Somehow in your research to find out as much as possible about the healthcare industry in general, and the physical therapy field in specific, I’m sure you are growing tired of typing, and in your haste, simply typed pta salary as a shortcut for physical therapy assistant salary.
If this is so, welcome to the article that can provide you with a wealth of information about the financial rewards of becoming a physical therapist assistant, as well as useful information about the job prospects, schools, programs and states where you might want to consider plying your trade.
PTA Salary Potential
Since you arrived here in your search for riches, we’ll talk money first and opportunity after. What is important to understand is the fact that this profession may be one of the best financial investments you might make in your life.
While so many other professions that ultimately offer six figure salaries as an inducement to enter, require years of schooling and astronomical student debt load to complete, the field of physical therapy assisting, can be pursued in as little as two years, and completed with academic debt as little as less than $5,000 per year.
You might also want to enjoy the fact that this profession can allow you to work part time and still enjoy a significant physical therapy assistant salary. For anyone trying to balance career and family, this is definitely the right profession for you.
Average PTA Salary Range
According to the US bureau of labor statistics, as recently as 2008 (the most recent year for which records are currently available) the average annual wage for a physical therapy assistant was well over $46,000. As a matter of fact, just the middle 50% alone could earn over $54,000, and the top ten percent were earning approximately $64,000.
According to major Internet job sites, the salaries for this profession have increased significantly. As of June 2011 the national salary trend for this occupation has seen a steep increase and is currently approximately low six figures range. Not bad for an initial investment of far less than ten grand.
PTA Salary By State
One additional thing to consider, money wise, is the fact that the states with the highest average salaries for this job are all coastal states on the east and west coasts, Massachusetts, California, and New York all pay an average pta salary of well over $100,000. Did I mention the word “Average”?
Yes! You may have hit the jackpot, now how do you jump on this gravy train? Depending on the amount of research you may already have done, you may or may not know that your first step will be to decide if you want to study online or on campus.
Education And Training To Increase PTA Salary
There are many accredited online physical therapy assistant programs for you to choose from. If you need to work while attending school, this might be more beneficial financially. If you can attend a school full time, then it is simply a matter of choosing the right institution. Of course you must consider tuition, fees, and other costs as well as where and how you will live.
One of the great things about graduating from the many accredited pta programs is the fact that when you pass the licensing exam, you also acquire a great deal of flexibility. Many states have licensing rules that allow you to have your license honored in a different state, as long as the training requirements are equal or higher, and the licensing exam is comparable.
My recommendation is to find a program that encompasses everything the majority if not all states might require for graduation. Additionally, the exam should be comprehensive enough to pass muster with all states as well. Your future should be set because you will have the freedom to choose any state you wish to earn a pta salary.
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