Hey Bonquiqui...you here?

[Deleted]

I too am a PTA! I don't see to many others out there! Where do you practice? What type of setting?

[bonquiqui]

Hi, I am here. ;D I am not a PTA, sad trombone. I do actually manage the business side of a clinic. I would love to be a PT, but being 32, I am not sure how worth it, it would actually be. I love the field, and have a lot of PT, OT, PTA, and COTA friends, and I have a real interest in it.

If I would have gotten my butt in gear after high school, I could have graduated, and become a PT with just my bachelor's. I do have friends that are PTA's, and wouldn't become PT's for anything. It is a good career. Really, just no evals, but that isn't a big deal.

How do you like it? What sort of setting do you work in? I would like to do Ortho, but I am currrently at at Peds clinic.

[Deleted]

Just butting in to say that I know you can do it Bon! My mom went back to school at 32. You are still young!

[bonquiqui]

Thanks ;D I am definitely going the PTA route first, but who knows what I will decide to do after that. I may go on to be a PT, or I may just go with the PTA.

I totally lack confidence in myself, and just need to do it. I have been in school for a million years, and I finally just need to pick something, and it makes sense, because it interests me a lot.

[Deleted]

You should totally do the PTA thing. It's a two year program, totally doable. I was about your age when I went back for my PTA degree and honestly, a lot of the program is older students who are doing it as a second career.

And you're right, no evals, no re-evals. Just treatments. I really like it. I work in a hospital based outpatient clinic. Lots of ortho. We're sandwiched directly between the spine center and the orthopedic clinic at the hospital so busy, busy!

You should think about it.

[bonquiqui]

I definitely want to it. I just have to believe that I CAN do it, and I know I should. Everyone is being so supportive, which helps. I just feel like it is the perfect career for me.

Did you work while going to school? Do you work with other PTA's or mostly PT's???

[Deleted]

I did work while going to school. I waitressed at night. It was tough. Especially during clinical affiliations because you work whatever hours your clinical instructor works, so not always conducive to other jobs.

Our staff is comprised of 12 PTs and two PTAs. I see about 15 patients a day. Since I am in an ambulatory clinic (and not a private practice) the hours are good. We're closed on the weekends and most holidays so it's really great.

You can totally do it. It's not like it's an easy courseload but it is definitely doable.

[bonquiqui]

Thank you! I definitely needed to hear that tonight. ;D It is good to know that someone else, understands. I will continue to work at the clinic, but thankfully I do have the freedom to vary my hours a bit. Plus I don't know if I have a choice of where I can do clinical s, but I work for a huge corporation, and there are plenty of opportunities.

I really appreciate you chatting with me about it. ;D