Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Grand Blanc MI

How to Choose a Physical Therapist College near Grand Blanc 48439

Grand Blanc MI physical therapy school student with volunteerEarning a physical therapist degree near Grand Blanc MI is an essential first step to beginning a fulfilling career in the healthcare field. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been debilitated as a result of illness or injury regain mobility and function. But before they may legally practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the proper education and training. A PT must also be licensed in every state, many mandating that the licensee earn a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before enrolling in a physical therapy school, it’s essential to evaluate the ones you are looking at to make sure they will deliver a quality education and comply with your state’s licensing requirements. What you should not do is select a college simply because it happens to be the nearest to your residence or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other important qualifications that need to be considered along with cost and location. 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 Do Physical Therapists Do?

Grand Blanc MI physical therapist helping patient walkPhysical therapists work in a variety of settings, such as Grand Blanc MI hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all have in common is that they are equipped for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As earlier touched on, physical therapists help patients that are experiencing a lack of mobility and in many cases pain due to injury or illness. After diagnosing a patient, they create a program of treatment to address the mobility problems and lessen or eradicate any pain. They also strive to stop any progression of the disability. Although the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are numerous, they include:

  • Osteoporosis and Arthritis
  • Car or motor cycle accidents
  • Head injuries.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
  • Fire injuries.
  • Knee Replacement.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists work in close affiliation with other Grand Blanc MI health specialists, including doctors, chiropractors, dentists and nurses. They can also manage one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. One thing to keep in mind for anyone considering getting into the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift patients and heavy equipment, and stand, crouch and kneel for extended periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees

Grand Blanc MI physical therapist applying acupuncture to patientThere are 3 physical therapy degrees offered for students to pursue at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these choices, the single degree that is attainable to become a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees focus on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or prepping them to progress to the doctoral level. Below are short descriptions of degrees that are offered in the Grand Blanc MI area:

  • Associate Degrees train students to be physical therapy assistants, or can be the first step toward earning a more advanced degree. Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are typically offered by junior or community colleges, and take about two years to complete. Clinical training, which may be in the form of an internship is normally a portion of the course of study.
  • Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist training to prep candidates to move up to the doctoral level. Although they are not a requirement to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an integral preliminary step to practicing as a PT. Similar to the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they normally require four years to complete and commonly include an internship program of at least 500 hours.
  • Doctorate Degrees are a requirement 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 3 years to complete, making the overall commitment seven years in most cases. Clinical training is an essential element in addition to the considerable lab and classroom instruction. Consequently the fulfillment of an internship is required, not solely for graduation but in some states for licensing as well.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) has replaced 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 before the existing licensing mandate for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapist Schools Online

woman attending physical therapy school online in Grand Blanc MIWhile not as common as the on-campus alternatives, there are a number of accredited online physical therapist degrees offered, even more at the graduate level. Due to the hands-on structure of the training, clinical lab work and internships are integrated with the online classes. This requires that the student live near the college campus or nearby an available internship. However, the online portion of the course of study can be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Grand Blanc MI residence. Online programs are not only to some extent more accessible, but in many cases more economical. 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 best choice for those students that are disciplined enough to learn at home.

Questions to Ask Physical Therapist Programs

At this point you most likely have come to decision concerning several of your preliminary queries, such as the kind of physical therapist degree you intend to attain, where you want to attend classes, and how much money you can afford to spend for your education. But considering there are numerous PT schools within the Grand Blanc MI area and throughout Michigan, you’ll have to research additional qualifications as well in order to further reduce your list of college options. Also, you want to make certain that you select the college that is best for you. That’s why we have put together a list of essential questions that you need to ask the physical therapist schools you are thinking about. Ask all of the potential schools these questions prior to making a final selection.

Is the Physical Therapy School Accredited?  Find out if the programs you are considering have received accreditation from a national or a regional agency. As previously mentioned, 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 program, it may also obtain accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapy program and school you select are accredited, not simply the school. Additionally, make sure that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education recognized accrediting agency. Along with ensuring that you obtain an excellent education, accreditation might be required for state licensing and even for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the School’s Standing? In addition to accreditation, it’s imperative that the college and program you select have outstanding reputations within the physical therapy community. There are multiple ways you can investigate a PT program’s reputation, beginning with asking for references from employers that they refer their students to. You can also search for online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. Call several Grand Blanc MI physical therapy clinics or other medical care facilities that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any advice about your college options. It might also be a good idea to check with the Michigan Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the schools.

What is the School’s Job Placement Rate? There are a two important statistics that you need to find out about all of the physical therapy programs you are considering. First is their graduation rate. A low rate might indicate that students dropped out due to 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 Grand Blanc MI 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 even outstanding. It also verifies that the school has a broad network of contacts to help students gain internships or jobs upon graduation.

Does the College Prepare You For Licensing Requirements? It’s imperative that the program you enroll in provides both superior training and a curriculum that supports the licensing requirements for Michigan or the state where you will be practicing. In each state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as well as a degree from an accredited physical therapist school. Although licensing requirements vary state by state for PT and PTA graduates, many states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be completed as well as passing scores on supplemental tests.

Are Internships Offered? Ask if the physical therapy schools you are reviewing have associations with Grand Blanc MI clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships a terrific means to get practical experience in a clinical setting, they are also a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they may help students and graduates develop professional relationships in the Grand Blanc health care community and help with obtaining employment once licensed.

What are the Class Sizes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit way in the rear of class or hide in the crowd, you will likely want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for 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 prefer to sit in on one or more classes before making your ultimate determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with several of the students and instructors to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Where is the Program Located? For a number of students, the physical therapy school they select will have to be within travelling distance of their Grand Blanc MI residence. Individuals who have decided to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you choose to enroll in a program that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges normally charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges frequently charge a higher tuition to those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Help Provided? The majority of DPT schools offer some form of financial assistance to their potential students. Inquire if the colleges you are examining have a financial aid office and see what type of help is offered. They at least should help in securing a student loan or any grants you might be eligible for. Some physical therapy schools offer scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before you eliminate a program because the tuition is beyond your budget, learn what financial assistance might be available.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And last you need to verify that the physical therapist school you finally select can provide the class schedule you need. This is especially important if you choose to continue working while you attend school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Grand Blanc MI area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, check if that is an alternative and how many courses or credit hours you would have to carry. Also, find out what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family obligations.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Grand Blanc Michigan?

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

Grand Blanc, Michigan

Grand Blanc is a city in Genesee County in the U.S. state of Michigan and a suburb of Flint. Grand Blanc is situated within Grand Blanc Township, but it is administratively autonomous. The population was 8,144 as of the 2010 US Census.

The unincorporated village of Grand Blanc, or Grumlaw, was a former Indian campground first settled by Jacob Stevens in spring 1822. Several years later, settlers improved the Indian trail to Saginaw; they laid out and staked it in 1829 as Saginaw Road.[7]

By 1916, the community (population 400) had a grade school, a private bank, flour mill, an elevator, a creamery, and two churches, the Methodist Episcopal and the Congregational. The community was equipped with electrical lighting.[7]

Pick the Best Physical Therapy Training Program near Grand Blanc MI

Deciding on the right physical therapist college is an important initial decision you have to make to begin a gratifying career in the health care field. As we have covered in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and college you decide on should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. But there are other important questions that you should ask pertaining to your school of choice also. As you begin your search for a physical therapy college, keep in mind that many factors will lead you to your ultimate decision. You may want to go to different campuses to view their facilities and talk to active DPT students. While there, ask yourself this important question: will this college help me reach my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By adhering to our list of additional questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the right selection. And with the proper education and training, you can accomplish your dream of becoming a practicing physical therapist in Grand Blanc MI.

A Few More Interesting Locations in Michigan

  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Onsted MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Otisville MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Kawkawlin MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Carney MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Sandusky MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Burlington MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – White Pigeon MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Escanaba MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Keego Harbor MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Trenton MI
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 57

    Advanced Physical Therapy Center
    2 Reviews
    Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy
    Phone:
    10809 S Saginaw St, Grand Blanc, MI 48439

    Max Well Therapy
    3 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, Speech Therapists
    Phone:
    8273 S Saginaw St, Grand Blanc, MI 48439

    PMRG Pediatric Rehabilitation
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapists
    Phone:
    8200 S Saginaw St, Grand Blanc, MI 48439

    Michigan Physical Therapy Associates
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine
    Phone:
    5409 Gateway Center Dr, Ste B, Flint, MI 48507

    Advanced Physical Therapy Center
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Occupational Therapy
    Phone:
    7477 S State Rd, Goodrich, MI 48438

    Family Care Plus Physical Therapy & Wellness
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    2037 S Ctr, Burton, MI 48519

    Horizon Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Center
    Phone:
    3600 Miller Rd, Flint, MI 48503

    Holistic Health Center
    1 Reviews
    Chiropractors, Massage Therapy, Naturopathic/Holistic
    Phone:
    2444 E Hill Rd, Ste 2, Grand Blanc, MI 48439

    Max Well Therapy
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy, Speech Therapists
    Phone:
    1397 S Linden Rd, Ste B, Flint, MI 48532

    Advanced Physical Therapy Center
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Sports Medicine, Occupational Therapy
    Phone:
    2138 Fairway Dr, Davison, MI 48423