Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Woodstock MD

How to Pick a Physical Therapist Program near Woodstock 21163

Woodstock MD physical therapy school student with volunteer Obtaining a physical therapy degree near Woodstock MD is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help patients who have been debilitated as a result of injury or illness gain back function and mobility. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must receive the necessary education and training. A PT must also be licensed in all states, many mandating that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before selecting a physical therapy school, it’s important to research the ones you are considering to ensure they will furnish a superior education and comply with your state’s licensing criteria. What you should not do is select a college just because it happens to be the closest to your residence or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other significant qualifications that need to be considered in addition to location and cost. 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?

Woodstock MD physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists practice in varying locations, such as Woodstock MD hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and sports facilities. What the facilities all share in common is that they have the equipment for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As previously mentioned, physical therapists help people that are experiencing a lack of mobility and often pain caused by illness or injury. After diagnosing a patient, they develop a course of treatment to address the mobility issues and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also try to prevent any progression of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are numerous, they include:

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

Licensed physical therapists practice in close partnerships with other Woodstock MD health professionals, including doctors, chiropractors, registered nurses and dentists. They may also oversee one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them assisting with diagnosing and treating their patients. One thing to bear in mind for anyone considering getting into the physical therapy profession, it is quite physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapist Degrees Offered

Woodstock MD physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are 3 physical therapist degrees available for individuals to enroll in at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these choices, the one degree that is attainable to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees concentrate on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or readying them to advance to the doctoral level. Following are brief descriptions of degree levels that are available in the Woodstock MD area:

Associate Degrees train 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 GED to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are usually offered by junior or community colleges, and take about two years to complete. An internship or other form of clinical training is usually part of the curriculum.
Bachelor’s Degrees are designed as pre-physical therapist training to prep candidates to advance to the doctoral level. Although they are not a requirement 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 typically require 4 years to complete and commonly incorporate an internship program of at least 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are required if you want to become a practicing licensed physical therapist. The degree program also must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). After earning the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes 3 years to finish, making the total investment of time 7 years in most cases. Clinical or practical training is an essential component along with the considerable classroom and lab instruction. Therefor the fulfillment of an internship is required, not solely for graduation but in several 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 attainable in the United States. A number of practicing physical therapists having 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 Therapist Online Schools

woman attending physical therapy school online in Woodstock MD Although not as prevalent as the more traditional alternatives, there are a number of accredited online physical therapist programs offered, even more at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on structure of the training, clinical lab work and internships are integrated with the online classes. This necessitates that the student live close to the college campus or nearby an available internship. However, the online segment of the curriculum may be accessed within the convenience and comfort of the student’s Woodstock MD residence. Online programs are not only to some extent more accessible, but in a number of cases more affordable. Tuition might be significantly lower than comparable on-campus options, and expenses for commuting are minimized. And many of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, assuring a quality education. These benefits may make the online option the right choice for those students that are disciplined enough to learn at home.

Questions to Ask Physical Therapy Programs

By now you undoubtedly have come to decision regarding some of your preliminary queries, such as the kind of physical therapy degree you want to earn, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But because there are so many PT schools within the Woodstock MD area and across Maryland, you’ll have to research additional qualifications as well so as to further reduce your list of college options. Furthermore, you want to be sure that you pick the school that is best for you. That’s the reason we have compiled a list of important questions that you need to ask the physical therapy programs you are thinking about. Ask all of the potential schools these questions before making an ultimate decision.

Is the Physical Therapy Program Accredited? Ask if the schools you are considering have earned accreditation from a regional or a national agency. As previously 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 school, it may also receive accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapy program and school you select are accredited, not just the school. Additionally, make sure that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting organization. Along with guaranteeing that you obtain a quality education, accreditation may be mandated for state licensing as well as for securing student loans or financial aid.

What is the Program’s Reputation? Along with accreditation, it’s imperative that the school and program you select have exceptional reputations within the physical therapy profession. There are multiple ways you can investigate a PT college’s reputation, beginning with requesting references from employers that they place their graduates with. You can also search for online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting agencies for their reviews as well. Call several Woodstock MD physical therapy centers or other medical care facilities that you may be interested in working for and ask if they can offer any insight about your program options. It might also be prudent to check with the Maryland Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the schools.

What is the Program’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a two significant statistics that you should find out about all of the physical therapy colleges you are reviewing. One is their graduation rate. A low rate may indicate that students left because of dissatisfaction with the program, the instructors, or both. After the students have graduated, how many of them are being hired with the help of the school’s job placement program, particularly in the Woodstock MD area? If a program has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the medical care community is good or even exceptional. It also confirms that the program has a broad network of contacts to assist students get internships or employment upon graduation.

Does the Program Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s imperative that the school you choose furnishes both exceptional training and a curriculum that satisfies the licensing requirements for Maryland 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 therapy college. Although licensing requirements differ state by state for PT and PTA graduates, some states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be completed as well as passing scores on supplemental exams.

Are Internships Offered? Find out if the physical therapy schools you are reviewing have relationships with Woodstock MD hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Internships are not only a terrific way to get practical training in a clinical environment, they are also a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As a supplemental benefit, they may assist students and graduates establish professional relationships in the Woodstock medical community and help with job placement once licensed.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the physical therapist colleges you are considering what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classrooms. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to converse with some of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacist technician program also.

Where is the School Located? For many students, the physical therapy school they decide on will have to be within driving distance of their Woodstock MD home. Those who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to bear 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 usually 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 Help Offered? Most DPT schools offer some form of financial support to their potential students. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have a financial assistance office and find out what type of assistance is offered. They at least should help in obtaining a student loan or any scholarships you may qualify for. Some physical therapist schools provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before eliminating a school because the tuition is beyond your budget, ask what financial assistance might be available.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to verify that the physical therapy program you finally pick 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 evening or weekend classes in the Woodstock MD area, check that they are offered. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many courses or credit hours you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the protocol is for making up any classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Woodstock Maryland?

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

Old Court Road

Old Court Road is a state- and county-maintained highway in the U.S. state of Maryland. Including the adjacent road in Howard County known as Woodstock Road, the highway runs 15.4 miles (24.8 km) from Maryland Route 99 (MD 99) near Woodstock east to Joppa Road near Towson. Old Court Road includes two county-maintained sections and two Maryland state highways, Maryland Route 125 and Maryland Route 133. MD 125 has a length of 3.59 miles (5.78 km) between Woodstock and the edge of Randallstown and MD 133 spans 3.31 miles (5.33 km) between MD 129 and MD 25 in Pikesville. Old Court Road connects the western and central Baltimore County communities of Granite, Randallstown, Milford Mill, Pikesville, and Towson. Old Court Road has been a cross-county highway since the colonial era. The highway was fully paved in Baltimore County by the mid-1920s, including the sections of the highway that became MD 125 and MD 133. MD 133 was extended west to MD 140 and MD 125 was extended west to MD 99 in the early 1930s; MD 125's terminus returned to the Patapsco River in the mid-1950s. Old Court Road was relocated at its eastern end in the early 1960s and in Pikesville in the late 1960s, at which time MD 133 assumed its current course.

Woodstock Road begins at an intersection with MD 99 (Old Frederick Road) northwest of Ellicott City. The county highway passes through farmland then has a forested descent into the narrow Patapsco River valley. MD 125 begins within the hamlet of Woodstock, where the highway has a grade crossing of CSX's Old Main Line Subdivision and crosses the Patapsco River into Baltimore County. The state highway, now known as Old Court Road, passes an entrance to Patapsco Valley State Park and the former grounds of Woodstock College as it ascends out of the river valley. MD 125 has a curvaceous path through the village of Granite, which is preserved as the Granite Historic District. The state highway continues through farmland to its eastern terminus at an arbitrary point 3.50 miles (5.63 km) east of the Patapsco River.[1][2]

Old Court Road continues as a county highway into the suburban area of Randallstown. The highway expands to a four-lane undivided road shortly before its intersection with MD 26 (Liberty Road). Old Court Road passes along the northern edge of Milford Mill community and crosses over I-695 (Baltimore Beltway) just south of its interchange with I-795 (Northwest Expressway). The highway crosses over the Baltimore Metro Subway next to the transit line's Old Court station and passes under CSX's Hanover Subdivision. In the center of Pikesville, Old Court Road intersects MD 140 (Reisterstown Road) and follows the southern edge of Druid Ridge Cemetery to Sudbrook Lane close to Mettam Memorial Baptist Church. Old Court Road continues along the line of Sudbrook Lane to its intersection with MD 129 (Park Heights Avenue).[1][2]

Pick the Right Physical Therapy School near Woodstock MD

Deciding on the best physical therapy program is a necessary initial decision you have to make to start a rewarding career in the medical profession. As we have discussed in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and school you choose should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. However there are additional critical questions that you should ask concerning your school of choice also. As you commence your search for a physical therapist college, keep in mind that many factors will lead you toward your ultimate decision. You may want to visit different colleges 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 practicing licensed physical therapist? By adhering to our list of supplemental questions, you will have the ability to narrow down the options so you can make the ideal choice. And with the proper education and training, you can fulfill your dream to become a licensed physical therapist in Woodstock MD.