Physical Therapy Schools In Utah

Advanced Degrees Rooted In Clinical Practice & Scientific Research

Physical Therapy Dept. at UT Health San Antonio

The Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training provides opportunities for collaboration in education, research, and clinical practice across the disciplines of physical therapy, athletic training, and sports medicine.

We offer advanced degrees in Athletic Training, Physical Therapy , and Rehabilitation Science that are nationally certified and the next step on your way to a career in Physical Therapy and Athletic Training.

Physical Therapy/therapist Rankings By Degree Level

Since picking the right college can be one of the most important decisions of your life, we’ve developed the Best Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools in Utah ranking, along with many other major-related rankings, to help you make that decision.More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.

To further help you make the college decision, we’ve developed a unique tool called College Combat that allows you to compare schools based on the factors that matter the most to you.Go ahead and give it a try, or bookmark the link so you can check it out later.

The Physical Therapist Assistant Program

Physical therapist assistant programs are offered by community colleges and vocational schools. In most cases, these programs take approximately two years for a full-time student to complete, after which they are awarded an associates degree.

Many programs also offer part-time and distance learning options for those students who cannot attend on a full-time schedule, allowing working students to complete the program at their own pace.

It is vital that the student ensure that his or her program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education .

This organization sets professional standards for all physical therapy assistant programs in the nation, and ensures that they provide the education the students will need to effectively fulfill their duties as a physical therapy assistant.

Utah will not accept non-accredited programs, so the student should check with his collage and the CAPTE to ensure that the program is currently in good standing before enrolling.

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How To Get Your Course Verified By Apta Utah

APTA Utah is recognized by the Department of Occupations & Licensing as an official accrediting body. If your organization is sponsoring a continuing education course, APTA Utah can approve your course for Continuing Education Units that any attending PT’s and PTA’s can receive to apply towards their licensing requirements. Also, if you have taken a course and want to make sure it is approved for CEUs, we can help with that.

What Are Dpt Programs In Utah

Physical therapy graduate programs award students who successfully complete DPT programs, a doctor of physical therapy degree, which is now the minimum level of education for licensed physical therapists in the United States. This requirement helps create a standard level of education for all physical therapists and allows them to be viewed as health care professionals.

To earn a DPT, you must have a bachelors in physical therapy from a CAPTE-accredited institution or a . Typically DPT programs take full-time students three years to complete, though some programs offer a six or seven year option where students may receive a bachelors in physical therapy as well as a DPT degree. Program lengths vary by school. This includes all of the coursework, lab study, and 30 weeks of clinical work necessary to earn your degree. Due to the nature of the physical therapy profession and extensive hands on learning required, most DPT programs are only offered on-campus.

While there are a number of different regional accreditations for DPT programs, the only nationally recognized accreditation is the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education . Graduating with a DPT from a CAPTE-accredited school is one of the requirements to sit for the national physical therapy licensing exam. When researching where to earn your doctor of physical therapy degree, it may be important to make sure that the DPT program has the CAPTE accreditation.

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Best Physical Therapy/therapist Schools In Utah

College Factual reviewed 3 schools in Utah to determine which ones were the best for degree seekers in the field of physical therapy/therapist. When you put them all together, these colleges and universities awarded 150 degrees in physical therapy/therapist during the 2020-2021 academic year.

Best Overall Physical Therapy/Therapist Schools List

Apta Utah 47th Annual Fall Conference

12 CEU Hours + 1 Ethics

Ethics Presentation:Nikki Pappas, “Setting Boundaries with Friends and Foes”

Dates: October 28-29, 2022Times: Friday 8:00 am-5:00 pm & Saturday 8:00 am-3:00 pm

Pediatric Track is Saturday Only

Ethics Presentation will be Saturday 7:00 – 8:00 AM.

Location: Sheraton SLC

*Registration prices for in person and virtual are the same*

*All tracks will be live streamed*

*NO CANCELLATIONS AFTER 10/15*

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Pass The National Physical Therapy Exam For Ptas

Once you have received approval to take the NPTE-PTA, you must schedule your exam through the FSBPT. The NPTE-PTA can be taken at Prometric testing centers across Utah in the following cities:

Equipment and Devices
Therapeutic Modalities

You may prepare for the exam by using the online practice exam & assessment tool on the FSBPT website. You may also study directly from the NPTE Candidate Handbook.

To pass the exam, you must score the scaled equivalent of a 600 .

The FSBPT charges a $400 testing fee. You will have to pay an additional $70 fee to Prometric.

Online Dpt Programs Vs On Campus Programs In Utah

Physical Therapy at UTC

Consult your schedule as you begin your search for the right DPT programs. If there are certain times where attending class would be easier than others, see if there are programs that better fit those needs. If there is no campus close to your home, look at online DPT programs for options that wont require you to move. If your schedule fluctuates each week and you are short on time, you may even want to consider options that allow you to attend class on your own time.

Sponsored Program

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Positive Career Outlook For Physical Therapist Assistants

With an employment increase of 55.2 percent predicted by the year 2026, Utahs physical therapist assistant opportunities are growing at an astounding rate. There is an average of 140 job openings per year in the state, and Utah PTAs median income was reported at $23.84 per hour in 2017. This income is slightly higher than the national median income for physical therapist assistants that same year, $22.56, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics .

How Long Do Utah Dpt Programs Take To Complete

Two and a half to three years is the typical length of time needed to complete a DPT program, though timing could be shorter or longer and you should verify with the programs you are interested in what the specific lengths and structures are.

You can see the specific program lengths for all Utah on campus and online DPT programs in the tables below.

Where To Work As A Pta In Utah

It looks like no matter where you live in Utah, there is a promising career outlook for physical therapist assistants. The highest number of these professionals worked in Salt Lake City in the year 2017, according to the BLS. Other cities with high employment levels included Ogden and Provo. The highest rates of employment per 1,000 jobs for PTAs were reported in Logan and St. George that same year. Finally, the highest median income rate was reported in St. George in 2017, at $31.69 per hour.

If youre looking for a rewarding career in healthcare, remember that patients generally enjoy the hands-on, personal nature of physical therapy care. In your career as a physical therapist assistant, you will gain the skills to improve the lives of patients.

The Benefits Of Becoming A Physical Therapy Assistant In Utah

The employment of physical therapy assistants in Utah is currently enjoying a period of sustained growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the national employment levels for physical therapist assistants will grow by 46 percent by 2020.

When coupled with the retirement of currently practicing assistants, this will lead to excellent employment opportunities for new physical therapist assistants. In addition, the median annual salary for physical therapy assistants in Utah is over $41,000, which favorably compares with other professional occupations that require the same level of education and licensure.

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Department Of Physical Therapy

Our faculty is dedicated to helping our students build careers in preventing, examining and providing interventions for clients with movement dysfunction due to injury or disease.

Our graduates earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy and they progress through a challenging curriculum with topics in critical thinking, systems review, diagnostic procedures and care throughout the lifetime.

The students graduate with an overall pass rate of 99 percent on the licensing exam and have provided exceptional service to people in need across Texas and the United States since 1980. Our physical therapists are experts at preventing, examining, and treating patients with movement disorders due to neurologic, musculoskeletal or cardiopulmonary dysfunction.

Faculty directory

We make lives better ®

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, also called UT Health San Antonio, is a leading academic health center with a mission to make lives better through excellence in advanced academics, life-saving research and comprehensive clinical care including health, dental and cancer services.

Moving Forward Using Evidence To Elevate Your Practicepatient Outcomes And The Profession

Ryan Knight, PT, DPT, graduated from Creighton in 2008, is currently a clinician therapist at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Omaha NE. Ryan also serves as the Stroke Program Leader at the Madonna Omaha campus. Professional responsibilities include clinical practice, program development, quality control and improvement, mentorship/teaching, maintaining CARF accreditation standards, implementing evidence-based practices as recommended by national professional organizations. Ryan has worked in nearly all settings of care, though over the last 6 years has found a passion for the inpatient neuro-rehab setting. Ryan has been working both formally and informally with research groups to implement relevant knowledge and tools within his organization to improve the value of service being provided and improve the patient experience and outcomes as a result. Ryan is co-chair of the ANPTs Moving Forward Knowledge Translation Task Force. This group is also in charge of the ANPTs national campaign known as Evidence Elevates. Ryan has presented several internal CEU courses at Madonna Rehab Hospital and recently on a national stage at CSM in 2022 Rethinking the Tools in the Toolbox? Evidence-Based Strategies to Move Forward in Neurological Rehabilitation.

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Welcoming Our First Class In 2022

The St. George Residential option of The University of Utah Physical Therapy Program is made possible through collaboration between the University of Utah and Utah Tech University. The St. George classrooms are located at the Human Performance Center . The HPC is centrally located on the Utah Tech University campus.

Accreditation

CAPTE, the Commission for Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, granted approval for the St. George Residential option in May 2022. Candidates interested in St. George may identify campus preference when applying through PTCAS – University of Utah – Residential Option. There is no separate admissions process for the St. George campus. Students attending the St. George campus attend classes during the didactic phase of their education in St. George. Clinical rotation sites for St. George students may be assigned throughout Utah and/or out of state due to the rural and remote nature of the region. Emphasis at this campus will include a focus on populations serviced and who live within the geography of central and southern Utah.

Application Information

Application requirements are the same as those for the Salt Lake City Residential and Hybrid Option. Click here for details on how to apply.

Student Resources

St. George students enjoy full access to University of Utah resources, including physical and mental health resources, in addition to select resources through Utah Tech University including:

Speeding Research To Slow Down Parkinsons Disease

Dan Fisher, Physical Therapist | Intermountain Taylorsville Clinic

Dr. Lee Dibble is studying different exercise approaches to slowing the progression of Parkinsons disease. His research team was recently awarded a $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of exercise using indoor cycling bikes from fitness technology company Peloton.

The CYCLE multisite research collaboration between the University of Utah and the Cleveland Clinic aims to determine if long-term, high-intensity aerobic exercise can slow the progression of this progressive neurological disorder. Dibble and his team are pushing the bounds of exercise to enhance quality of life.

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What Is A Physical Therapist Average Salary

The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the employment of physical therapists to grow 21% during the years 2020 to 2030 with a median salary of $91,010. As the baby boomer generation hopes to remain active as they age, and as the number of outpatient surgeries continue to rise, now may be a perfect time to pursue a physical therapy graduate degree.

Submit An Application For Examination And Licensure In Utah

The Utah Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing requires graduates of CAPTE-accredited physical therapist assistant programs to begin the license application process within three months of graduation. To begin, you must apply to take the National Physical Therapy Exam for PTAs, offered by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy . The application form can be found on the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing website.

In addition to your application, you must submit the following to the Board:

A $60 fee in the form of check or money order made payable to DOPL
Your official college transcripts with your schools seal/stamp on the envelope flap

You may deliver your materials to the Division through one of the following methods:

In person or via express delivery to the following address:

Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing Heber M Wells Building, 1st Floor Lobby 160 E 300 S Salt Lake City, UT 84111

Through US Postal Service to the following address:

Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing PO BOX 146741 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741

As the Division determines your approval to take the exam, youmust also register with the FSBPT.

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Start Your Career As A Physical Therapist Assistant In Utah

Once you have passed the NPTE-PTA, you will receive your license to practice as a physical therapist assistant. You may then begin applying to work for a physical therapy clinic in Utah.

One of the top employers of physical therapist assistants in Utah is Mountain Land Physical Therapy. The company has 24 locations throughout the state, including three locations in St. George and two locations in both Salt Lake City and Tooele. Other top employers of physical therapist assistants in the state include:

Bear River Valley Hospital in Tremonton
Davis Hospital & Medical Center in Layton
Logan Regional Hospital in Logan
McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden
Mission at Hillside Rehabilitation Center in Salt Lake City
Redwood Health Center University of Utah Health Care in Salt Lake City
Registered Physical Therapists, Inc. in locations throughout Utah
Salt Lake Regional Medical Center in Salt Lake City
South Jordan Health Center University of Utah Health Care in South Jordan
Thatcher Brook Rehabilitation and Care Center in Clearfield
The Orthopedic Speciality Hospital in Murray
University Orthopaedic Center in Salt Lake City
Utah Physical Therapy in West Haven and Lehi

The Duties Of The Physical Therapist Assistant

Physical therapy assistants have a wide range of duties. In general, they assist physicians, physical therapists and other medical professionals in developing and implementing a program of physical therapy that is appropriate for the patients needs. Among the most common duties a physical therapist assistant will engage in are the following:

Carrying out a program physical therapy assigned by the supervising physical therapist and physician.

Evaluating and reporting the patients progress to the supervising medical staff. This may include assisting the medical staff in modifying the physical therapy regimen for the patient.

When the patient is discharged from the facility, training caregivers and family members in how best to continue exercises designed to restore full physical function to the patient.

In the field of eldercare, providing exercises designed to stimulate both the physical bodies and minds of the elderly. This may require the physical therapist assistant to work with individuals who are suffering various types of senile dementia or degenerative mental disorders.

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Graduate Certificates In Physical Therapy And Specialty Certifications

Upon earning a DPT or tDPT and becoming licensed physical therapists, students have the option to continue their education to become board-certified clinical specialists. This certification is awarded through the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties . Pursuing graduate certificates and specialty certifications may enhance a physical therapists career by helping develop a deeper knowledge of a particular area of practice. To be eligible for certification, a physical therapist must pass an exam and prove 2,000 hours of clinical practice in a specialty area, 25% of which occurred in the three years prior.

Physical Therapists can become board-certified in:

Cardiovascular and Pulmonary

Dan Lorenz Dpt Pt Atc Lat Cscsupper & Lower Extremity Update

Highlights on Performance Enhancement

As the director of sports medicine, Im constantly searching for ways to elevate our approach to care. Top sports medicine programs do three things better than others education, research and clinical practice. Im passionate about working on these initiatives.

Dan Lorenz isnt only the Director of Sports Medicine at LMH Health OrthoKansas, hes the only fellowship-trained physical therapist in sports physical therapy in Lawrence and the Kansas City metro.

Previously the owner and Director of Physical Therapy for Specialists in Sports and Orthopedic Rehabilitation in Overland Park, Dan earned a bachelors degree in health sciences and a masters in physical therapy from Grand Valley State University and his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida.

He also has a wealth of experience in the professional sports world. Dan worked as an athletic training intern for the Chicago White Sox an assistant athletic trainer and physical therapist for the Kansas City Chiefs and has served as a rehabilitation consultant for many local sports teams including Sporting Kansas City, Kansas City Chiefs and Mavericks, as well as local colleges including Mid-America Nazarene University and University of Missouri-Kansas City. He was also recognized by the National Strength and Conditioning Association as the 2018 Sports Medicine/Rehabilitation Professional of the Year.

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