Physical Therapy Assistants?

partylikemarty5 · 08-20-2008, 11:41 AM

Is anyone here a PTA or an aid? I am about to finish college and was considering this field. Is there a pay difference btw the two? I am looking into an internship for the spring. Thanks for you help.

olinerules87 · 08-20-2008, 05:29 PM

I am a physical therapy technician. basically its a beginer position for those getting ready to apply to schools who need to get some experience.

pay for this is minimum wage...but most of use are college students or recent grads

MadenTexas · 08-20-2008, 05:38 PM

I'm just starting my first year of PT school right now and I've worked as a tech for one year prior. Basically what I tell people is that if you're interested in the PTA program more power to ya. Where I live, we have whats called flex/float PTs and PTAs. Basically they are considered full-time employees but they are sent to areas that are in need of extra help. They usually don't receive benefits but their starting salary is usually 25-35 dollars an hours. Now considering PTA is an associates degree, thats damn good! Techs on the other hand is just like onlinerules87 said, a beginner position. I was there for a year and never made over 9 dollars an hour. I think the cap for techs at my hospital system was $12 an hour. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me or ask on here.

edit: I noticed you said you're finishing up college right now. It wouldn't hurt to go all out and apply to a PT school. Most are now Doctorate programs and the pay rate is substantially higher and increasing annually. Its a lot more school but always worth it in the end.

JNo20 · 08-20-2008, 07:23 PM

Nursing school is where it's at!!!

boondocksmuscle · 08-20-2008, 08:26 PM

Depending on your location you can get a job as a traveling PTA and make some damn good money and possibly benefits.

MadenTexas · 08-20-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNo20

Nursing school is where it's at!!!

High demand and good pay for a minimum associates degree, I'll give them that. On a personal note the most miserable people I've ever met in the hospital were nurses. Very very very stressful job.

JNo20 · 08-20-2008, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MadenTexas

High demand and good pay for a minimum associates degree, I'll give them that. On a personal note the most miserable people I've ever met in the hospital were nurses. Very very very stressful job.

High demand, good pay, lots of variety in specializations, 4 year degree, PLUS I'm one of 5 guys out of a class of 35. The ratio is very nice.

olinerules87 · 08-21-2008, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JNo20

High demand, good pay, lots of variety in specializations, 4 year degree, PLUS I'm one of 5 guys out of a class of 35. The ratio is very nice.

Physical therapy has a pretty good ration too

08-20-2008, 11:41 AM	#1
partylikemarty5 New Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: St. Louis, MO. Posts: 28	Physical Therapy Assistants? Is anyone here a PTA or an aid? I am about to finish college and was considering this field. Is there a pay difference btw the two? I am looking into an internship for the spring. Thanks for you help.

08-20-2008, 05:29 PM	#2
olinerules87 Middleweight Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the gym, the kitchen, or on the toilet Posts: 573	I am a physical therapy technician. basically its a beginer position for those getting ready to apply to schools who need to get some experience. pay for this is minimum wage...but most of use are college students or recent grads __________________ http://www.gymwiki.info/content/Index For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:8

08-20-2008, 05:38 PM	#3
MadenTexas Bantamweight Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 110	I'm just starting my first year of PT school right now and I've worked as a tech for one year prior. Basically what I tell people is that if you're interested in the PTA program more power to ya. Where I live, we have whats called flex/float PTs and PTAs. Basically they are considered full-time employees but they are sent to areas that are in need of extra help. They usually don't receive benefits but their starting salary is usually 25-35 dollars an hours. Now considering PTA is an associates degree, thats damn good! Techs on the other hand is just like onlinerules87 said, a beginner position. I was there for a year and never made over 9 dollars an hour. I think the cap for techs at my hospital system was $12 an hour. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me or ask on here. edit: I noticed you said you're finishing up college right now. It wouldn't hurt to go all out and apply to a PT school. Most are now Doctorate programs and the pay rate is substantially higher and increasing annually. Its a lot more school but always worth it in the end. __________________ 5'7.5'' 125lbs-200+lbs, always a work in progress Last edited by MadenTexas : 08-20-2008 at 05:41 PM.

08-20-2008, 07:23 PM	#4
JNo20 Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Kansas City Posts: 4,842	Nursing school is where it's at!!! __________________ Meet PRs @220 Squat: 675, (8-22-2008) Bench: 455, (8-22-2008) Deadlift: 611, (3-29-2008) Total: 1735, (8-22-2008)

08-20-2008, 08:26 PM	#5
boondocksmuscle Super-heavyweight Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: in the squat rack Posts: 3,969	Depending on your location you can get a job as a traveling PTA and make some damn good money and possibly benefits. __________________ MOD @ Team Bix Forums Remember, if you can’t pick it, grow it, or kill it, you shouldn’t be eating it.- Justin Harris Bodybuilding is stressful. The joy is seeing how incredibly the body adapts. The smart thing is to keep the machine as healthy as possible along the way, IMO.- Homon

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