Honestly, my plan is to stay home with my parents after I graduate PT school until I the debt is completely paid off by me, (if I end up with a lot) I’m grateful for my parents for this.
@@steve00alt70 I think its very hard to become "comfortable" living at home when your debt is paid off and you are making 80k+ and could totally live on your own if you wished to.
Awesome parents, got my DPT and paid it off in a year. Then spent 4 years at parents, put off the whole "live independent," invested into a bunch of tech, and bought a lot, built a house...saved a ton of money. It works just keep the ball running, 39 years old, don't need to move fast...move smart then fast. ;) hope this helps
you probably dont care but does someone know a trick to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me
@@rifraf1717 exactly my position. Got great debt relief already, got into extremely cheap school, gonna do travel as long as possible until switching to private practice and hoping to find the right people to work with. The problem with pt isn't necessarily ROI, its the simple fact that a lot of people in PT are horrible with their money. I.e insta buying a house with shitty rates, having kids way too early, no willing to do higher paying specialties because it "sucks", etc. Anyone reading this just open up an excel sheet and ball park all your costs WITH taxes/interest. I'm not saying its gonna make you a billionaire, but its not bad in comparison to getting a marketing degree or something.
The ONLY PROBLEM is that school are too expensive. Medical/dental school should be expensive because they require expensive materials, meds, teeth models etc. PT school is literally tables, reusable modalities, and an auditorium.
Umm no, PT’s schools require a lot more than that. Your first semester is working with cadavers for gross anatomy and requires a lot of equipment for just that.
Jessica Dolan what’s your point lol cadavers are normally DONATED. Also Med school also has cadavers and because of their class size they have more cadavers. What’s one semester anyway it still does not justify the debt income we make on average.
An aspiring DPT student here! Thank you for being to light the financial burden. I’m the first in my family to graduate college and seeking this path is scary due to the loans. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around it.
Thanks so much for putting this out. It's insane how much DPT programs are charging BECAUSE THEY CAN. The rule of thumb was to charge around what the expected yearly salary would be. Now the yearly salary is still the same, but debt is exponentially more. DPT schools with crazy high $$ can go to hell (respectfully). I hope the APTA continues to advocate for higher PT/PTA salaries- they're the strongest voice we have.
Love what you’re doing for the PT community! A video idea that I think some people would appreciate: A financial plan for opening up a clinic or other PT business! I would definitely love to learn about that
Thanks for your videos! I'm currently a graduating high school senior aspiring to become a physical therapist. I will definitely choose a public school to pursue my DPT!
Neha Jose usually the most correlated major to become a physical therapist is Kinesiology Exercise Science (there are different types of kinesiology for a major; this specific one applies to physical therapy) which is only offered at community colleges and cal states (I live in California) which saves more money because going to a UC would require a different major less correlated which in turn means more classes, money, and time needed.
Hi Marla! Congrats on your acceptance to a state school! According to their website, the annual tuition and fees for the DPT program is currently $22,721.72 for an in-state student and $31,961.72 for a student categorized as a non-Florida resident. So it IS possible to attend a state school and graduate with less than $75k in student loans, which should be manageable on a PTs salary. Even better if you can save 5-10k from now until school starts to help with living expenses so you don’t have to rely on student loans to live on. You’ll be glad you worked hard now and saved where you can because paying down $75,000 in grad student loans is still a challenging task on a PT salary. Again, congrats and stick around for more tips on how to avoid being one of those broke PTs ;)
Hey Marla! Congrats on your acceptance! I can totally relate and It's good you're seeing this content now. Plenty of time to make plans to cover the cost. If you're interested in preparing for your first year, swing by our channel. We just launched and we're working on teaching the hardest concepts we learned during PT school! David and Ken
Thank you for this video. I applied to PT school last summer at a private school and was accepted. I recently declined the slot because of the loans. I'm 38 and student loan free from 2 bachelors and a masters! When I looked at the PT salary, I realized I should stay in my current career as an analyst. I would be 200k in debt to make less money then I do now. It is a shame that schooling is so expensive as I'm sure it is a very rewarding career.. I just couldnt see the ROI going back to school. I'd have a career I enjoy more but would be miserable having all that debt on my shoulders and likely delay my retirement.
Hey Lori! Thanks for your comment - I think more students need to know that smart people like you are making the tough decision to decline the acceptance to expensive PT schools because the return on investment may not be worth it. But your analysis is spot on. Financially it would have been a bad call to accrue so much debt for less pay. Yes, PT is a career that can be fulfilling when you help people recover from pain/injuries. But with every pro there’s a con. I’ll be publishing a video on that soon. Lori, don’t sell yourself short on your ability to help others in your current career either. Whether you’re a financial analyst, an engineer, a banker, or a PT, you can help others with the work you do in a way that only you can :)
Now that im 20 years old pursuing in PT, reading this I can start to see and understanding this whole mess involving debt and living paycheck by paycheck. Thank you for sharing, I'm sure ill be making smart and wise decisions later in the future years ahead 🙏
Hello, 3rd year DPT student here! I think I chose a profession being "broke" for a little bit! :) I chose a relatively affordable school, and I'm focused on living below my means! I appreciate the transparency in your videos!
Whoa cool another PT school youtuber! I'm subbing to you! It's so hard to find people other than LiftForChange and Ruben Cabre. Good luck on your journey. I'm considering uploading videos when I get accepted into PT school so I can share my journey too
lifestyle being a big one. most dont want to work over 40 hours a week. They want the 200k salary of a MD, but forget the MD's are working 60 hours a week on average. A PT could easily earn 130k working 60 hours a week.
Great video but you missed the biggest reason why PT’s are broke. The APTA went to bed with the Universities. First by requiring a degree that doesn’t offer the PT graduate anything more than the Bachelor or MS degree provides in the job market . The DPT was once an option that if an individual desired they could pursue. Second the explosion of PT programs flooding the market with PT’s has kept the salaries down due to basic supply and demand. When I graduated with an MS and only because I perused PT after receiving a BS in another field PT’s where in high demand and you could negotiate higher salaries and a starting bonus. So like you mentioned Higher student loan debt with low starting salaries relative to the expense of the schooling , equals a broke PT. I have several friends whose children will be graduating with their DPT in the next couple of years and feel sorry for them. I’ve been a PT for over thirty years and love what I do but if I had to start over with today’s scenario I might be inclined to go another route.
Working as PTA $42/hr, PRN status but doing 32-40hrs/week... $64,500-$80,500 a yr. Then do HH $60/hr 1-2 days per week, seeing around 5-8 pts/wk for $14,400-$23,000. Total of $78,900-$103,500...
Hey Kevin! Glad you found the video to be helpful. If you have any other questions, ask away! I’d be happy to see if I can make a video answering your questions. -Tim
Good Question Kevin! The program at Baylor is one of the best options for this. With the rising cost of school, I think it’s a great thing to consider but shouldn’t be your sole reason for going military. You are making a commitment that affects so many people and aspects of your life beyond loan forgiveness. If you are not 100% sure about serving in the military, then I would not recommend it just for loan forgiveness. If your primary concern is the cost of school, find an affordable state program and finish your DPT with less than 75k in loans and you’ll do alright.
PTProgress thanks for replying to me. I have always wanted to serve in the military but once I got older I decided that becoming a Physical Therapist was perfect for me. I live in Utah, we only have one school with a pt program. It’s the University of Utah
Kevin Diaz I think it’s worth looking into. I have a colleague who went to Baylor and served in Iraq for a long time and said it was the best work she’s ever done as a PT. If you approach it with the right attitude and mentality of serving others, I think it’s something you should look into. There are ways to join the military after graduating from any program and even serving as a civilian PT. Either way, I think if you’re serious about going military, try for Baylor and if you don’t get into Baylor, try for a state school and go military after graduation.
It doesn't help when our association pushed the DPT programs knowing that student loan costs would be higher but salary remains stagnant vs. masters or bachelors level PT's.
In1984 at age 30 I interviewed at Emory U. Masters PT program with10k of undergraduate debt. The program was too expensive and I had been married for one year. I went into Insurance and Banking and made a good but rather dull living. My great customer relationships kept me going. I retired debt-free @ 62. If I had known how effective acupuncture can be(my personal exp.) I would have gone that route. The cost of health education has greatly contributed to the demise of our health care system as well many nieve young students.
Most Family Physicians guaranteed salaries are 200-220k per year when they first get out of residency. This was my initial salary 13 years ago when I finished residency. Now I make more than twice that number yearly. I quit PT and went back to medical school 20+ years ago. It was the best decision of my life. I feel sorry for anyone going into PT. PT, when compared to other professions, has one of the worst years spent in education and debt incurred compared to future salary ratios. In my opinion, the APTA has done very little for the profession and has become a self serving organization over the years.
I think it’s important to discuss the benefits of joining the military. I received my Exercise Science degree for absolutely zero dollars. Additionally, I have 3 years of paid school (depending on costs) for PT school. You may inquire some debt but nowhere close to what it would cost without the benefits of military.
Dang. As a flight attendant I can attest that this "lifestyle creep" is a real thing. I just never knew there was a name for it. When I first started I always wondered why the "senior mamas" making almost the same salary as a starting out PT, if not more, is always going on about needing to work more and pick up more trips. Then once they get to talking about their lives you get the hint that they def like to live "above their means" and pilots have this problem as well lol. But now as my salary is slowly going up I can def feel that Champaign taste creeping up on me haha.
Well...it’s not for everybody, but I enlisted in the military. Paid off my student loans while serving. Did my research and went a route I knew I would enjoy. Most rewarding experience of my life. I’m out now and taking pre requisites for PT school using scholarships for veterans. I’m working a government job I got because of my veteran status. When I get into PT school, I’ll have the GI Bill to pay for my education and get a monthly stipend. Took 6 years of being a “grunt” and now 2 years of being the civilian version of a “grunt,” but I’ll come out debt free. Better than debt free, really. Just throwing that out there.
Currently a traveling registered nurse saving my money for DPT school. Some nurses think I'm crazy for changing careers, but I knew I've always wanted to be a PT from the beginning.
PREACH! I love the knowledge base of our profession but the education and payment model is ridiculous. You are spot on man. I was just talking about this with my girlfriend. Student loans, then buy a house, and a car, then have kids...broke for years. It sucks.
I'm a graduate of Emory's DPT program. Thanks for your willingness to speak about this and hopefully prevent, or at least deter, future PT students from making the mistakes that I made. Take it from me, as much as you love a job, if you're burdened by huge debt that isn't feasible relative to your earning potential, it makes life challenging to say the least. Hoping to join the military or do travel PT to help ease the burden.
As a student going into their second year at Emory's program, I totally agree with this. Student loan burden makes PT school less enjoyable as well. Loans and debt are always a thought in the back of your mind, even as a student.
Dont they forgive federal loans after paying 20 yrs ? Why not just be on home income payoff option ,which is the minimum payment . And after 20 yrs it will be forgiven . *but do have to pay taxes off the entire amount you are being forgiven !
Preach Brotherman. Not sure how long you've been out of school, but the interest rates make it crazy hard to keep up. I give most students considering PT the same talk... Money Makeover is a good one.
Graduated in 2016 from PT school. Interest rates are stupid high and have been for a while despite the low interest rate environment. It's crazy to me why student loan interest rates (federal rates) aren't tied to the Fed Funds rate...but that would mean less revenue so..
It absolutely can make anyone feeling or actually broke! It’s advice anyone can use but since there are a lot of PTs and students following this channel, I try to make it relevant to the PT career when I can. :)
Getting my bachelors while I’m using my tuition assistance in the military. & then going to grad school using my GI bill. If anyone else is in the military I would recommend going this route.
I started in business with an emphasis in management and I’m in the process of starting a PT program after failing once already. It’s like you’re speaking my language. I love it! Please keep posting videos!!
I struggled to maintain working 3 jobs while doing my undergrad, so I don’t think I have the precise answer you’re looking for, but if you fail a course, in general, you’ll have to pay to take it again and there’s a limit to how many opportunities you have to pass the course which is dependent on the institution you are attending. So, I believe the answer to your question is yes, however, as someone who is not in a grad program yet, I’m not the best person to ask about that particular level. I hope that helps.
Thank you!!! Im so glad people are talking about the truth of EVALUATING the cost of college BEFORE going..... It’s a free market! The reason college is so expensive is BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE BLINDLY PAY IT ON CREDIT!!! Don’t believe me? Imagine student loans were limited to 5k per semester... no exceptions.... what would happen to the price of tuitions? The answer is too obvious. I’m a 42 year old, Deputy, Army Medic, volunteer humanitarian. I am going to train as an Army PTA and am highly considering finishing a civilian school to become a PT because 1. I love helping in the third world where they do not have access to health care anywhere close to what we have. 2. More opportunities to work for about 9-12 months and then take a year off (I pay my own expenses as a volunteer). The reason I can spend a month in third world countries and pay buy medical supplies, food, etc, for others every year is not because I’m rich, most American households make more than me... I budget... I consider the costs beforehand... Any American can do what I do.... contrary to popular belief many third world countries have a HIGHER cost of living than small towns in the USA... and yet many third worlders live on $1-9 per day to feed their families.... We Americans can all live on WAY less than we think...
Thanks for sharing Jeremiah. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts here and also want to say thank you for your service to our country and to those in need, both in and out of our country.
Thank you for putting this out there, I really needed it going forward. I’m considering PT, I don’t expect to be surrounded by money, but enough to live a modest life until I pay off any student debt. I’ve gotten over halfway through with my bachelor degree and realized a didn’t like a couple majors I was originally interested in. I started off with psychology, but fell out of love with it once I realized I wanted something more tangible and “hands on”. I moved to biology, understanding that I enjoy the human body and the physiology of it. I really had a passion for each anatomy and physiology course I was in during high school and college. I’ve known I wanted to do a job where I can “heal” people from a young age, but became worried about money as I got older. Hopefully this will be the future career that sticks and works out with my expectations. I don’t need much, but I would like to feel secure, not worrying about how I’ll pay next month’s rent.
@@marionboyani Hi! Cool! I’ve actually stuck with biology and am currently still focusing on a biology degree. I landed a position at a great company called Alcon. They really tie into what my passions are and my family has worked with them for decades. My scope definitely changed towards a more lab/microbiology direction. However if things hadn’t happened the way they did this would still be my next career choice. :)
We are told "if it matters enough to you, don't worry about the money." WRONG! If it matters enough to you, SACRIFICE for it. I did 4 years in the Air Force in order to get the GI bill. I got my associate's from CCAF by taking CLEPS. Utilize the AU-ABC program to find a university that accepts CCAF and you only need 60 credits to get your bachelor's. I'm out now and finishing up some pre-requisites to apply to a PT program. My time in the military was awful, but not as bad as when I worked food service in high school. 4 years of my life and I don't have to pay a penny for PT school. I'll have veteran's preference when applying for a job at the VA hospital. Never give up on your dreams, just look into another path to achieve them that won't leave you at the poverty level for over a decade.
Yessss- I'm not a PT but hubby is and 10 years after school and we've still only managed to keep up with interest. Part of it is that we are in a state with ridiculously high tax rate relative to salary. I have a 4 year in communications and was making more in my job than he was as a PT. Now we have 3 kids and they need therapy themselves, unfortunately it is speech therapy. 😅(Hubby's original plan was to be a PT in the military but didn't qualify bc of past shoulder surgeries, which are ironically the reason he became a PT). Now I tell all the college age kids I know not to be one-- including the 3 of my siblings who wanted to be one. One is making more money as a fitness influencer (not that I'd recommend that either) and another a nurse. Other point is the salary is kind of stagnant bc clinics can't afford to pay out more than they are being reimbursed by insurances. Insurances like Medicaid end up costing the clinics more than they make so they have to load you up on other patients to make up for it and you get burnt out bc your patients become just numbers instead of a human being you can take the time to talk with and work through all their concerns.
Another thing to consider is that ppl are having to work later in life bc they can't afford to retire, but that doesn't work well when you need a decent amount of strength as a PT.
Great video. I graduated a year ago from PT school with 113k in student loan debt. I’ve worked very hard and have brought my loans down to 44k (I document my journey on my channel!) I agree that new grad salary is not good. Many people I know started at 63-65k. I started at 70k but with covid my hours got cut significantly, so realistically I probably earned closer to 55k in 2020. Had to supplement my income with side hustling.
@@R3B8RN I paid off my loans this year! I am 28. If its really what you want to do, do it the cheapest you can. Having 100k+ of student loan debt and salary that doesn't match is definitely a set back.
i believe studies on any field, in general, are expensive when there isn't public education. i come from Greece and i haven't given anything for my bachelor degree. As a medical profession, constant education is essential, if someone wants to be a good professional. there are Pts that make money, especially the freelancers.
Great content 👍🏼 I finished my Bachelor’s degree in the Philippines and at that time, our university’s curriculum was in line with the CWT (course work tool) and all credentials were accepted by FSBPT. All I had to accomplish was to pass the PT boards & was able to find a staffing agency in NY to sponsor my work visa. Although pay was low during the time I was working for staffing agency, I was very fortunate to start my PT career with zero student debt! So tough now with the competitive yet very expensive DPT program
Gladys Bunquin-Non Hi ma’am! I came across your comment and I’m Filipino BSPT graduate who just recently passed Philippine Licensure examinations. I’m still contemplating what to do next but my goal is to work in US and pursue a tDPT degree. I’m planning to apply for credentialing this year while gaining experience in the PH setting and take the NPTE if my credentials get accepted by FBSPT. I just want to ask for any advice or suggestions?
I just binged your channel. You’re awesome. I’m finishing my associates and transferring to a state school for kinesiology. I’ve been a yoga teacher for 8 years and really love the puzzle of helping people find more ease in their bodies. I’m nervous about the school debt but I’m going to approach it in a smarter way thanks to these videos I stumbled upon. Thanks so much!
Good stuff, thanks! I've recently been heavily researching (and training for) the Navy Reserves as an additional source for income and retirement. Honestly, it's something I've wanted my entire life, and just so happens finally be a fantastic option for me and my family now, but I really appreciate the resources you provided. *subscribed*
Jasia, if you haven't already, check out Physical Therapy Technician as an HM. I tried it, but I wasn't sure if it would transfer to civilian employment, Instead, I'm using the GI bill now for PTA school, and it's incredible.
Looking into the Radiation Therapists. They go to school for two years and education is drastically lower than that of PT school. Their salary is similar as well. Why does PT school cost so much when compared to RT school? I'm looking into the Radiation Therapist program at Hillsborough Community College. It looks like the program would cost 11,000.
Going to college is like going to Las Vegas and spinning the roulette wheel, it could lead to a world of riches or leave you in a world of debt. Was a COTA for 30 years until I wised up and moved on to may current career where I make twice the money and have free healthcare.
Dave Ramsey gave me hope as a PT tackling my six figure student loan debt. I’ll be debt free this time next year. Three years of indentured servitude in total... almost there.
Hey man, I graduate from PT school next year and will be in the same situation as you. Would you mind giving me a quick overview of your strategy to get out of debt? I’m way impressed that you’ve been able to pay your debt down so quickly. Obviously you don’t need to share anything personal, but I’d appreciate a basic outline and any recommendations.
@@kevincritchfield2003 Hey, the very first thing I did was become financially literate. I realized how much risk I'd be taking if I kept this student loan debt around. As a PT, you realize that any harm to your body can put your whole livelihood at risk, and I couldn't live with that thought in my mind knowing I had a $1,400 student loan payment every month. That realization was the catalyst that sparked this whole journey for me. So I worked and worked and worked. I've been working 6 days a week for almost 3 years now. There were a couple of times over the years where I worked 2 weeks straight just to get that extra bit of cash to throw at my student loans. Honestly, it would have taken me closer to 4-5 years to pay off my debt if it wasn't for the Student Loan Moratorium going on right now. So luck also played a factor into the speed that I was able to pay off my loans. If I were to start this journey over again, I'd honestly live with my parents longer to save on living expenses and throw even more money at it. I lived with them for the first year and a half out of school but I could've easily stayed another year. I'd be happy to talk more about this with you if you have more questions. This was definitely a long, lonely, and arduous journey. There were times where I questioned if what I was doing was right. I've even received backlash from people who were opting to do the income driven repayment plans and banking on the government to pay off their loans. But now that I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm glad I made the sacrifices to pay these loans off.
I'm hoping to study my Masters in PT once I'm done with my undergrad. I live in Australia and it'll cost my approx. 85,000 and entry level pay is min. 60K. Currently thinking about the amount of debt I'm going to be owing to the government ughhh. I'm glad my parents don't want me to move out. It's actually quite common in Australia that people don't move out for uni/college. Most of us just go to the closest uni or drive, unless it's for med school or an interstate uni.
As a veteran, I have benefits that will pay for the entire DPT program. Do you think it is worth it? Seems like it would put me in a better position upon graduation than normal.
If you can get it paid for 100% and you’re willing to put in 3 years of hard work studying to become a PT, I think it could be worth it. You definitely want to shadow a PT for at least 100 hours to make sure it’s a career you want to dedicate 2,000 hours a year to!
Good advice good plan thank you. I respect your honesty you don't sugarcoat it and you help a lot of students to make the right choice. I appreciate advice and the tools that you give to help the students so they could make it the right choices but rest in the student hands. Bless you in all your endeavours.💜👍
A message from a retired PT: Go into the service (I was in the Air Force). Then after 4 years you will get the GI educational benefits. My benefits + my scholarship paid for 100% of my 4 years at NYU... I had 0 debt as I began my P.T. career.
Good stuff, Tim. I graduated from PT schools 4 years ago and am that guy that took out $200k+ in loans... thankfully I started a business and it's going well, but yea... if I could go back, definitely would change the school that I went to in order to reduce the debt load.
I'm a Remedial Massage therapist and I'm always broke.I have 2 part time Remedial Massage jobs. One is at a day spa and the other is a physiotherapy clinic. I have clients who are very happy with my treatments at the day spa but they concider my services as a luxury. Plus at the day spa I get paid per client and get paid fortnightly.
It is an outrage what is happening to our higher education system. Tuition across the board has skyrocketed over the past 10 years while the amount of money being funneled into athletics as well as being generated from athletics has also skyrocketed. The average salary of a university college football coach is now 9 million dollars! Our higher education system is no longer about academics! I feel sorry for kids graduating today with basically debt equivalent to a home mortgage.
Couldn't agree with this more. I went to a top 5 school, paid way too much and absolutely no one cares. Now I have to look at loan forgiveness as my only way to make a decent living with this career. So frustrating, and something that needs to be fixed in our profession. If the doctorate is required, our salaries need to be raised.
@boolianbeledio i think there’s really great advice in this video. The goal is to keep your student loans to a minimum in order to actually make money on the other side. It is a great career other than the tremendous debt most of us have 😂
@@nataliedaddieco I’m a 30 year old who just got accepted into Wash U PT program and I’m on the fence. Would you recommend just waiting a year and reapplying to state schools?
@@BigWolsky i think everyone’s circumstance is different, if that is the only place you have the option of going then go. I just regret the amount of debt i put myself into going to private school when i was accepted to public programs
If you can get into PT school, Med school, Dental school, etc. You're likely intelligent enough to succeed in any field. All medical professions are not worth it financially.
In Florida PTA have more responsibility because the PT just keep throwing paper work our way and we can not say a word or get fire. PTA are not suppose to do progress report but they the company state to fill out some data and the PT cosign it.
The irony is I’m in the same boat, I’m an RVT tho. And because I am paycheck to paycheck welp, guess what I am about to cancel? My PT consultation and scheduled sessions. I desperately need it.
The only advice I can give is if you are thinking about going into PT DON’T, even for public school, even if you have a full ride scholarship. Don’t waste your time, you will be broke and burned out from this profession. If you are already in the profession but you are under 35 then leave ASAP before it’s too late to start something new. Keep the license up to date just in case though
Hey wasuppp man I wanted to ask you I’m at a local community college I’m going into the PTA program it’s gonna cost about 11k for it could you make some more vids discussing PTA and salary and different working environments and just a breakdown from PT to PTA . Thanks man I love these vids appreciate you 👏🏽👏🏽
Hi Feli, I'm sorry the salary in your area is squeezing you out of the field. Maybe you can continue with part time or per diem work at a higher rate if you're still interested in PT and pursue a different career path with higher earning potential if that's a goal. Might check out this video on non-clinical careers to consider if you're looking to get out of PT: th-cam.com/video/yn6_1UnpYEQ/w-d-xo.html
a lot of PTs and OTs and even Speech therapists are not educated on money when it comes down to making money as a therapist. one Major way to make good money as a therapist is to look into opening corporation under their own name and working side hustle or even full time under corp and saving 10k's in taxes that will help them stay above water, make enough for a living and even take a vacay if you like
I have a question. Most jobs in my Area only require a bachelors degree. Would it be possible if I go to a community college, Knock out my pre requisites and then go to pt school for 2 years?
Hey, I’m looking to be a physical therapist and I was wondering if you knew any colleges you could recommend in California. Thanks I love your videos btw!
i'm in IT making 130k. I want to change careers because i'm tired of sitting home alone staring at a computer but it's hard to justify 3 years in school to cut my salary in half and saddle myself with 120k of debt
Do you think it is worth it to attend a private school (only 15 minute distance from where I live), the cost being around 105k for all 3 years - if I still live with my parents?
As a PT who went through the Bachelors decades ago. I tell students not to enter the program. First, it isn't a legitimate doctorate. Sorry it's not. It isn't an advanced degree it is entry level. That debunks it right there. You don't teach lower level classes like a graduate student. You do NOT write a doctorate level thesis. It will take up to six months to even get a topic after a paper based on long literature review approved and then months to establish a committee before you even start gathering your data. Ask someone who has been through both and they'll tell you. You don't do orals--not really. You don't defend like a legitimate doctorate. If you did many wouldn't graduate on time--period. There is not one thing a PT doctorate does that a graduate in even sociology does. Those are the facts. DPTs resist these mental facts because they don't want to admit they have been had by the collegiate money making system. As far as what he is saying--he is right--the debt. Most of you are women in PT school, right? Do you want kids? So what are you going to do, bring in 150-200K in debt then decide you can't work full time and raise a kid? Or you can do both and you'll be mentally wiped out and soon. It isn't worth it ladies. Trust me there are better fields. No one unless they have a trust fund should enter PT school.
Lawyers are in a similar situation. Many took out huge loans for law school like $100-$200k than get jobs paying low salaries - worse then the PT Sanrio’s you describe. The life style creep compounds these debts. Basically the law profession is overcrowded - too many layers and not enough high paying jobs. Maybe the supply and demand problem also exists for PT ‘s as well? Too many therapists reduces demand and lowers salaries and good jobs. But over spending and assuming too much debt for school then afterwards is a major problem for many in these professions. It’s
Hey Tim, I know this is an old video. But I was wondering if you knew any people who went the PTA route and then DPT? I am currently in PTA school. I have a BA in a different subject. My long term goal is to eventually do the DPT but my current life circumstances prevent from taking an expensive risk like that. My plan is to finish PTA because it will get me in the field the quickest and get me a decent job in a field im very passionate about and while I work as a PTA taking my DPT pre reqs. I know it is not a traditional route just wanted to know your thoughts.
No reason to become a DPT financially if your going to become a PTA. Not a big difference in pay if your flexible or want to do administration. And it hurts less if you want to pivot later in your career!
Why there is a huge difference among PTs and physician salary? As PT school requirements are almost same as medical school. Does APTA is concerned about this issue?
Hi Ripon - thanks for your comment! Because the work of a PT and a physician are very different. I don't think the jobs should demand the same salary. But I also don't think the tuition for PT school needs to be so high. Until students stop paying the tuition, the schools will keep charging the high rates. The APTA isn't going to do anything about it - they have no control of this stuff.
Hey I have my MS in athletic training with around $140K in debt from undergrad and grad school. I’m guessing based off your video that going to school for DPT wouldn’t be a smart financial investment?
Hey Justin! No I don’t think it would be a good financial move. I’m sure you’ll find people who could figure out a way to try to justify adding another 75-100k in debt (not to mention the loss of income you COULD earn during those 3 years). But the problem is that your PT salary of 70-80k is not enough to justify 200k+ in debt. You have a significant amount of debt right now that’s probably close to 3x the avg ATC salary. Idk your full financial situation but financially, you’d be wise to knock that $140k out and then continue to build your wealth without adding more debt (like 100k of grad school loans).
What about programs that are not as much? Im looking at a Hybrid program thats 10,000, Arcadia University in Pennsalvania. Mostly online with inperson lab. Fully accredited...
My insurance company is charged twice as much money for each PT visit I make vs. me visiting a specialist. I doubt the PT is getting the same percentage as the specialist, sounds like from the video that they get far less. Doesn't seem right.
PTProgress student loan debt is exactly why I made the decision to go PTA instead of DPT. Due to the massive gap between salary and average income the PTA could expect to be well ahead of a dpt 10 years after school
Hey, I’m very interested in becoming a Physical Therapist and I was curious about what you feel are good colleges to go to in Georgia or around Georgia?
Hi Madison! I’d seriously consider one of the Georgia state universities (like Georgia State) and keep the total cost of your PT education under 100,000...ideally under $75,000! Good luck with your search :)
Are there scholarships and financial aid for Doctorate in PT programs like there is for undergraduate? I am currently in undergrad working towards PT school and I am actually making money by going to the school that I chose (my scholarships and aid outweighed the tuition and I live at home so I have no cost for room and board). I want to do PT but am trying to avoid loans at all costs.
Honestly, my plan is to stay home with my parents after I graduate PT school until I the debt is completely paid off by me, (if I end up with a lot)
I’m grateful for my parents for this.
but dont become too comfortable living at home many people fall into that trap
@@steve00alt70 I think its very hard to become "comfortable" living at home when your debt is paid off and you are making 80k+ and could totally live on your own if you wished to.
Awesome parents, got my DPT and paid it off in a year. Then spent 4 years at parents, put off the whole "live independent," invested into a bunch of tech, and bought a lot, built a house...saved a ton of money. It works just keep the ball running, 39 years old, don't need to move fast...move smart then fast. ;) hope this helps
you probably dont care but does someone know a trick to get back into an Instagram account??
I stupidly forgot the login password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me
@@rifraf1717 exactly my position. Got great debt relief already, got into extremely cheap school, gonna do travel as long as possible until switching to private practice and hoping to find the right people to work with. The problem with pt isn't necessarily ROI, its the simple fact that a lot of people in PT are horrible with their money. I.e insta buying a house with shitty rates, having kids way too early, no willing to do higher paying specialties because it "sucks", etc. Anyone reading this just open up an excel sheet and ball park all your costs WITH taxes/interest. I'm not saying its gonna make you a billionaire, but its not bad in comparison to getting a marketing degree or something.
The ONLY PROBLEM is that school are too expensive. Medical/dental school should be expensive because they require expensive materials, meds, teeth models etc. PT school is literally tables, reusable modalities, and an auditorium.
Still to broke
I agree..im a Registered Therapist and i unequivocally agree!!!!
Such a complicated economic education system
Umm no, PT’s schools require a lot more than that. Your first semester is working with cadavers for gross anatomy and requires a lot of equipment for just that.
Jessica Dolan what’s your point lol cadavers are normally DONATED. Also Med school also has cadavers and because of their class size they have more cadavers. What’s one semester anyway it still does not justify the debt income we make on average.
1. 1:40 - huge debt to income ratio
2. 3:30 - low starting salary + little room for growth
3. 4:55 - lifestyle creep
An aspiring DPT student here! Thank you for being to light the financial burden. I’m the first in my family to graduate college and seeking this path is scary due to the loans. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around it.
Did you do it?
Thanks so much for putting this out. It's insane how much DPT programs are charging BECAUSE THEY CAN. The rule of thumb was to charge around what the expected yearly salary would be. Now the yearly salary is still the same, but debt is exponentially more. DPT schools with crazy high $$ can go to hell (respectfully). I hope the APTA continues to advocate for higher PT/PTA salaries- they're the strongest voice we have.
Love what you’re doing for the PT community! A video idea that I think some people would appreciate: A financial plan for opening up a clinic or other PT business! I would definitely love to learn about that
Thanks for your videos! I'm currently a graduating high school senior aspiring to become a physical therapist. I will definitely choose a public school to pursue my DPT!
Hey same here!
I am a senior as well. What are you planning to have as your major?
Neha Jose usually the most correlated major to become a physical therapist is Kinesiology Exercise Science (there are different types of kinesiology for a major; this specific one applies to physical therapy) which is only offered at community colleges and cal states (I live in California) which saves more money because going to a UC would require a different major less correlated which in turn means more classes, money, and time needed.
Smart guy. Everyone going into any medical profession should watch this video.
I just got accepted in to the University of Florida and this video just frightened me hahaha
Hi Marla! Congrats on your acceptance to a state school! According to their website, the annual tuition and fees for the DPT program is currently $22,721.72 for an in-state student and $31,961.72 for a student categorized as a non-Florida resident. So it IS possible to attend a state school and graduate with less than $75k in student loans, which should be manageable on a PTs salary. Even better if you can save 5-10k from now until school starts to help with living expenses so you don’t have to rely on student loans to live on. You’ll be glad you worked hard now and saved where you can because paying down $75,000 in grad student loans is still a challenging task on a PT salary. Again, congrats and stick around for more tips on how to avoid being one of those broke PTs ;)
Hey Marla! Congrats on your acceptance!
I can totally relate and It's good you're seeing this content now. Plenty of time to make plans to cover the cost.
If you're interested in preparing for your first year, swing by our channel. We just launched and we're working on teaching the hardest concepts we learned during PT school!
David and Ken
Congrats!!! I’m a UF undergrad, you’ll love it here :) Go gators!
UF is a solid school congrats!!!
Future UF applicant here (applying next sunmer) congrats on the acceptance! Any tips for applying to it?
Thank you for this video. I applied to PT school last summer at a private school and was accepted. I recently declined the slot because of the loans. I'm 38 and student loan free from 2 bachelors and a masters! When I looked at the PT salary, I realized I should stay in my current career as an analyst. I would be 200k in debt to make less money then I do now. It is a shame that schooling is so expensive as I'm sure it is a very rewarding career.. I just couldnt see the ROI going back to school. I'd have a career I enjoy more but would be miserable having all that debt on my shoulders and likely delay my retirement.
Hey Lori! Thanks for your comment - I think more students need to know that smart people like you are making the tough decision to decline the acceptance to expensive PT schools because the return on investment may not be worth it. But your analysis is spot on. Financially it would have been a bad call to accrue so much debt for less pay. Yes, PT is a career that can be fulfilling when you help people recover from pain/injuries. But with every pro there’s a con. I’ll be publishing a video on that soon. Lori, don’t sell yourself short on your ability to help others in your current career either. Whether you’re a financial analyst, an engineer, a banker, or a PT, you can help others with the work you do in a way that only you can :)
Now that im 20 years old pursuing in PT, reading this I can start to see and understanding this whole mess involving debt and living paycheck by paycheck. Thank you for sharing, I'm sure ill be making smart and wise decisions later in the future years ahead 🙏
Kevin Maniebo I’m a senior in high school, are you still going to become a PT?
@@PTProgress really enjoyed that answer!
Hello, 3rd year DPT student here! I think I chose a profession being "broke" for a little bit! :) I chose a relatively affordable school, and I'm focused on living below my means! I appreciate the transparency in your videos!
Whoa cool another PT school youtuber! I'm subbing to you! It's so hard to find people other than LiftForChange and Ruben Cabre. Good luck on your journey. I'm considering uploading videos when I get accepted into PT school so I can share my journey too
lol
Great, how's your program going there?
Whats an "affordable" school tuiton?
Why are Physical Therapist broke?
Student loans & lifestyle
lifestyle being a big one. most dont want to work over 40 hours a week. They want the 200k salary of a MD, but forget the MD's are working 60 hours a week on average. A PT could easily earn 130k working 60 hours a week.
@@shaunbiezel not to mention that MDs are in school for MUCH longer
Great video but you missed the biggest reason why PT’s are broke. The APTA went to bed with the Universities. First by requiring a degree that doesn’t offer the PT graduate anything more than the Bachelor or MS degree provides in the job market . The DPT was once an option that if an individual desired they could pursue. Second the explosion of PT programs flooding the market with PT’s has kept the salaries down due to basic supply and demand. When I graduated with an MS and only because I perused PT after receiving a BS in another field PT’s where in high demand and you could negotiate higher salaries and a starting bonus. So like you mentioned Higher student loan debt with low starting salaries relative to the expense of the schooling , equals a broke PT. I have several friends whose children will be graduating with their DPT in the next couple of years and feel sorry for them. I’ve been a PT for over thirty years and love what I do but if I had to start over with today’s scenario I might be inclined to go another route.
I have a few questions about Physical therapy career. What prerequisites can I take to get a head start in highschool
What is DPT??
@@SnowStop Doctorate of physical therapy
i didn’t know that about APTA. thanks for letting me
know. i thought they just fail to lobby for Us
I became a PTA less than $50,000 in student loans, less stress, less paper work...I work Fulltime and PRN grossing $81,000 per year before taxes 😉
Who school did you go to?
Wats PRN
U are lying
Working as PTA $42/hr, PRN status but doing 32-40hrs/week... $64,500-$80,500 a yr. Then do HH $60/hr 1-2 days per week, seeing around 5-8 pts/wk for $14,400-$23,000. Total of $78,900-$103,500...
@@DiscordserverssNop, its totally possible deoending on setting... UCSD is paying $45-50hr for PTA, and SNF around $42-44hr, OP $36-42...
I’ve been watching your videos for almost a year. I want to be a pt. You have answered a question I have had for a while. Thank you so much
Hey Kevin! Glad you found the video to be helpful. If you have any other questions, ask away! I’d be happy to see if I can make a video answering your questions. -Tim
PTProgress have you ever consider joining a military branch so they pay for pt school? Do you know any information about that? Is it worth it?
Good Question Kevin! The program at Baylor is one of the best options for this. With the rising cost of school, I think it’s a great thing to consider but shouldn’t be your sole reason for going military. You are making a commitment that affects so many people and aspects of your life beyond loan forgiveness. If you are not 100% sure about serving in the military, then I would not recommend it just for loan forgiveness. If your primary concern is the cost of school, find an affordable state program and finish your DPT with less than 75k in loans and you’ll do alright.
PTProgress thanks for replying to me. I have always wanted to serve in the military but once I got older I decided that becoming a Physical Therapist was perfect for me.
I live in Utah, we only have one school with a pt program. It’s the University of Utah
Kevin Diaz I think it’s worth looking into. I have a colleague who went to Baylor and served in Iraq for a long time and said it was the best work she’s ever done as a PT. If you approach it with the right attitude and mentality of serving others, I think it’s something you should look into. There are ways to join the military after graduating from any program and even serving as a civilian PT. Either way, I think if you’re serious about going military, try for Baylor and if you don’t get into Baylor, try for a state school and go military after graduation.
It doesn't help when our association pushed the DPT programs knowing that student loan costs would be higher but salary remains stagnant vs. masters or bachelors level PT's.
Yep
In1984 at age 30 I interviewed at Emory U. Masters PT program with10k of undergraduate debt. The program was too expensive and I had been married for one year. I went into Insurance and Banking and made a good but rather dull living. My great customer relationships kept me going. I retired debt-free @ 62. If I had known how effective acupuncture can be(my personal exp.) I would have gone that route. The cost of health education has greatly contributed to the demise of our health care system as well many nieve young students.
Most Family Physicians guaranteed salaries are 200-220k per year when they first get out of residency. This was my initial salary 13 years ago when I finished residency. Now I make more than twice that number yearly. I quit PT and went back to medical school 20+ years ago. It was the best decision of my life. I feel sorry for anyone going into PT. PT, when compared to other professions, has one of the worst years spent in education and debt incurred compared to future salary ratios. In my opinion, the APTA has done very little for the profession and has become a self serving organization over the years.
I think it’s important to discuss the benefits of joining the military. I received my Exercise Science degree for absolutely zero dollars. Additionally, I have 3 years of paid school (depending on costs) for PT school. You may inquire some debt but nowhere close to what it would cost without the benefits of military.
Plus you get great experience and a different clinic every 3 years-ish.
Dang. As a flight attendant I can attest that this "lifestyle creep" is a real thing. I just never knew there was a name for it. When I first started I always wondered why the "senior mamas" making almost the same salary as a starting out PT, if not more, is always going on about needing to work more and pick up more trips. Then once they get to talking about their lives you get the hint that they def like to live "above their means" and pilots have this problem as well lol. But now as my salary is slowly going up I can def feel that Champaign taste creeping up on me haha.
There was a time when being a healer cost nothing bu patience and time and the ability to be empathetic
Well...it’s not for everybody, but I enlisted in the military. Paid off my student loans while serving. Did my research and went a route I knew I would enjoy. Most rewarding experience of my life. I’m out now and taking pre requisites for PT school using scholarships for veterans. I’m working a government job I got because of my veteran status. When I get into PT school, I’ll have the GI Bill to pay for my education and get a monthly stipend. Took 6 years of being a “grunt” and now 2 years of being the civilian version of a “grunt,” but I’ll come out debt free. Better than debt free, really. Just throwing that out there.
Currently a traveling registered nurse saving my money for DPT school. Some nurses think I'm crazy for changing careers, but I knew I've always wanted to be a PT from the beginning.
The heart wants what the heart wants. It’s also the only way you’ll feel fulfilled doing your job! Follow your heart!!!
PREACH! I love the knowledge base of our profession but the education and payment model is ridiculous. You are spot on man. I was just talking about this with my girlfriend. Student loans, then buy a house, and a car, then have kids...broke for years. It sucks.
A dog kids a house car. That sounds like a cog in the machine type of thing everybody is doing that. I for one wont be doing any of tht
I'm a graduate of Emory's DPT program. Thanks for your willingness to speak about this and hopefully prevent, or at least deter, future PT students from making the mistakes that I made. Take it from me, as much as you love a job, if you're burdened by huge debt that isn't feasible relative to your earning potential, it makes life challenging to say the least. Hoping to join the military or do travel PT to help ease the burden.
As a student going into their second year at Emory's program, I totally agree with this. Student loan burden makes PT school less enjoyable as well. Loans and debt are always a thought in the back of your mind, even as a student.
How much is your debt
Dont they forgive federal loans after paying 20 yrs ? Why not just be on home income payoff option ,which is the minimum payment . And after 20 yrs it will be forgiven . *but do have to pay taxes off the entire amount you are being forgiven !
Damnn I go there now and was looking to do the DPT program. Would like to know what drew you to that point.
I've been in the military over 17 years and they have a great debt pay off whole serving. And you'll be a vet once you finish your service. Not bad😀
Preach Brotherman. Not sure how long you've been out of school, but the interest rates make it crazy hard to keep up. I give most students considering PT the same talk... Money Makeover is a good one.
Graduated in 2016 from PT school. Interest rates are stupid high and have been for a while despite the low interest rate environment. It's crazy to me why student loan interest rates (federal rates) aren't tied to the Fed Funds rate...but that would mean less revenue so..
So, "bottom line" (so to speak) is living beyond your means (high cost school, life style creep etc) leaves ANYONE feeling (being) broke.
It absolutely can make anyone feeling or actually broke! It’s advice anyone can use but since there are a lot of PTs and students following this channel, I try to make it relevant to the PT career when I can. :)
Getting my bachelors while I’m using my tuition assistance in the military. & then going to grad school using my GI bill. If anyone else is in the military I would recommend going this route.
I started in business with an emphasis in management and I’m in the process of starting a PT program after failing once already. It’s like you’re speaking my language. I love it! Please keep posting videos!!
Hi @shadi reisinger after failing do you have to pay again to re do the pt program once again??
I struggled to maintain working 3 jobs while doing my undergrad, so I don’t think I have the precise answer you’re looking for, but if you fail a course, in general, you’ll have to pay to take it again and there’s a limit to how many opportunities you have to pass the course which is dependent on the institution you are attending. So, I believe the answer to your question is yes, however, as someone who is not in a grad program yet, I’m not the best person to ask about that particular level. I hope that helps.
Thank you!!! Im so glad people are talking about the truth of EVALUATING the cost of college BEFORE going..... It’s a free market! The reason college is so expensive is BECAUSE TOO MANY PEOPLE BLINDLY PAY IT ON CREDIT!!! Don’t believe me? Imagine student loans were limited to 5k per semester... no exceptions.... what would happen to the price of tuitions? The answer is too obvious.
I’m a 42 year old, Deputy, Army Medic, volunteer humanitarian. I am going to train as an Army PTA and am highly considering finishing a civilian school to become a PT because 1. I love helping in the third world where they do not have access to health care anywhere close to what we have. 2. More opportunities to work for about 9-12 months and then take a year off (I pay my own expenses as a volunteer). The reason I can spend a month in third world countries and pay buy medical supplies, food, etc, for others every year is not because I’m rich, most American households make more than me... I budget... I consider the costs beforehand... Any American can do what I do.... contrary to popular belief many third world countries have a HIGHER cost of living than small towns in the USA... and yet many third worlders live on $1-9 per day to feed their families.... We Americans can all live on WAY less than we think...
Thanks for sharing Jeremiah. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts here and also want to say thank you for your service to our country and to those in need, both in and out of our country.
Thank you for putting this out there, I really needed it going forward. I’m considering PT, I don’t expect to be surrounded by money, but enough to live a modest life until I pay off any student debt. I’ve gotten over halfway through with my bachelor degree and realized a didn’t like a couple majors I was originally interested in. I started off with psychology, but fell out of love with it once I realized I wanted something more tangible and “hands on”. I moved to biology, understanding that I enjoy the human body and the physiology of it. I really had a passion for each anatomy and physiology course I was in during high school and college. I’ve known I wanted to do a job where I can “heal” people from a young age, but became worried about money as I got older. Hopefully this will be the future career that sticks and works out with my expectations. I don’t need much, but I would like to feel secure, not worrying about how I’ll pay next month’s rent.
Hi
Hey! I’m also halfway through my BS in psychology. I came in as pre-med but started considering PT. Have your thoughts changed since you wrote this,
@@marionboyani Hi! Cool! I’ve actually stuck with biology and am currently still focusing on a biology degree. I landed a position at a great company called Alcon. They really tie into what my passions are and my family has worked with them for decades. My scope definitely changed towards a more lab/microbiology direction. However if things hadn’t happened the way they did this would still be my next career choice. :)
We are told "if it matters enough to you, don't worry about the money." WRONG! If it matters enough to you, SACRIFICE for it. I did 4 years in the Air Force in order to get the GI bill. I got my associate's from CCAF by taking CLEPS. Utilize the AU-ABC program to find a university that accepts CCAF and you only need 60 credits to get your bachelor's. I'm out now and finishing up some pre-requisites to apply to a PT program. My time in the military was awful, but not as bad as when I worked food service in high school. 4 years of my life and I don't have to pay a penny for PT school. I'll have veteran's preference when applying for a job at the VA hospital. Never give up on your dreams, just look into another path to achieve them that won't leave you at the poverty level for over a decade.
Yessss- I'm not a PT but hubby is and 10 years after school and we've still only managed to keep up with interest. Part of it is that we are in a state with ridiculously high tax rate relative to salary. I have a 4 year in communications and was making more in my job than he was as a PT. Now we have 3 kids and they need therapy themselves, unfortunately it is speech therapy. 😅(Hubby's original plan was to be a PT in the military but didn't qualify bc of past shoulder surgeries, which are ironically the reason he became a PT).
Now I tell all the college age kids I know not to be one-- including the 3 of my siblings who wanted to be one. One is making more money as a fitness influencer (not that I'd recommend that either) and another a nurse.
Other point is the salary is kind of stagnant bc clinics can't afford to pay out more than they are being reimbursed by insurances. Insurances like Medicaid end up costing the clinics more than they make so they have to load you up on other patients to make up for it and you get burnt out bc your patients become just numbers instead of a human being you can take the time to talk with and work through all their concerns.
Another thing to consider is that ppl are having to work later in life bc they can't afford to retire, but that doesn't work well when you need a decent amount of strength as a PT.
Great video. I graduated a year ago from PT school with 113k in student loan debt. I’ve worked very hard and have brought my loans down to 44k (I document my journey on my channel!)
I agree that new grad salary is not good. Many people I know started at 63-65k. I started at 70k but with covid my hours got cut significantly, so realistically I probably earned closer to 55k in 2020. Had to supplement my income with side hustling.
Great job! You’re doing awesome and should have the rest paid off in a year or so! Nice work :)
Have u payed off all your loans and how old are you if you dont mind me asking. Im a freshman in college and wanna take a career in physical therapy.
@@R3B8RN I paid off my loans this year! I am 28. If its really what you want to do, do it the cheapest you can. Having 100k+ of student loan debt and salary that doesn't match is definitely a set back.
@@StefanieAnna thank you for the response! I really appreciate it
You got it right young man ( PT of 20 years)
i believe studies on any field, in general, are expensive when there isn't public education. i come from Greece and i haven't given anything for my bachelor degree. As a medical profession, constant education is essential, if someone wants to be a good professional. there are Pts that make money, especially the freelancers.
Great content 👍🏼 I finished my Bachelor’s degree in the Philippines and at that time, our university’s curriculum was in line with the CWT (course work tool) and all credentials were accepted by FSBPT. All I had to accomplish was to pass the PT boards & was able to find a staffing agency in NY to sponsor my work visa. Although pay was low during the time I was working for staffing agency, I was very fortunate to start my PT career with zero student debt! So tough now with the competitive yet very expensive DPT program
Gladys Bunquin-Non Hi ma’am! I came across your comment and I’m Filipino BSPT graduate who just recently passed Philippine Licensure examinations. I’m still contemplating what to do next but my goal is to work in US and pursue a tDPT degree. I’m planning to apply for credentialing this year while gaining experience in the PH setting and take the NPTE if my credentials get accepted by FBSPT. I just want to ask for any advice or suggestions?
I just binged your channel. You’re awesome. I’m finishing my associates and transferring to a state school for kinesiology. I’ve been a yoga teacher for 8 years and really love the puzzle of helping people find more ease in their bodies. I’m nervous about the school debt but I’m going to approach it in a smarter way thanks to these videos I stumbled upon. Thanks so much!
Good stuff, thanks! I've recently been heavily researching (and training for) the Navy Reserves as an additional source for income and retirement. Honestly, it's something I've wanted my entire life, and just so happens finally be a fantastic option for me and my family now, but I really appreciate the resources you provided. *subscribed*
Jasia, if you haven't already, check out Physical Therapy Technician as an HM. I tried it, but I wasn't sure if it would transfer to civilian employment, Instead, I'm using the GI bill now for PTA school, and it's incredible.
I’m a DPT, and I encourage y’all new students to CHOOSE WISELY, IF You NEED MONEY, PT AINT FOR You, PTs ARE UNDERPAID AF
Fantastic video! This is what I was looking for.
student debt is after tax money, salary is before tax money.. most people can't see that....
I appreciate this video sooo much ! Thanks for this !!!
You’re welcome :) thanks for watching
Looking into the Radiation Therapists. They go to school for two years and education is drastically lower than that of PT school. Their salary is similar as well. Why does PT school cost so much when compared to RT school? I'm looking into the Radiation Therapist program at Hillsborough Community College. It looks like the program would cost 11,000.
I’m actually thinking about this as a career, and this is helpful. Already been looking at options, to keep tuition costs manageable
Going to college is like going to Las Vegas and spinning the roulette wheel, it could lead to a world of riches or leave you in a world of debt. Was a COTA for 30 years until I wised up and moved on to may current career where I make twice the money and have free healthcare.
Thank-you so much for your honesty.
thank you for a great video of PT ! I love my Job as always , Glory to PT !! :))
Dave Ramsey gave me hope as a PT tackling my six figure student loan debt. I’ll be debt free this time next year. Three years of indentured servitude in total... almost there.
Hey man, I graduate from PT school next year and will be in the same situation as you. Would you mind giving me a quick overview of your strategy to get out of debt? I’m way impressed that you’ve been able to pay your debt down so quickly. Obviously you don’t need to share anything personal, but I’d appreciate a basic outline and any recommendations.
@@kevincritchfield2003 Hey, the very first thing I did was become financially literate. I realized how much risk I'd be taking if I kept this student loan debt around. As a PT, you realize that any harm to your body can put your whole livelihood at risk, and I couldn't live with that thought in my mind knowing I had a $1,400 student loan payment every month. That realization was the catalyst that sparked this whole journey for me. So I worked and worked and worked. I've been working 6 days a week for almost 3 years now. There were a couple of times over the years where I worked 2 weeks straight just to get that extra bit of cash to throw at my student loans. Honestly, it would have taken me closer to 4-5 years to pay off my debt if it wasn't for the Student Loan Moratorium going on right now. So luck also played a factor into the speed that I was able to pay off my loans. If I were to start this journey over again, I'd honestly live with my parents longer to save on living expenses and throw even more money at it. I lived with them for the first year and a half out of school but I could've easily stayed another year. I'd be happy to talk more about this with you if you have more questions. This was definitely a long, lonely, and arduous journey. There were times where I questioned if what I was doing was right. I've even received backlash from people who were opting to do the income driven repayment plans and banking on the government to pay off their loans. But now that I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I'm glad I made the sacrifices to pay these loans off.
I'm hoping to study my Masters in PT once I'm done with my undergrad. I live in Australia and it'll cost my approx. 85,000 and entry level pay is min. 60K. Currently thinking about the amount of debt I'm going to be owing to the government ughhh. I'm glad my parents don't want me to move out. It's actually quite common in Australia that people don't move out for uni/college. Most of us just go to the closest uni or drive, unless it's for med school or an interstate uni.
As a veteran, I have benefits that will pay for the entire DPT program. Do you think it is worth it? Seems like it would put me in a better position upon graduation than normal.
If you can get it paid for 100% and you’re willing to put in 3 years of hard work studying to become a PT, I think it could be worth it. You definitely want to shadow a PT for at least 100 hours to make sure it’s a career you want to dedicate 2,000 hours a year to!
Planning on using my GI BILL 🤙🏽
Thank you for this Video!
Man I am really grateful for this video...
Thank you so much for this video! It helped me a lot!
This was inspiring. Thanks for this ❤️
Inspired you to do what? lol
Good advice good plan thank you.
I respect your honesty you don't sugarcoat it and you help a lot of students to make the right choice.
I appreciate advice and the tools that you give to help the students so they could make it the right choices but rest in the student hands.
Bless you in all your endeavours.💜👍
what a joke, here in canada the entire 2 year program cost $22k and we also earn between $70-100k.
A message from a retired PT: Go into the service (I was in the Air Force). Then after 4 years you will get the GI educational benefits. My benefits + my scholarship paid for 100% of my 4 years at NYU... I had 0 debt as I began my P.T. career.
Good stuff, Tim. I graduated from PT schools 4 years ago and am that guy that took out $200k+ in loans... thankfully I started a business and it's going well, but yea... if I could go back, definitely would change the school that I went to in order to reduce the debt load.
May i ask what buisness you started as im really interesting in being a pt?
@@StrawBerryMix I started a wellness/performance/physical therapy business
The best specialty for most physical therapists is cash pay. Great combination of clinical satisfaction and high earning potential💯
I'm a Remedial Massage therapist and I'm always broke.I have 2 part time Remedial Massage jobs. One is at a day spa and the other is a physiotherapy clinic. I have clients who are very happy with my treatments at the day spa but they concider my services as a luxury. Plus at the day spa I get paid per client and get paid fortnightly.
It is an outrage what is happening to our higher education system. Tuition across the board has skyrocketed over the past 10 years while the amount of money being funneled into athletics as well as being generated from athletics has also skyrocketed. The average salary of a university college football coach is now 9 million dollars! Our higher education system is no longer about academics! I feel sorry for kids graduating today with basically debt equivalent to a home mortgage.
Its nice to have video that is actually helpful
Couldn't agree with this more. I went to a top 5 school, paid way too much and absolutely no one cares. Now I have to look at loan forgiveness as my only way to make a decent living with this career. So frustrating, and something that needs to be fixed in our profession. If the doctorate is required, our salaries need to be raised.
@boolianbeledio i think there’s really great advice in this video. The goal is to keep your student loans to a minimum in order to actually make money on the other side. It is a great career other than the tremendous debt most of us have 😂
@@nataliedaddieco I’m a 30 year old who just got accepted into Wash U PT program and I’m on the fence. Would you recommend just waiting a year and reapplying to state schools?
@@BigWolsky i think everyone’s circumstance is different, if that is the only place you have the option of going then go. I just regret the amount of debt i put myself into going to private school when i was accepted to public programs
@@nataliedaddieco was public forgiveness loan not possible with you? Did a lot of your classmates do that?
Misread your first part. What is the downside of the loan forgiveness, does it cost more in the end?
Candid description
Great video,thank you.
If you can get into PT school, Med school, Dental school, etc. You're likely intelligent enough to succeed in any field. All medical professions are not worth it financially.
In Florida PTA have more responsibility because the PT just keep throwing paper work our way and we can not say a word or get fire. PTA are not suppose to do progress report but they the company state to fill out some data and the PT cosign it.
DONT LET THIS DETER YOU. THERES PEOPLE IN EVERY OCCUPATION THAT ARE BROKE.
#2 HAVE MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME. REGARDLESS
Not trying to deter anyone from becoming a PT. Just laying out the reasons why PTs can end up broke.
The irony is I’m in the same boat, I’m an RVT tho. And because I am paycheck to paycheck welp, guess what I am about to cancel? My PT consultation and scheduled sessions. I desperately need it.
I'm already broke, not really anything to lose.
Danni Jones has successfully practiced for 40 years in the clinic she opened. Try out for grants if they are available.
The only advice I can give is if you are thinking about going into PT DON’T, even for public school, even if you have a full ride scholarship. Don’t waste your time, you will be broke and burned out from this profession. If you are already in the profession but you are under 35 then leave ASAP before it’s too late to start something new. Keep the license up to date just in case though
Very informative, great video .
Thanks!
Hey wasuppp man I wanted to ask you I’m at a local community college I’m going into the PTA program it’s gonna cost about 11k for it could you make some more vids discussing PTA and salary and different working environments and just a breakdown from PT to PTA . Thanks man I love these vids appreciate you 👏🏽👏🏽
How is the program going?
I'm a PT and now I'm thinking on studying a new career because of the bad salary.
Hi Feli, I'm sorry the salary in your area is squeezing you out of the field. Maybe you can continue with part time or per diem work at a higher rate if you're still interested in PT and pursue a different career path with higher earning potential if that's a goal. Might check out this video on non-clinical careers to consider if you're looking to get out of PT: th-cam.com/video/yn6_1UnpYEQ/w-d-xo.html
@@PTProgress thank you so much ❤
a lot of PTs and OTs and even Speech therapists are not educated on money when it comes down to making money as a therapist. one Major way to make good money as a therapist is to look into opening corporation under their own name and working side hustle or even full time under corp and saving 10k's in taxes that will help them stay above water, make enough for a living and even take a vacay if you like
I have a question. Most jobs in my Area only require a bachelors degree. Would it be possible if I go to a community college, Knock out my pre requisites and then go to pt school for 2 years?
Yes. I did that and im a PT now. But, some schools might scoff at your pre reqs being from a community college
Is there no scholarships for pt schools?
Hey, I’m looking to be a physical therapist and I was wondering if you knew any colleges you could recommend in California. Thanks I love your videos btw!
i'm in IT making 130k. I want to change careers because i'm tired of sitting home alone staring at a computer but it's hard to justify 3 years in school to cut my salary in half and saddle myself with 120k of debt
I would not do that
Do you think it is worth it to attend a private school (only 15 minute distance from where I live), the cost being around 105k for all 3 years - if I still live with my parents?
As a PT who went through the Bachelors decades ago. I tell students not to enter the program. First, it isn't a legitimate doctorate. Sorry it's not. It isn't an advanced degree it is entry level. That debunks it right there. You don't teach lower level classes like a graduate student. You do NOT write a doctorate level thesis. It will take up to six months to even get a topic after a paper based on long literature review approved and then months to establish a committee before you even start gathering your data. Ask someone who has been through both and they'll tell you. You don't do orals--not really. You don't defend like a legitimate doctorate. If you did many wouldn't graduate on time--period. There is not one thing a PT doctorate does that a graduate in even sociology does. Those are the facts. DPTs resist these mental facts because they don't want to admit they have been had by the collegiate money making system. As far as what he is saying--he is right--the debt. Most of you are women in PT school, right? Do you want kids? So what are you going to do, bring in 150-200K in debt then decide you can't work full time and raise a kid? Or you can do both and you'll be mentally wiped out and soon. It isn't worth it ladies. Trust me there are better fields. No one unless they have a trust fund should enter PT school.
This is fantastic advice.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment Ashley!
It used to be a bachelors degree, was more worth it back then
Lawyers are in a similar situation. Many took out huge loans for law school like $100-$200k than get jobs paying low salaries - worse then the PT Sanrio’s you describe. The life style creep compounds these debts. Basically the law profession is overcrowded - too many layers and not enough high paying jobs. Maybe the supply and demand problem also exists for PT ‘s as well? Too many therapists reduces demand and lowers salaries and good jobs. But over spending and assuming too much debt for school then afterwards is a major problem for many in these professions. It’s
Excuse my typos!
Would attending physical therapy school be so challenging as international students?
Well said and spot on advice. DPT since 2010 and capped out on income at 88k
I’m having a tough time deciding between pt and chiro
Chiro school is insanely expensive. Many chiros make less than PTs unless they own a clinic. Personally, I'd go PT again 100% of the time vs. chiro.
Hey Tim, I know this is an old video. But I was wondering if you knew any people who went the PTA route and then DPT? I am currently in PTA school. I have a BA in a different subject. My long term goal is to eventually do the DPT but my current life circumstances prevent from taking an expensive risk like that. My plan is to finish PTA because it will get me in the field the quickest and get me a decent job in a field im very passionate about and while I work as a PTA taking my DPT pre reqs. I know it is not a traditional route just wanted to know your thoughts.
No reason to become a DPT financially if your going to become a PTA. Not a big difference in pay if your flexible or want to do administration. And it hurts less if you want to pivot later in your career!
Why the auto generating captions are Korean ?
Why there is a huge difference among PTs and physician salary? As PT school requirements are almost same as medical school. Does APTA is concerned about this issue?
Hi Ripon - thanks for your comment! Because the work of a PT and a physician are very different. I don't think the jobs should demand the same salary. But I also don't think the tuition for PT school needs to be so high. Until students stop paying the tuition, the schools will keep charging the high rates. The APTA isn't going to do anything about it - they have no control of this stuff.
Hey I have my MS in athletic training with around $140K in debt from undergrad and grad school. I’m guessing based off your video that going to school for DPT wouldn’t be a smart financial investment?
Hey Justin! No I don’t think it would be a good financial move. I’m sure you’ll find people who could figure out a way to try to justify adding another 75-100k in debt (not to mention the loss of income you COULD earn during those 3 years). But the problem is that your PT salary of 70-80k is not enough to justify 200k+ in debt. You have a significant amount of debt right now that’s probably close to 3x the avg ATC salary. Idk your full financial situation but financially, you’d be wise to knock that $140k out and then continue to build your wealth without adding more debt (like 100k of grad school loans).
What about programs that are not as much? Im looking at a Hybrid program thats 10,000, Arcadia University in Pennsalvania. Mostly online with inperson lab. Fully accredited...
Hi, I've tried physio therapy many times over the years, but it always makes it worse. Is there anything else you would recommend? Thanks
My insurance company is charged twice as much money for each PT visit I make vs. me visiting a specialist. I doubt the PT is getting the same percentage as the specialist, sounds like from the video that they get far less. Doesn't seem right.
Quality content 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
CarsWithFrank thanks!!
PTProgress student loan debt is exactly why I made the decision to go PTA instead of DPT. Due to the massive gap between salary and average income the PTA could expect to be well ahead of a dpt 10 years after school
Hey, I’m very interested in becoming a Physical Therapist and I was curious about what you feel are good colleges to go to in Georgia or around Georgia?
Hi Madison! I’d seriously consider one of the Georgia state universities (like Georgia State) and keep the total cost of your PT education under 100,000...ideally under $75,000! Good luck with your search :)
Are there scholarships and financial aid for Doctorate in PT programs like there is for undergraduate? I am currently in undergrad working towards PT school and I am actually making money by going to the school that I chose (my scholarships and aid outweighed the tuition and I live at home so I have no cost for room and board). I want to do PT but am trying to avoid loans at all costs.
Yes there are, but it depends on the school.