Only Choose Accredited Physical Therapy Assistant Schools

Choosing a career can always be both a challenging and stressful position for anyone to be in. If there are no clear cut winners that stand out as the most desirable career for an individual they will then have to look at the pro's and con's of any given career. In the case of a physical therapy assistant the pro's will be that this is a strongly in demand career, that has an average salary of over $49 000 per year across the United States. To top this off the education required to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 years full time.

2 years of education, make this a career that is easily accessible for many individuals. The career also happens to be experiencing a tremendous period of growth, with an ever increasing number of jobs available. Overall it is an excellent topic to study if you are looking for a solid paying in demand job. The con's for this job may be the difficulty it has on an individuals body, as there can be lots of lifting, bending, and stooping. Also working with sick people can be mentally difficult for some, and this career is not for everyone. Please note however that physical therapy as a profession ranks as 1 of the top 10 careers for job satisfaction in the United States.

In this article we will examine why you should only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools. Any health care career that is not a long 6-7 year university venture will obviously be a competitive business. Schools pop up and disappear at quick rates on occasion. As a to become a physical therapist assistant is only 2 year program, there are numerous schools offering this program. The simple way to determine what schools will offer the most future opportunities and flexibility is to choose programs that meet the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) requirements, and have received accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). This ensures that your program meets national standards, and will be acceptable for working in any desired state.

A physical therapist assistant is a registered health practitioner, and therefor requires a state license to work. Eligibility for a state license will often come down to education. And while some private schools may be able to offer a program that can receive state exam eligibility in 1 state, a CAPTE accreditation will leave you eligible in all states across the nation. This gives one tremendous flexibility with where their career can go, and also can have a dramatic effect on their overall earning potential.

CAPTE programs offer a standard of education that ensures all students learn required curriculum that is approved by the American Physical Therapy Association, as well all students of CAPTE programs will complete at least 16 weeks of hands on clinical placement. There are currently over 270 physical therapy assistant schools that are CAPTE accredited in the United States. for a break down of Physical therapy assistant schools by State please visit either physicaltherapy-assistant.com, or capteonline.org for a complete list.

Whether it is for career flexibility, or the overall potential to earn a better salary, when it comes to physical therapist assistant education, your best option is to only choose accredited physical therapy assistant schools.