PTA or PT

I have two options. I live about an hour and a half away from Sacramento City college. They offer a PTA program that I am ready to apply to. In the other direction about the same distance is Fresno State University which offers a bacherlors, Masters, and PhD in Physical Therapy. My question is, if I go the PTA route and later decide that I would like to become a PT, are there ways to go about that? Up until now I had never thought I would be considering getting a bacherlors and from what I hear it won't do me any good unless I continue and at least get my masters. The idea of getting my masters is just WAY too much of a goal for me at this time so I am leaning more towards the PTA program. I would just like to know I can upgrade later if I want. I passed all of my science courses on the first attempt but I did struggle and I worry about how I would do going for a Master's degree in Physical Therapy. At least if I started out as a PTA I would know whether I loved the field or not. I would have an understanding of the work and maybe a masters wouldn't be so scarey. Are there programs that allow you to upgrade from a PTA?

Also what is a PTLA (Physical Therapy Liscensed Applicant)? Is it the same as an assistant? Thanks in advance!!!!!

Hi Brandi,

I am working on my application to Sac City for next fall. Just wanted to say Hi. about your other questions, from what I have read, there are very few bridge programs from PTA to PT and that is a problem. You could continue in that direction even after becoming a PTA. Sac State has a good program too. And they are all going toward the doctorate by 2020, so a masters might not be enough.

I think the other part is LPTA, and I'm not really sure what that is about. You could ask the instructor at Sac City, Beth.
have you been to an introductory meeting?

Hi Kim!
I am planning on going to an informational meeting in early Feb. Are you saying that Sac also has a degree working towards PT too? I only noticed the PTA program but I will go back to their website and check it out. It's nice to meet someone not too far from me who is working towards the same thing:) I had every intention of entering a dental hygiene program but I started second guessing my career choice after reading the dental hygiene forums here and also considering all the neck pain I already have. Also PTA jobs offer benefits and that is a big deal to me. In searching on the internet I have found many postings about PTA openings but very few for dental hygiene. Over all it just seems like a better choice and I am excited to get started. Thanks so much for the info! Maybe we can keep in touch. I hope to enter the program this fall at Sac.
Brandi

Kim,
Are you talking about Sac State?

Hi Brandi,

I did mean Sac State for the PT program. I know they have a masters program as I was considering that a couple of years ago but decided to go the PTA route. Not sure if they have a doctorate program yet.

I think I will try to go to the Feb meeting too just to check in. I haven't been in a while. Maybe we can meet up. I'm excited to have finished the prereq's and am finishing up the extra classes needed for the degree. Let me know if you are going.

I am done with the prereqs but there are a couple classes for the degree that I will need to complete before I can get my A.S. One of them being the PTA100. Beth sent me a challenge sheet so that I can still apply to the program this year. But I will need to complete the class in the summer. Do you know if the program requires you to have completed Elementrary/Beginning Algebra or Intermediate Algebra? I am getting very excited to actually start studying what I will be doing as a career instead of science class after science class.

May I ask why you decided to go PTA instead of PT? I have still been throwing it back and forth but for me I would just like to get into the work force. I am ready to grow up lol:) And I figured going for the PTA first would give me a nice start. And from what I've seen, PTA's make decent money too! Getting my Masters or PhD is a bit intemidating for me I must admit. I like to set small goals:)

If your on myspace or facebook we could keep in touch that way.

Thanks so much for all of the info!!!!! Very exciting times ahead of us:)

I took PTA 100 on line, you might still be able to do it this semester. I even have the book. Algebra was to get into chem, to get into A&P, which I guess you have already done.

I chose PTA mostly because I want to get out there and work. I'm already 40 and have a kid in high school, off to college soon. I don't want to spend the next bunch of years going to school and trying to work so much. So, I am ready to make a change in careers and go in a new direction. I also like that PTAs get to do more work with patients and not doing evals and administrative work. Everyone I have spent time with observing have been very nice and helpful.

I have a myspace but I don't go there much. we could connect up that way. how do you do that? :)

My myspace page is at www.myspace.com/purpura1. Just copy and past that into your address bar and it should take you there:)

Oh and yes I have taken Elementary algebra and am currently enrolled in Intermediate Algebra. I hate math!!!

Hi all,
I am working on my pre reqs right now for the sac city PTA program and I was wondering if anyone knows if there is a wait list, and how long it is? Nice to hear some of you are from the Sac area=) I am about 30 min north of Sac, and I am really excited about this career=)

Hi Julie!
I asked the director of the program if there was a wait list. She said they had 45 eligilble applicants last year and they took 38 of them into the program. She said they do a lottery if there are more applicants then spots available. Hope this helps!

Brandi J in California said: Hi Julie!
I asked the director of the program if there was a wait list. She said they had 45 eligilble applicants last year and they took 38 of them into the program. She said they do a lottery if there are more applicants then spots available. Hope this helps!

wow, thanks for the great news Brandi....I looked into RN and LVN at my local CC, and both had a 2-3 year waiting list. I am glad I am going in this direction,lol! I think it be be a rewarding career.

Yes I was also excited about my chances of geting into the program. I was originally looking into Dental Hygiene and they had 400 plus applicants. My chances were very slim. Lucky for me after shadowing my hygienist and doing lots of research I decided that it wasn't for me. I am much more excited about PTA!

Does anyone know online school has PTA program? I took intro PTA from SCC
and want to continue PTA program. Thanks!

Kim L in El Dorado Hills, California said: I took PTA 100 on line, you might still be able to do it this semester. I even have the book. Algebra was to get into chem, to get into A&P, which I guess you have already done.

I chose PTA mostly because I want to get out there and work. I'm already 40 and have a kid in high school, off to college soon. I don't want to spend the next bunch of years going to school and trying to work so much. So, I am ready to make a change in careers and go in a new direction. I also like that PTAs get to do more work with patients and not doing evals and administrative work. Everyone I have spent time with observing have been very nice and helpful.

I have a myspace but I don't go there much. we could connect up that way. how do you do that? :)

Jade S in Sacramento, California said: Does anyone know online school has PTA program? I took intro PTA from SCC
and want to continue PTA program. Thanks!

Jade, I don't know of any 100% online PTA courses...from everyone I've talked to in my research, it's a very hands on program with the need to do a lot of practice. I'm in Washington state, and there is a "hybrid" program at Whatcom Community College up in Bellingham (near Canada) where everything is online and then there are 4-day labs (Friday thru Monday) on campus three to four times per quarter. That seems like a major hassle to me, taking almost 4- 4 day weekends per month away from my child. I think I would burn out on that kind of schedule very quickly.

I just spoke with a therapist yesterday and asked her thoughts on online schooling...and her answer was that she would be reluctant to hire someone from an online program because it means they didn't get immersed in the "high touch" aspect of PT...just the "high tech". I thought that was a great way to put it. She said to stay as far away from "Jerry Springer" schools (those online course offers during daytime TV), as they are typically not accredited or have less than stellar teaching staff.

I plan to do as much of my pre-req work online as possible, but I don't think I would consider an online PTA even if I could find one... It just doesn't feel like the right way to learn a job that is so hands on.

Hi Jade,

The PTA program at Sac City is all in the evening. you should look at the site and go to an information meeting once a month. there are very few programs in N. Califonia so I am happy one is so close. As far as I know there are no on line programs for this and really it's better that way. A few classes here and there are on line. If you have prerequesites done now this is the application time for another couple of weeks. good luck

Stephani in Snoqualmie, Washington said: Jade, I don't know of any 100% online PTA courses...from everyone I've talked to in my research, it's a very hands on program with the need to do a lot of practice. I'm in Washington state, and there is a "hybrid" program at Whatcom Community College up in Bellingham (near Canada) where everything is online and then there are 4-day labs (Friday thru Monday) on campus three to four times per quarter. That seems like a major hassle to me, taking almost 4- 4 day weekends per month away from my child. I think I would burn out on that kind of schedule very quickly.

I just spoke with a therapist yesterday and asked her thoughts on online schooling...and her answer was that she would be reluctant to hire someone from an online program because it means they didn't get immersed in the "high touch" aspect of PT...just the "high tech". I thought that was a great way to put it. She said to stay as far away from "Jerry Springer" schools (those online course offers during daytime TV), as they are typically not accredited or have less than stellar teaching staff.

I plan to do as much of my pre-req work online as possible, but I don't think I would consider an online PTA even if I could find one... It just doesn't feel like the right way to learn a job that is so hands on.

Hi there. I noticed a few months back you all were talking about on-line PTA schools. I'm a student right now at San Juan College in Farmington New Mexico. It's the only fully accredited on-line PTA school in the country. Amazing program. Two years, and each semester you go to the campus for a couple of weeks to do hands on learning. I live in a small town in California, nowhere close to a PT or PTA program, and this program has given me huge choices. I already have about five job offers in my community. Everybody wants a PTA, and a license is a license. Check it out www.sanjuancollege.edu/pta
Good luck!

Hi Laura. I live in Albuquerque and plan on applying for the PTA program at SJ in August. Was it hard for you to get into the program? Were the courses difficult? Any advice you can give me would be great!!

hello Laura,
I am planning on finishing my basics for the program in Farmington. Can you please tell me how you like the program and how difficult the courses are? Also can you please tell me approx when you have to travel to NM for the labs? How hard is it to get into the program? How difficult is it learning online? I live in Santa Fe NM and am trying to work it out with my employer for the time off for the labs each semester. Any info would be GREATLY appreciated. I am very interested in this program. Thank you so much!!

Brandon in Albuquerque, New Mexico said: Hi Laura. I live in Albuquerque and plan on applying for the PTA program at SJ in August. Was it hard for you to get into the program? Were the courses difficult? Any advice you can give me would be great!!

Hi Brandon,
Have you already finished your prerequisites for the program?

Laura in Atascadero, California said: Hi there. I noticed a few months back you all were talking about on-line PTA schools. I'm a student right now at San Juan College in Farmington New Mexico. It's the only fully accredited on-line PTA school in the country. Amazing program. Two years, and each semester you go to the campus for a couple of weeks to do hands on learning. I live in a small town in California, nowhere close to a PT or PTA program, and this program has given me huge choices. I already have about five job offers in my community. Everybody wants a PTA, and a license is a license. Check it out www.sanjuancollege.edu/pta
Good luck!

Hi Laura! I am applying for this program in the future. Do you work full-time while you are doing this? I will have to. Just trying to make sure I can keep my sanity...lol

I was excited to see that this post was talking about sac city because that is where i go!

i still dont know which to go into pt or pta but after meeting with a counselor today i think im going towards pta bc of all the math pt needs. and im horrible at math!

Samantha Huizar in Sacramento, California said: I was excited to see that this post was talking about sac city because that is where i go!

i still dont know which to go into pt or pta but after meeting with a counselor today i think im going towards pta bc of all the math pt needs. and im horrible at math!

Good luck Samantha. have you sent in your application?? It's a great program and i look forward to getting in at some point.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get in this year. I just sent my application in. Now I'm going to hold my breath until I get the letter sometime in may!

How are you Kim????

Brandi in Modesto, California said: I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will get in this year. I just sent my application in. Now I'm going to hold my breath until I get the letter sometime in may!

How are you Kim????

Hi Brandi,
good to hear from you. i'm doing great, just taking a couple of classes here and there. i did apply to the program, but want to stay on the alternate list for another year. my daughter has one more year of high school, and it would be hard to be gone nights. i'm looking forward to it the following year and will be able to throw myself into it.

i hope you get in this time. i've met a lot of the students in my AH106 class and they love it. there is so much energy with them, but i can see the hard work.

good luck
kim

Oh wow! Wouldn't that be something if you got offered a spot this year I can hardly stand all this waiting!

Brandi in Modesto, California said: Oh wow! Wouldn't that be something if you got offered a spot this year I can hardly stand all this waiting!

Hi Brandi,

I think I've changed my mind. If I get in I'm going to go for it and see how it goes. It will be a tough year with my daughter in her last year of high school and all, but life is challenging no matter what. I'm tired of waiting and tired of my current job.

So, I'm eagerly waiting for hear. Should only be a couple more weeks.

good luck. Let me know if you get in.

what is the hourly pay for a new Phy. Ther. assist. in the Los angeles area?
thanks

Brandi in Modesto, California said: Oh wow! Wouldn't that be something if you got offered a spot this year I can hardly stand all this waiting!

Hey Brandi,

I got my acceptance letter!! Did you get in??

Hi Kim!!!! Yes!!! I got in too:))))))

Brandi in Modesto, California said: Hi Kim!!!! Yes!!! I got in too:))))))

Awesome!!! guess I'll see you in August!! i have a facebook if you want to keep in touch at kimberly learner. you can do a search.

see ya soon.