questions that you need to ask pertaining to your college of choice as well. As you start your search for a physical therapist college, keep in mind that a number of factors will lead you to your ultimate decision. You might decide to go to different schools to view their facilities and talk to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this school help me reach my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By adhering to our list of supplemental questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the appropriate selection. And with the necessary training and education, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a practicing physical therapist in Tompkinsville KY.

A Few More Interesting Locations in Kentucky

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Edmonton KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Stearns KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Winchester KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Flat Lick KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Upton KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Jenkins KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Florence KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Olive Hill KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Hazard KY

Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Brownsville KY