Physical Therapist Schools | Get Your Physical Therapy Degree - Woodberry Forest VA

How to Find the Right Physical Therapist College near Woodberry Forest 22989

Woodberry Forest VA physical therapy school student with volunteer Obtaining a physical therapy degree near Woodberry Forest VA is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career in the medical care field. Physical therapists (PT) help people who have been debilitated due to injury or illness regain function and mobility. But before they can practice and work with the rehabilitation of patients, they need to obtain the necessary training and education. A PT must additionally be licensed in all states, many requiring that the licensee receive a physical therapy degree from an accredited college. So prior to choosing a physical therapy school, it’s important to research the ones you are considering to make sure they will furnish a quality education and satisfy your state’s licensing criteria. What you should not do is choose a school simply because it happens to be the closest to your residence or it has the most affordable tuition. There are other significant qualifications that must be evaluated along with location and cost. But before we cover 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 is a Physical Therapist’s Job Description?

Woodberry Forest VA physical therapist helping patient walk Physical therapists work in diverse locations, such as Woodberry Forest VA hospitals, health clinics, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes and health clubs. What the facilities all share in common is that they are equipped for diagnosing and rehabilitating patients. As earlier touched on, physical therapists help individuals that are struggling with a lack of mobility and often pain due to injury or illness. After patient diagnosis, they design a program of treatment to resolve the mobility problems and reduce or eliminate any pain. They also endeavor to stop any advancement of the disability. While the causes of disability necessitating physical therapy are numerous, they include:

Arthritis or Osteoporosis
Car or motor cycle accidents
Head injuries.
Heart attacks.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
Burn injuries.
Hip Replacement.
Fibromyalgia.
Multiple Sclerosis.

Licensed physical therapists practice in close association with other Woodberry Forest VA health specialists, including chiropractors, physicians, registered nurses and dentists. They can also supervise one or more physical therapy assistants who work under them in diagnosing and treating their patients. One thing to keep in mind for anyone considering going into the physical therapy profession, it is rather physically demanding. Physical therapists often lift patients and heavy equipment, and kneel, crouch and stand for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis.

Physical Therapy Degree Options

Woodberry Forest VA physical therapist applying acupuncture to patient There are 3 physical therapist degree options available for individuals to pursue at the graduate and undergraduate levels. Of these choices, the one degree that is available to practice as 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. Following are brief descriptions of degree levels that are available in the Woodberry Forest VA area:

Associate Degrees prepare students to be physical therapy assistants, or may be used as a stepping stone to a more advanced degree. Candidates must have a high school diploma or equivalent to be accepted for enrollment. The programs are usually made available by community or junior colleges, and require two years to complete. An internship or other form of clinical training is normally a component of the course of study.
Bachelor’s Degrees are developed as pre-physical therapist education to prep students to advance to the doctoral level. While they are not required to be eligible for the doctoral program, they are an integral preliminary step to becoming a PT. As with the majority of bachelor’s degrees, they typically take 4 years to finish and commonly include an internship program of a minimum of 500 hours.
Doctorate Degrees are mandated if you want to become a licensed practicing physical therapist. The degree program must also be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). In addition to the bachelor’s degree, the doctoral takes three years to finish, making the total investment of time 7 years in most cases. Clinical or practical training is an important element along with the considerable classroom and lab instruction. Consequently the completion of an internship is required, not just 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 USA. A number of practicing physical therapists having a master’s or even a bachelor’s degree were “grandfathered” in before the current licensing mandate for a doctorate was implemented.

Physical Therapy Online Degrees

woman attending physical therapy school online in Woodberry Forest VA While not as common as the more traditional alternatives, there are some accredited online physical therapist programs offered, more so at the graduate level. Because of the hands-on nature of the training, clinical lab work and internships are integrated with the online classes. This requires that the student live near the school campus or nearby an available internship. However, the online segment of the curriculum may be accessed within the comfort and convenience of the student’s Woodberry Forest VA home. Online schools are not only partially more accessible, but in many cases more affordable. Tuition might be somewhat less than similar on-campus alternatives, and expenses for commuting are minimized. And many of the online programs are accredited by the CAPTE, guaranteeing a quality education. These benefits can make the online alternative the right choice for those students that are disciplined enough to learn at home.

Questions to Ask Physical Therapist Programs

By now you probably have made a decision regarding a few of your initial queries, such as the kind of physical therapist degree you intend to attain, where you prefer to attend classes, and how much you can afford to spend for your education. But since there are so many PT schools within the Woodberry Forest VA area and throughout Virginia, you’ll have to explore additional qualifications also so as to further reduce your list of college options. Also, you want to make sure that you enroll in the program that is right for you. That’s the reason we have compiled a list of essential questions that you must ask the physical therapist colleges you are considering. Ask all of the potential schools these questions before making a final decision.

Is the Physical Therapist College Accredited? Ask if the programs you are considering have earned accreditation from a national or a regional organization. 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 select an online program, it can also earn accreditation from the Distance Education and Training Council. It’s important that both the physical therapist school and program you select are accredited, not simply the school. Also, 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 may be mandated for state licensing and even for getting student loans or financial aid.

What is the College’s Standing? In addition to accreditation, it’s essential that the college and program you choose have excellent 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 can also search for online reviews and rating services and ask the accrediting organizations for their reviews as well. Get in touch with some Woodberry Forest VA physical therapy centers or other medical care facilities that you might be interested in working for and ask if they can provide any advice about your college options. It might also be a good idea to check with the Virginia Attorney General and school licensing authority to find out if any complaints have been filed against the colleges.

What is the College’s Job Placement Percentage? There are a couple of important statistics that you should know about all of the physical therapist colleges you are considering. First is their graduation rate. A low rate might indicate that students dropped out due to dissatisfaction with the program, the teachers, or both. Once the students have graduated, how many of them are being hired with the help of the college’s job placement program, particularly in the Woodberry Forest VA area? If a college has a high job placement rate, it suggests that its reputation within the healthcare community is good or even exceptional. It also affirms that the program has a large network of contacts to help students get internships or jobs upon graduation.

Does the School Support Licensing Requirements? It’s important that the school you choose furnishes both exceptional training and a course of study that supports the licensing criteria for Virginia 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 fluctuate state by state for PTA and PT graduates, a number of states require a minimum number of clinical hours be performed as well as passing scores on supplemental tests.

Are Internship Programs Sponsored? Inquire if the physical therapist programs you are interested in have relationships with Woodberry Forest VA clinics or hospitals for internship programs. Not only are internships an excellent manner to obtain 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 help graduates and students form professional relationships in the Woodberry Forest health care community and assist with job placement once licensed.

How Large are the Classes ? Unless you are the kind of person that likes to sit far in the rear of class or get lost in the crowd, you will probably prefer a smaller class size. Smaller classes permit more individual participation and personalized instruction. Ask the physical therapist colleges you are researching what the typical student to teacher ratio is for their classes. If practical you may prefer to monitor one or more classes before making your final determination. This will also give you a chance to converse with several of the instructors and students to get their perspectives regarding the pharmacist technician program as well.

Where is the College Located? For many students, the physical therapist school they decide on will need to be within commuting distance of their Woodberry Forest VA residence. Individuals who have chosen to attend online classes naturally will not have to trouble themselves with the location of the campus. However, the availability of area internships will be of importance. Something to keep in mind is that if you choose to enroll in a college that is out of state or perhaps out of your local area, you might have to pay a higher tuition. State colleges often charge higher tuitions for out of state residents. And community colleges generally charge a higher tuition to those students that don’t reside within their districts.

Is Financial Support Provided? The majority of DPT schools offer some form of financial assistance to their prospective students. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have a financial aid office and find out what kind of aid is offered. At a minimum they should help in securing a student loan or any grants you may be eligible for. A number of physical therapy schools provide scholarships, while others offer work programs. So before eliminating a program because the tuition is beyond your budget, find out what financial assistance may be available.

Can the College Accommodate your Schedule? And finally you must confirm that the physical therapy program you finally choose can provide the class schedule you need. This is particularly important if you choose to continue working while attending school. If you must schedule evening or weekend classes in the Woodberry Forest VA area, make certain that they are available. If you can only enroll on a part-time basis, check if that is an option and how many credit hours or courses you would have to enroll in. Also, learn what the procedure is for making up any classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies.

Earning Your Physical Therapy Degree near Woodberry Forest Virginia?

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

C. J. Prosise

Calvin "C. J." Prosise Jr. (born May 20, 1994) is an American football running back for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seahawks in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.

Prosise attended Woodberry Forest School in Madison County, Virginia. He played safety and wide receiver in high school. He was rated by Rivals.com as a three-star recruit at safety.[1] He committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football over offers from Penn State, North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, among others.[2]

After redshirting his first year at Notre Dame in 2012, Prosise played in all 13 games as a wide receiver and on special teams his redshirt freshman year in 2013. For the season, he had seven receptions for 72 yards.[3] As a sophomore in 2014, he played in all 13 games and made six starts. He had 29 receptions for 516 yards and two touchdowns and led the team in special teams tackles with 11.[4] Prior to his junior year in 2015, Prosise was moved to running back.[5] After a season-ending injury to Tarean Folston versus Texas, Prosise became the starter.[6][7][8] In his first start against Virginia, he rushed for 155 yards with a touchdown.[9] In his second start against Georgia Tech, he rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns, including a 91-yard rushing touchdown which was the longest in Notre Dame Stadium history.[10][11] Prosise continued adding big performances throughout the season. He recorded 100 receiving yards at Clemson, rushed for 129 yards (6.1 avg) and three touchdowns against Navy, and rushed for 143 yards and two touchdowns against USC, before being slowed down by injury, limited him to only 13 carries over Notre Dame's last five games.[12][13][14] He finished the season rushing for 1,032 yards on 156 carries (6.6 avg) and 11 touchdowns, and 28 receptions for 308 yards and one touchdown.[15]

Enroll in the Best Physical Therapist Degree Program near Woodberry Forest VA

Deciding on the best physical therapist school is a necessary initial decision you have to make to start a fulfilling career in the healthcare profession. As we have addressed in this article, the PT or DPT degree program and school you choose should both have exceptional reputations and accreditation. But there are other critical questions that you should ask pertaining to your college of choice as well. As you commence your search for a physical therapist college, keep in mind that a number of variables will guide you to your ultimate decision. You may want to visit different colleges to see their facilities and speak to current DPT students. While there, ask yourself this critical question: will this school help me accomplish my goal of becoming a practicing licensed physical therapist? By following our list of supplemental questions, you will be able to narrow down the field so you can make the best choice. And with the proper training and education, you can fulfill your dream to become a practicing physical therapist in Woodberry Forest VA.