Should I be a PT or a PTA?

Physical therapists (PTs) and physical therapist assistants (PTAs) share many responsibilities such as assisting patients in stretches and exercises, but some key characteristics set them apart. In this video, I share a breakdown of the key differences between PT versus PTA and what you should consider before deciding which route to take.

Let me know if you decide the PT route or the PTA route. I'd love to hear your thoughts on how you decided the career that is fit for YOU!
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Is Physical Therapy worth 110K debt?
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Helpful videos:
What is Physical Therapy?
Is Physical Therapy worth 110K debt?
How to Make Money as a DPT Student
Best Majors for Physical Therapy School
Tips to Stand Out as a Physical Therapy School Applicant
How to be a Successful Incoming PT Student
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[drjustinleedpt]

Get Accepted into PT School the FIRST TIME online course available now:

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7 Reasons to NOT get into Physical Therapy

[PTEducationEveryday]

I've been a PTA for 14 years and now I'm the program director for a PTA program and we get this question a lot! We need both! No PTAs without PTs but you have to consider the more research, diagnostic medical levels decision you must make as a DPT vs. The more practical hands on responses and work with your body that you will do as a PTA. As well as the time spent on schooling. Job security really depends on location as well as your initiative to learn and be in diverse settings and environments.

[Petertaguinodd]

This is great level headed information - love how your opinion is never biased

[yoarifelix]

Hey, I am thinking about becoming a PTA and hope to become a PT later if I love it enough. I always take the experience first route because there are always surprises that no one mentions.

As a CNA I work with nurses and get to see all aspects of their job. I really wanted to be a nurse but I never realized a HUGE amount of work is dedicated to just charting. It made me want to stay a CNA to maintain a level of care with the patients and preform primary care.

My unit is acute rehabilitation and I have observed PTA's and PT's work. They both have time with patients but again the PTA are there with the patients for the most part. They also work closely with the nurses and communicate with medications and other primary care issues.

Please try to volunteer in jobs you want to work in first to get an entire picture of your job before going to school for it and end up not liking it. Be aware that in SOME hospital settings as a PTA you might have to deal with fresh wounds, bathroom situations (accidents), and other unexpected situations. So also try to know where you would like to work! A SNF, hospital, and therapy centers all have different kinds of patients with different needs!

[HeckW]

Dude your channel is so GOATed I hope you're enjoying putting these videos out as much as I enjoy watching them. After watching your videos I'm being more and more influenced to become a PTA. Not only is CC free for me since I am a California resident, being a PTA would also let me practice what I'm passionate about, which is physical fitness. Wondering if you have a "don't waste your time video" for PTAs like you have for PTs 👀

[LAAM]

Looking at current job postings in my area the pay difference isnt that much. Id rather do PTA.

[jocelinwery]

I want people to know that there is another option when it comes to going DPT with ZERO debt. AND you get paid while you go through the program! This is possible by enlisting into U.S. Army as an Officer for the 7 years. Once accepted, they put you through the DPT program at Baylor University in Texas. I'm current enlisted in the Army and I understand that the military isn't for everyone but it seems like a lot of people reconsider DPT because of the amount tuition is. I'm currently pursuing a rehab major while serving active duty. Once I obtain my bachelors I can apply through the Army and hopefully get accepted into the DPT program as an Officer. I'm by no means a recruiter for the Army, but I just wanted people to know the route I was taking to be debt free in terms of tuition.

[Mac-Pla]

Great video I recently finished my bachelors and am now trying to decide which program would be best for me and you made a lot of excellent points. The main thing that really spoke to me was the documentation. I work at a PT clinic as a tech and honestly I struggled to keep up with the daily notes. Something I’ve come to realize is I’m not very good at multitasking, when I get a task I kinda single in on that task and try to get it done right. The problem being is if I get thrown another task well that throws me off and I can’t focus on the initial task I was given as I switch gears to do that other task if that makes sense. Anyways for example as a tech, I would try to keep patients going while at the same time doing daily notes, I would get so focused on the patient care aspect that I wouldn’t get to the notes until the end of the day which effectively puts the therapist I’m working with behind because they are waiting on my notes. I know I can work on that with time and experience, but what I enjoy is the patient care aspect rather than the documentation. Another thing to consider for me, while I did finish my bachelors, a lot of my harder upper level courses I took online during the peak of COVID so honestly, I feel like I don’t have the best education and knowledge for the PT program. A lot of those online classes I struggled with and made Cs which is not acceptable for PT school. But since I have my bachelors finished, I would be better off applying for the PT program but realistically for me I think the PTA program would make more sense as it allows me to retake some classes I didn’t do as good on, it’s cheaper to get into and easier. But I also don’t want to sell myself short. Anyways all things to consider. My plan is to apply to some PTA programs for the fall semester to see if I can get into any, if not I’ll probably retake some classes, take the GRE and try applying for some PT programs next year.

[jaygreene]

I’m damn near 40 thinking about pursuing a PTA career. My dad went through a PTA at 52 years old

[kissifur]

Thankyou so much for explaining this it helps me alot I was so undecided if I wanted to be a PTA or PBT

[johnguillen]

I've commented on your other videos and thank you for responding. I'm 55 years old and in good shape, I don't look my age because I'm fit. I don't have kids and I'm not married or have a girlfriend. I wonder if PTA would be a good way to start because of my low GPA. I definitely like the sound of Doctor of Physical Therapy. I am trying some DPT schools just in case I do get in.

[maddien]

I’m so torn even after talking to tons and tons of PTs and PTAs and getting all the different views, points, perspectives, and information. I would love to have the education of a DPT and to really fully understand and grasp physical therapy but at the same time the amount of debt and also the paperwork/documentation kind of sways me more towards pta. I also love being hands on with patients.

[HowtofitnessKinetic]

PTA the way to go in my opinion. Pt too much debt and pta’s make 85% from my understanding.

[CristianQCruz]

still on the fence but I think I'm leaning PTA

[romans.]

I’d love to see how to choose the right school for these programs.

[herrerabrew]

So, i have another note to add to this. I went to community college at mt san antonio college in walnut California, and from there, i transferred to cal poly pomona. Most of my friends who went to community college, didn't transfer in two years. It was more like 3 or 4 years. For me, it was about 2.5 years. Then, the prereqs to take biology and chemistry for wxample from a JC, was actually more than cal poly. So if i went straight to cal poly, i could take the first set of the year long classes of bio and chem right away, but at a JC, it was required that we took semester long intro courses. I would argue that if someone goes to a JC to get all that is required for PTA school: anatomy, physiology, which to even take those, you need to first take bio, and maybe even chem. I would say a likelier scenario would be that it would take at least 3 years to get all the prerequisites from a JC, and maybe even 4 if you are trying to work while going to school.

I sort of had a bad experience with my JC, as I spent about 2.5 years there, and then, bc all of my credits didnt transfer over, changed majors, and had to work the whole time, i graduated from cal poly after about 4 years. 6.5 years overall. I wish i had gone straight to a university. JC was super cheap bc you get the BOG waiver to pay for your classes, but you need to have a clear plan and map out exactly what youre gonna do, bc if it takes you 3 to 4 years to get all the prerequisites, maybe you should go straight to a university, and then go staright to DPT. If i was fresh out of high school, id still go to PTA school tho.

[SoniaAlese]

I just got my bachelors in Kinesiology but I am now $60k in debt and I'm 37 years old... a lot of flexible PT programs where I live are $85-95k. That means as a PT I would be >$160k in debt!!! Plus the cost of any extra loans I got for living expenses while in school.

If i do PTA program it's $30k roughly, so I'd be $90k in debt at graduation + interest. But PTAs make $40-45/hr or around $80k a year-ish. PTs make around $100-110k a year. It does not feel like a huge difference... a lot of these videos say it takes PTs 20 years to catch up financially to where a PTA is at and finally surpass them! As someone who will be over 40 by the time I finished a program I am wondering if PTA would be the better choice. How many employers are actually helping PTs pay their student loans? Are there grants and scholarships, if so, where??? I'm just unsure it's worth the cost of school anymore to do PT (or OT) unless I can find $$$

[dejaroach]

I’m looking forward applying to DPT programs soon. I have a few more prerequisite that I’m taking in my last year of undergrad.

[prabjotkaur]

Still deciding which is best for me lol. I'm thinking more of PTA even though I'm doing the pre req and everything for the DPT program.

[brih]

Hello! I’m still on the fence of PT vs PTA. I’ve been getting my observational hours to help me with this decision and the professionals I’ve talked with have brought up the exact same things. Those things being decision making and documentation. But one thing I’m trying to figure out is this: as a PT, can I put being a mom and a wife first? So if so, are there strategies to get documentation done earlier or doing part time, etc. These are questions I have.

By the way, thank you for this video. I’m thankful I found you and thank you for sharing this information.