Choosing between PA and PT School
Choosing a career in healthcare is often a difficult decision given the abundant options. Often there is a deliberation over qualities such as pay, duration of schooling, lifestyle, job security and type of work that must be considered. Lets analyze two career paths that may seem on the ends of the spectrum but that one may choose between: Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant.
Physician Assistant
Overview
Becoming a physician assistant (PA) is often one made by those that want to practice medicine. Like a physician, a PA diagnoses and treats illnesses, advocates for preventative care, performs minor procedures, assists in surgery, and prescribes medication (to list a few attributes). Often times a student preparing to enter PA school will choose a pre-medical or pre-health major, but can be any major if all required pre-requisits are fulfilled prior to matriculation. The nature of being a PA is one that you are part of a larger team and you work in collaboration with your supervising physician. Although a PA can make decisions on their own, they are not considered independent providers as an attending physician is required to oversee and be available for the care of the patient.
Schooling
PA school consists of a rigorous 24-27 months of graduate level classes. Following the completion of a bachelors degree, you will complete a masters degree from an accredited PA program, for a total of 6-7 years of education. You will take classes such as ethics, anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, medical literature and you will cover every medical discipline (ie, cardiology, neurology, and gastroenterology). The pace of PA school is not for the faint of heart. Typically there are minimal breaks and your first year will consist of about 40 hours a week of class time. Your second year will be your clinical year where you attend your “clerkships”. You will be placed in a variety of settings such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. Its been said that the information in PA school is so voluminous that it is like “trying to take a sip from a fire hose”. Don’t let that sway you away though, if you have the drive, you can complete PA school and your faculty and classmates will help you along the way.
Pay
The pay for PAs is generous for a masters degree with an median salary of $121,530 according to the 2021 US bureau statistics. This pay will vary based on what part of the country you live in influenced by cost of living, years of experience and what specialty you work in. The highest paid PAs are those in surgical subspecialties, with some reported salaries of $200,000 per year.
Lifestyle
The lifestyle of a PA will depend on the practice setting. Most PAs in the hospital setting work 3 12-hour shifts (7am-7pm) or 4 10-hour (7am-5pm) shifts per week. Some jobs may require on-call shifts while others may require some night shifts. Conversely a job in an office or a clinic may be more traditional hours such as 8am to 5pm 4 to 5 days a week. Most PA jobs will provide generous paid time off and will pay time and a half for working weekends and holidays if required.
Bottom line
Becoming a Physician Assistant is a great career option for someone that wants to practice medicine but knows they do not want to have the time commitment of becoming a physician. With high job satisfaction, consistent top-5 rankings amongst healthcare professions, and great pay, PAs are a great career option to consider. However, given the collaborative nature of PAs, If you desire to have complete autonomy you may want to consider medical school as an alternative.
-Collin Sprenker, PA-C
Physical Therapy
Overview:
Physical Therapists (PTs) are often described as "MOVEMENT EXPERTS. PTs evaluate and create treatment plans to restore function from injury, reduce pain, and prevent future injuries. Interventions PTs often prescribe include strengthening, flexibility, and conditioning exercises, as well as patient education. There are many settings to choose from when finding careers as a physical therapist, including: acute care, inpatient rehab facilities, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, home health care, sports, and outpatient clinics.
Schooling:
The typical length of school to get your Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree is 3 years after completion of a bachelors degree. While all programs will differ slightly, common themes of classes include: gross anatomy, physiology / kinesiology/biomechanics, neuroanatomy, pharmacology, cardio/pulmonology, musculoskeletal, evidence based practice, and clinical decision making. Another important portion of your schooling will include clinicals in various settings. The CAPTE data stated that "The average cost of the DPT program in 2019-2020 per year was 18,989 for a public school and 37,338 for a private school per year."
Pay:
Per the US news and world report the median salary for a physical therapist is 95,620.00 in 2021 and states that the "BLS projects the PT field will grow between 17% between 2021 and 2031."
Lifestyle:
Per the US news and world report, PTs are ranked #3 overall in best health care jobs and #6 overall for 100 best jobs in general. However, your lifestyle will vary greatly based on the setting you work in. For instance, acute care jobs often require weekends as well as holiday work requirements, while outpatient does not. On the other hand, outpatient life often has limited hours of ATO granted while acute care (hospital) is more generous and more flexible with time requested off.
In addition to patient care, physical therapists must keep up with continuing education to stay up-to-date on the latest research and techniques. This means attending workshops, conferences, and completing courses to maintain state licensure. Although the job can be demanding, being a physical therapist also has its rewards. Seeing your patients progress and regain their mobility and independence is incredibly fulfilling.
Bottom line:
Physical therapy is a great profession if you are interested in helping people in multiple aspects of movement and function. The doctorate level training prepares you well for being a competent and vital part of the healthcare team. The high job satisfaction makes this career choice a top healthcare career option, however the high cost of tuition compared to average salary is not something to take lightly. This is often overlooked and everyone should assess the return on investment prior to pursuing a degree in physical therapy.
-Jaclyn Johnson, DPT