Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Sandy Point ME

How to Select a Physical Therapist School near Sandy Point 04972

Sandy Point ME physical therapy school student with volunteer Earning a physical therapist degree near Sandy Point ME is a critical first step to launching a rewarding career in the health care industry. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been debilitated due to injury or illness gain back function and mobility. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the appropriate education and training. A PT must also be licensed in every state, a large number mandating that the licensee hold a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before choosing a physical therapy school, it’s important to research those you are looking at to make certain they will supply a quality education and comply with your state’s licensing requirements. What you do not want to do is select a school just because it happens to be the nearest to your home or it has the lowest tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that must be evaluated 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 what the educational options are.

What is a Physical Therapist’s Job Description?

Sandy Point ME physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists practice in varying locations, such as Sandy Point ME hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and sports facilities. What the facilities all share in common is that they are equipped for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As earlier mentioned, physical therapists help patients that are suffering from a lack of mobility and often pain due to illness or injury. After patient diagnosis, they develop a course of treatment to deal with the mobility issues and lessen or eliminate any pain. They also endeavor to stop any advancement of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are abundant, they include:

Osteoporosis and Arthritis
Motor vehicle accidents
Strokes.
Cardiac arrest.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Burn injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Sciatica.
Cerebral Palsy.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close affiliation with other Sandy Point ME health specialists, including chiropractors, physicians, dentists and nurses. They may also supervise one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them assisting with the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Something to bear in mind for anyone considering getting into the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists often lift heavy equipment as well as patients, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapist Degrees

Sandy Point ME physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are 3 physical therapy degrees offered for students to enroll in at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these choices, the single degree that is offered to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees focus on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or readying them to advance to the doctoral level. Below are short summaries of degrees that are available in the Sandy Point ME 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 earned a high school diploma or GED to qualify for enrollment. The degrees are most often made available by community colleges, and require two years for completion. An internship or other form of clinical training is normally a portion of the program.
Bachelor’s Degrees are created as pre-physical therapist education to prep candidates to move up to the doctoral level. Although they are not required to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an important first step to practicing as a PT. Similar to most bachelor’s degrees, they generally require 4 years to finish and usually include an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are mandated 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). After earning the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes three years to finish, making the overall investment of time seven years in the majority of cases. Practical or clinical training is an intregal component along with the substantial classroom and lab instruction. Consequently the fulfillment of an internship is required, not solely for graduation but in a number of 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 offered in the USA. A number of practicing physical therapists having a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the current licensing requirement for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapist Online Degrees

woman attending physical therapy school online in Sandy Point ME Although not as prevalent as the on-campus alternatives, there are some accredited online physical therapy degrees offered, more so at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on structure of the training, clinical lab work and internships are incorporated with the online classes. This requires that the student live near the college campus or in proximity of a sponsored internship. However, the online segment of the course of study may be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Sandy Point ME residence. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in many cases more affordable. Tuition may be somewhat less than similar on-campus alternatives, and costs for commuting are minimized. And a number of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, ensuring a quality education. These advantages may make the online alternative the ideal choice for those students that are dedicated enough to learn at home.

What to Ask Physical Therapist Schools

By now you probably have made a decision regarding a few of your preliminary questions, like the kind of physical therapy degree you want to attain, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But since there are so many PT colleges within the Sandy Point ME area and across Maine, you’ll have to explore other qualifications also so as to further narrow your list of school options. Moreover, you want to make sure that you enroll in the college that is right for you. That’s the reason we have put together a list of critical questions that you need to ask the physical therapist colleges you are considering. Ask each of the potential schools these questions prior to making a final decision.

Is the Physical Therapist School Accredited? Find out if the schools you are reviewing have earned accreditation from a national or a regional agency. As earlier mentioned, if you are pursuing a doctoral degree 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 receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s essential that both the physical therapist program and school 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. Besides guaranteeing that you receive an excellent education, accreditation might be required for state licensing as well as for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the College’s Reputation? Along with accreditation, it’s imperative that the college and program you pick have exceptional reputations within the physical therapist community. There are a number of ways you can research a PT program’s reputation, starting with requesting references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also check online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews also. Get in touch with several Sandy Point ME physical therapist clinics or other health care facilities that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can give you any insight about your college selections. It may also be a good idea to check with the Maine Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been submitted against the schools.

What is the College’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a two significant statistics that you need to 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 displeasure with the program, the teachers, or both. After the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the support of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the Sandy Point ME area? If a college has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the healthcare field is good or perhaps excellent. It also confirms that the school has a broad network of contacts to assist students obtain internships or jobs upon graduation.

Does the Program Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s essential that the school you choose provides both superior training and a course of study that supports the licensing requirements for Maine or the state where you will be working. 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 vary state by state for PT and PTA graduates, a number of states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be performed as well as passing scores on additional exams.

Are Internship Programs Provided? Inquire if the physical therapist schools you are evaluating have associations with Sandy Point ME hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent way to get practical training in a clinical environment, they are also a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As an ancillary benefit, they may help graduates and students develop professional relationships in the Sandy Point healthcare community and assist with obtaining employment once licensed.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit way in the back of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Smaller classes allow for 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 final decision. This will also give you a chance to converse with a few of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist tech program as well.

Where is the School Located? For a number of students, the physical therapy college they select will need to be within driving distance of their Sandy Point ME residence. Students 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 concern. One thing to keep in mind is that if you decide to enroll in a school that is out of state or perhaps 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 don’t reside within their districts.

Is Financial Assistance Provided? The majority of DPT colleges provide some form of financial support to their potential students. Ask if the colleges you are considering have a financial aid office and find out what kind of assistance is offered. They at least should help in acquiring a student loan or any scholarships you might qualify for. A number of physical therapist colleges offer scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before you eliminate a program because the tuition is too expensive, learn what financial assistance might be available.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the physical therapist college you ultimately choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you need to schedule night or weekend classes in the Sandy Point ME area, verify that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an alternative and how many credit hours or courses you would need to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family obligations.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Sandy Point Maine?

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

Sandy Hackett

Comedian Sandy Hackett had his first television appearance on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In at age 11. At age 20 Sandy became the Entertainment Director at UNLV where he served for 3 semesters until his graduation in December 1980 with a BS degree in Hotel Administration. Sandy then went on to work in the entertainment department of the former Sahara Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He helped to create the Sahara Hotel Showcase of Talent with producer Terry James. This concept offered unknown performers a chance to perform in the Sahara's Casbah lounge. Eventually the show became known as Sandy Hackett's Talent Showcase with Sandy as the producer and host of the weekly showcase. The show also did a year in Reno at the Sahara Reno and a year in Lake Tahoe at the Sahara Tahoe. The show moved from the Sahara in 1986 to the Mint Hotel & Casino on Fremont Street downtown Las Vegas. The show appeared on Sunday nights at the Mint and then opened at the Dunes Hotel & Casino on Monday nights. Over the years Sandy introduced over 10,000 performers at his showcases to the Las Vegas audience. In 1990 Sandy opened Sandy Hackett's Comedy Club in Laughlin, NV at Sam's Town Gold River. The hotel was bought and sold several times but Sandy lasted the decade presenting over 1000 comedians to the Laughlin audiences. In 2000 Sandy started work on a script for a show about the Rat Pack. The show opened in Las Vegas at the Greek Isle Hotel and Casino as "The Tribute to Frank, Sammy, Joey & Dean, in May of 2002 and ran successfully for 5 years until it moved downtown to The Plaza Hotel and Casino. In 2009 Sandy's partners disagreed with Sandy about the direction of the show. Sandy and his wife Lisa Dawn Miller Hackett (daughter of legendary songwriter Ron Miller i.e. "For Once In My Life" "Touch Me In the Morning" "Heaven Help Us All" "I've Never Been to Me" "If I Could" and another 400 songs) went off on their own recreating their own show as Writer/Producers/Creator/Performers in the 'Sandy Hackett's Rat Pack Show' (2009–present) currently touring in venues throughout the U.S and Canada. Sandy has also penned his second show "My Buddy" a father and son story about his life with his father and legendary comedian Buddy Hackett, produced and directed by his wife Lisa Dawn Miller Hackett. Sandy is currently the host of his own podcast and resides with his wife and 2 children in Los Angeles, CA.

The shows have successfully toured throughout the United States including San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Ft. Worth, Memphis, New York, Dayton, Manchester, Charlotte, Detroit, Reno, Lake Tahoe, Fresno, East Lansing, Easton, Denver,

Choose the Best Physical Therapist School near Sandy Point ME

Deciding on the best physical therapy program is an important initial decision you have to make to launch a fulfilling career in the healthcare 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 relevant questions that you need to ask pertaining to your school of choice as well. As you start your search for a physical therapist program, bear in mind that numerous factors will lead you to your ultimate decision. You might decide to go to each of the colleges to see their facilities and speak to current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this school help me accomplish 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 right choice. And with the proper training and education, you can achieve your dream to become a licensed physical therapist in Sandy Point ME.