Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Chester TX

How to Choose a Physical Therapist School near Chester 75936

Chester TX physical therapy school student with volunteer Receiving a physical therapy degree near Chester TX is an essential first step to beginning a rewarding career in the healthcare field. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been incapacitated due to illness or injury gain back function and mobility. But before they can practice and provide treatment for the rehabilitation of patients, they must get the necessary training and education. A PT must also become licensed in every state, many requiring that the licensee earn a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So prior to choosing a physical therapy school, it’s important to evaluate those you are considering to make certain they will provide a quality education and meet your state’s licensing requirements. What you should not do is choose a college just because it happens to be the nearest to your home or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other relevant qualifications that need to be evaluated in addition to location and cost. 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 Do Physical Therapists Do?

Chester TX physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists work in a variety of settings, including Chester TX hospitals, health clinics, assisted living facilities, rehab centers and health clubs. What the facilities all have in common is that they have the equipment for the diagnosis and rehabilitation treatment of patients. As previously stated, physical therapists help people that are struggling with a lack of mobility and in many cases pain caused by illness or injury. After diagnosing a patient, they develop a program of treatment to resolve the mobility problems and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also endeavor to prevent any progression of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are abundant, they include:

Osteoporosis and Arthritis
Motor vehicle accidents
Strokes.
Cardiac arrest.
Sports injuries.
Fire injuries.
Knee Replacement.
Sciatica.
Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists work in close association with other Chester TX medical specialists, including chiropractors, physicians, registered nurses and dentists. They can also supervise several physical therapy assistants who work under them in the diagnosis and treatment of their patients. Something to keep in mind for anyone considering getting into the physical therapy field, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists routinely lift heavy equipment as well as patients, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degrees Offered

Chester TX physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are 3 physical therapy degrees available for students to pursue at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Of these choices, the one degree that is available to become 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. Following are short descriptions of degrees that are offered in the Chester TX area:

Associate Degrees train students to be physical therapy assistants, or may be the first step toward earning a more advanced degree. Applicants must have earned a high school diploma or equivalent to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are usually made available by junior or community colleges, and take about two years for completion. Clinical training, which may be in the form of an internship is usually part of the course of study.
Bachelor’s Degrees are created as pre-physical therapist education to prep students to progress to the doctoral level. Although they are not a requirement to be qualified for the doctoral program, they are an integral first step to becoming a PT. Similar to the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they generally take four years to complete and usually incorporate an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are required 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 finish, making the total investment of time 7 years in the majority of cases. Clinical or practical training is an important component along with the substantial lab and classroom instruction. Therefor the fulfillment of an internship is required, not only 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 attainable in the USA. Some licensed physical therapists having a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the current licensing requirement for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapy Colleges Online

woman attending physical therapy school online in Chester TX Although not as common as the more traditional options, there are some accredited online physical therapy degrees offered, even more 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 necessitates that the student live close to the school 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 Chester TX home. Online programs are not only partially more accessible, but in many cases more affordable. Tuition may 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 can make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are motivated enough to learn at home.

What to Ask Physical Therapist Colleges

By now you undoubtedly have made a decision regarding several of your preliminary queries, including the type of physical therapist degree you would like to obtain, where you want to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But because there are numerous PT schools within the Chester TX area and across Texas, you’ll have to look into additional qualifications also in order to further narrow your list of college options. Moreover, you want to be sure that you enroll in the program that is best for you. That’s the reason we have collected a list of important questions that you must ask the physical therapist schools you are considering. Ask each of the competing schools these questions prior to making a final selection.

Is the Physical Therapy College Accredited? Ask if the programs you are looking at 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 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 acknowledged accrediting agency. Along with guaranteeing that you receive an excellent education, accreditation might be required for state licensing as well as for getting student loans or financial assistance.

What is the Program’s Reputation? In addition to accreditation, it’s important that the college and program you pick have outstanding reputations within the physical therapy community. There are several ways you can look into a PT school’s reputation, beginning with asking for references from employers that they place their graduates with. You may also check online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Call some Chester TX physical therapy centers or other healthcare facilities that you may have an interest in working for and ask if they can offer any recommendations about your school selections. It may also be prudent to contact the Texas Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been submitted against the colleges.

What is the Program’s Job Placement Rate? There are a two significant statistics that you need to know about each of the physical therapy schools 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. After the students have graduated, what percentage of them are being hired with the help of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Chester TX area? If a college has a higher job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the healthcare field is good or perhaps outstanding. It also confirms that the college has a wide 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 college you choose provides both exceptional training and a course of study that satisfies the licensing criteria for Texas or the state where you will be working. In every state a passing score is needed on the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) in addition to a degree from an accredited physical therapist college. While licensing requirements fluctuate state by state for PTA and PT graduates, some states require a minimum amount of clinical hours be completed and passing scores on additional tests.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Inquire if the physical therapy colleges you are evaluating have associations with Chester TX hospitals or clinics for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent way to obtain practical experience in a clinical environment, they are additionally a requirement for most PT programs and state licensing. As a secondary benefit, they can help graduates and students form professional relationships in the Chester health care community and help with job placement after licensing.

What Size are the Classes ? Unless you are the sort of student that prefers to sit far in the back of the classroom or get lost in the crowd, you will probably want a smaller class size. Small classes allow for more individual participation and one-on-one instruction. Ask the physical therapist schools you are looking at what the typical teacher to student ratio is for their classes. If practical you may want to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you an opportunity to speak with a few of the instructors and students to get their opinions regarding the pharmacy technician program also.

Where is the Program Located? For many students, the physical therapy school they select will need to be within commuting distance of their Chester TX home. Individuals who have decided to attend online classes obviously will not have to worry themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of local internships will be of concern. One thing to consider is that if you decide to enroll in a college that is out of state or even out of your local area, you may have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges typically charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges commonly charge a higher tuition for those students that live outside of their districts.

Is Financial Assistance Offered? The majority of DPT colleges offer some form of financial aid to their potential students. Ask if the schools you are examining have a financial assistance department and find out what type of aid is obtainable. At a minimum they should help in securing a student loan or any scholarships you may qualify for. Some physical therapy schools provide scholarships, while others provide work programs. So before you eliminate a program 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 confirm that the physical therapist college you finally choose can furnish the class schedule you need. This is especially essential if you opt to continue working while attending classes. If you need to schedule evening or weekend classes in the Chester TX area, confirm that they are available. If you can only attend part-time, verify if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would need to enroll in. Also, ask what the procedure is for making up any classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Chester Texas?

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

Chester, Texas

Chester was founded in 1793 by a party of farmers who defended the area from an attack by the local Comanche tribe known as The Chesterean Siege. Chester High School was built on top of the old mission, which the farmers used as a fort to fend off the attack. The leader of the party was Conor Herterich, an Irish immigrant who was searching for a better life. The rest of the party consisted of Mykal Vera, Kole Eaton, David Lazcano, Kobi Poage, and a slave named Keyshawn Whitefield. Kole Eaton was the first defender to die in the attack, but he slowed the Comanche onslaught by killing 15 combatants, including the chief's son. Soon after Kole's death, Conor Herterich died to a Comanche bowman. Mykal Vera, a Spanish conquistador, led the defenders to victory after the death of Conor. In total, the defenders caused the Comanche 72 casualties, 64 of which where fatalities. Keyshawn Whitefield earned his freedom through his combat effectiveness and bravery, and chose to start a plantation in what is now Nigton, Texas. David Lazcano joined Keyshawn in running the plantation they became the wealthiest plantation owners in the southern part of North America. Kobi Poage continued to run his plantation in Chester, which became one of the largest tobacco and sugar plantations in Texas.

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 265 people, 101 households, and 75 families residing in the town. The population density was 166.1 people per square mile (63.9/km²). There were 128 housing units at an average density of 80.2 per square mile (30.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.74% White, 0.38% Asian, 1.13% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.40% of the population.

There were 101 households out of which 32.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.7% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.08.

Select the Right Physical Therapist College near Chester TX

Deciding on the best physical therapy college is a necessary initial decision you must make to launch a rewarding career in the healthcare field. As we have addressed in this article, the DPT or PT degree program and college you decide on should both have exceptional reputations and be accredited. However there are other critical questions that you should ask regarding your school of choice also. As you start your search for a physical therapy program, bear in mind that many variables will lead you toward your final decision. You might decide to go to each of the campuses to view their facilities and talk with current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this critical question: will this school help me reach my goal of becoming a licensed practicing physical therapist? By following our list of additional questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the ideal selection. And with the necessary training and education, you can achieve your dream to become a licensed physical therapist in Chester TX.