Physical Therapist and Physical Therapist Assistant Salary Information
Tags: physical therapist assistant salary, physical therapist career, physical therapist education, physical therapist qualifications, physical therapist salary, physical therapy career requirements, physical therapy job search engine
Becoming a physical therapist can take a significant investment of time and money. The licensure and certification process is rigorous following the extensive course work that is required for a degree in physical therapy. Becoming a physical therapist assistant, however, takes far less time, which means that you can start earning money more quickly in your career, and you will probably be left holding onto a smaller student loan once you finish your schooling and training. Depending on your career goals and aspirations, one of these choices may be more attractive than the other.
In 2010, a physical therapist earned, on average, approximately $75,000 per year. Physical therapist assistant salary was listed at approximately $46,000 per year. Although this is a substantial difference in earning potential, there are definite pros and cons to each career. Careers in the physical therapy field have been cited on several lists of the “top 10” most desirable and lucrative careers.
In order to earn a degree as a physical therapist, at least five years of schooling is typically required, often with some additional training and internship experience. A bachelor’s degree is not sufficient to obtain an entry level position in this field, however, becoming a physical therapist assistant only requires an associate’s degree and some additional certification and licensure, which can typically be obtained in approximately two years. Also, certification in first aid and CPR is required. Although this will typically mean that a person would have to invest far less money in their education to become a physical therapist assistant, the physical therapist assistant salary tends to average just over half of that earned by a physical therapist.
It is not uncommon for people to choose to enter the field as a physical therapist assistant and then, through continuing education courses and training, eventually become a physical therapist. This can be an enticing option, because of the fact that a person would be earning a physical therapist assistant salary while pursuing a more advanced degree in physical therapy. Student loans can be paid down, leaving a person with less debt once they complete their final coursework and become a full-fledged physical therapist.
Those that may prefer less responsibility in terms of paperwork and liability, or those that have less money to invest immediately in the education and training required to become a physical therapist may prefer to explore the possibility of becoming a physical therapist assistant. The demand for these types of health care workers is high. Once that degree is completed and a job is secured, earning a physical therapist assistant salary will help to cover the additional training costs associated with a more advanced degree in physical therapy, although it can be challenging to hold a job while also taking classes.
If you need more information about the physical therapy field or help finding a physical therapy job, visit PTJobs.com. By choosing PTJobs.com physical therapist job search engine over another general job search engine, you can minimize the stress and the unnecessary time wasted sorting through irrelevant information and job listings.
Article Resources:
http://www.allalliedhealthschools.com/health-careers/physical-therapy/physical-therapy-assistant
http://www.apta.org/
http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2010/12/06/best-careers-2011-physical-therapist