Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Waterford MI

How to Find the Right Physical Therapy School near Waterford 48327

Waterford MI physical therapy school student with volunteerReceiving a physical therapy degree near Waterford MI is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career in the health care field. Physical therapists (PT) help patients who have been debilitated due to illness or injury gain back mobility and function. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they must acquire the necessary training and education. A PT must also become licensed in every state, a large number mandating that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So before choosing a physical therapy school, it’s important to investigate the ones you are considering to make sure they will deliver a superior education and satisfy your state’s licensing standards. What you should not do is enroll in a college just because it happens to be the closest to your home or it has cheapest tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that must be considered along with location and cost. But before we cover what those qualifications are and the questions you should be asking, we’ll cover what a physical therapist does and the options for education.

What is a Physical Therapist’s Job Description?

Waterford MI physical therapist helping patient walkPhysical therapists practice in varying settings, such as Waterford MI hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all share in common is that they have the equipment for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As earlier stated, physical therapists help people that are experiencing a lack of mobility and often pain due to injury or illness. After diagnosing a patient, they design a course of treatment to address the mobility issues and reduce or eradicate any pain. They also strive to prevent any advancement of the disability. Though the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are abundant, they include:

  • Osteoporosis and Arthritis
  • Car or motor cycle accidents
  • Strokes.
  • Cardiac arrest.
  • Sports injuries.
  • Burn injuries.
  • Hip Replacement.
  • Sciatica.
  • Cerebral Palsy.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close affiliation with other Waterford MI health professionals, 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. Something to bear in mind for anyone considering going into the physical therapy profession, it is quite 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

Waterford MI physical therapist applying acupuncture to patientThere are three physical therapy degree options offered for students to pursue at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these options, the single degree that is attainable to practice as a physical therapist is the doctorate. Undergraduate degrees concentrate on either training students to become a physical therapy assistant (PTA) or prepping them to progress to the doctoral level. Below are short explanations of degrees that are available in the Waterford MI area:

  • Associate Degrees prepare students to become physical therapy assistants, or may 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 degrees are typically provided by community colleges, and require 2 years to complete. An internship or other form of clinical training is normally a component of the program.
  • Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist training to ready candidates to advance to the doctoral level. Although they are not a requirement to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an integral initial step to becoming a PT. Similar to most bachelor’s degrees, they generally require 4 years to finish and usually incorporate an internship program of at least 500 hours.
  • Doctorate Degrees are mandated in order to become a licensed practicing 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 complete, making the total commitment 7 years in most cases. Clinical or practical training is an intregal element 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 also.

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) has replaced the Master’s of Physical Therapy (MPT), which has been phased out and is no longer offered in the USA. Some practicing physical therapists holding a master’s or in some cases a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in prior to the present licensing mandate for a doctorate was instituted.

Physical Therapist Degrees Online

woman attending physical therapy school online in Waterford MIWhile not as prevalent as the on-campus alternatives, there are some accredited online physical therapy degrees offered, more so 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 close to the school campus or nearby an available internship. However, the online portion of the program can be accessed within the convenience and comfort of the student’s Waterford MI home. Online programs are not only to some extent more accessible, but in many cases more economical. Tuition can be somewhat less than comparable on campus alternatives, and costs for commuting are reduced. And a number of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, guaranteeing a quality education. These benefits may make the online option the right choice for those students that are dedicated enough to attend classes at home.

Subjects to Ask Physical Therapist Schools

At this point you most likely have made a decision regarding some of your initial queries, like the kind of physical therapist degree you intend to attain, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But considering there are numerous PT colleges within the Waterford MI area and across Michigan, you’ll have to research other qualifications as well so as to further reduce your list of school options. Furthermore, you want to make certain that you enroll in the college that is best for you. That’s why we have compiled a list of important questions that you must ask the physical therapy schools you are reviewing. Ask each of the potential schools these questions before making an ultimate decision.

Is the Physical Therapist College Accredited?  Find out if the programs you are reviewing have received 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 earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s essential that both the physical therapy school and program you choose are accredited, not just the school. Additionally, check that the accreditation is from a U.S. Department of Education acknowledged accrediting agency. In addition to guaranteeing that you receive an excellent education, accreditation may be mandated for state licensing and even for securing student loans or financial assistance.

What is the College’s Ranking? Along with accreditation, it’s imperative that the school and program you pick have exceptional reputations within the physical therapist community. There are a number of ways you can research a PT school’s reputation, starting with requesting references from employers that they place their graduates with. You may also check online rating services and reviews and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews also. Get in touch with several Waterford MI physical therapy centers or other health care facilities that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can give you any insight about your program options. It might also be prudent to check with the Michigan 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 Rate? There are a two important statistics that you need to know about each of the physical therapy schools you are looking at. First is their graduation rate. A lower rate might indicate that students left due to dissatisfaction with the program, the teachers, or both. After the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being placed in jobs with the assistance of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Waterford MI area? If a school has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the health care community is good or perhaps excellent. It also confirms that the school has a broad network of contacts to help students gain internships or employment after graduation.

Does the School Support Licensing Requirements? It’s imperative that the school you select furnishes both excellent training and a curriculum that satisfies the licensing criteria for Michigan or the state where you will be practicing. In every state a passing score is required on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) along with a degree from an accredited physical therapy program. While licensing requirements vary state by state for PT and PTA graduates, a number of states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be completed and passing scores on supplemental tests.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Ask if the physical therapist programs you are evaluating have relationships with Waterford MI clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Internships are not only a great manner to get hands on training in a clinical setting, they are also a requirement for the majority of PT programs and state licensing. As a supplemental benefit, they may assist students and graduates form professional relationships in the Waterford health care community and assist with job placement after licensing.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of person that prefers to sit far in the rear of the classroom or hide in the crowd, you will probably want a small class size. Small classes enable more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist schools you are reviewing what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. 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 converse with several of the students and instructors 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 decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Waterford MI residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend classes online obviously will not have to trouble 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 choose to enroll in a school that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges commonly 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 Aid Offered? Most DPT schools supply some form of financial support to their potential students. Inquire if the schools you are reviewing have a financial aid department and see what kind of aid is obtainable. They at least should help in securing a student loan or any scholarships you might qualify for. Some physical therapy schools provide scholarships, while others provide work programs. So before eliminating a school because the tuition is too expensive, find out what financial assistance may be available.

Can the School Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you need to confirm that the physical therapy program you finally choose can offer the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule night or weekend classes in the Waterford MI area, make sure that they are available. 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 enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Waterford Michigan?

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

Waterford Township, Michigan

In 1818, Oliver Williams selected land in Oakland County[13] which he purchased for two dollars an acre. Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.40 acres (653,200 m2) in what later became Waterford Village.

In 1819, Alpheus Williams and Archibald Phillips continued on to where the Clinton River crossed the old Saginaw Trail (now known as Dixie Highway). They settled at the site of the present Waterford Village. Here the first house of Waterford Village was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river. Archibald Phillips built his home across from the south corner where Andersonville Road meets Dixie Highway.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 35.3 square miles (91 km2), of which 31.3 square miles (81 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2), or 11.22%, is water.

Select the Best Physical Therapy Training Program near Waterford MI

Picking the ideal physical therapist college is an important first decision you have to make to start a rewarding career in the medical profession. As we have discussed in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and school you select should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. However there are other relevant questions that you need to ask pertaining to your school of choice also. As you begin your search for a physical therapy program, keep in mind that a number of variables will lead you toward your final decision. You may decide to go to each of the campuses to see their facilities and speak with current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this critical question: will this program help me achieve my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By following our list of additional questions, you will have the ability to narrow down the field so you can make the ideal selection. And with the necessary training and education, you can fulfill your dream to become a practicing physical therapist in Waterford MI.

A Few More Interesting Locations in Michigan

  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Nashville MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Wakefield MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Mackinaw City MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Richland MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Lowell MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Grand Haven MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Coloma MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Mount Clemens MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Charlotte MI
  • Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree – Northville MI
  •  

     

    The location could not be found.

     

    Business Results 1 - 10 of 247

    Hands On Physical Therapy
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    6650 Highland Rd, Waterford, MI 48327

    Shaul's Individualized Physical Therapy
    4 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    4123 Martin Rd, Ste 201, Commerce Township, MI 48390

    Ascent Physical Therapy Specialists
    6 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    2525 Telegraph Rd, Ste 314, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

    Spectra Med
    2 Reviews
    Medical Supplies, Drugstores, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    3160 Haggerty Rd, Ste H, West Bloomfield, MI 48323

    FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    3901 Highland Rd, Ste B, Waterford, MI 48328

    Physical Therapy Specialists, PC
    8 Reviews
    Physical Therapy, Orthotics, Massage Therapy
    Phone:
    1845 Livernois Rd, Troy, MI 48083

    Triumph Physical Therapy
    1 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    8350 Richardson Rd, Commerce Charter Township, MI 48382

    OMPT Specialists Inc
    2 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    2455 Union Lake Rd, Ste 104, Commerce Township, MI 48382

    North Woodward Rehabilitation Services
    1 Reviews
    Sports Medicine, Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    43902 Woodward Ave, Ste 120, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

    Team Rehabilitation Services
    6 Reviews
    Physical Therapy
    Phone:
    305 S Livernois Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48307