Is becoming a Physical Therapist worth the cost? -

I am a graduate student currently taking biology courses. I was thinking about becoming a PT but the school I want to attend does not offer financing. The program would cost something close to $84,000 total (DPT program). It could be more (books and all) but I wanted to make sure that this would be a good investment. With private financing the interest would be a liability. In California where I live PT make between $60,000-$120,000 per year. Is it difficult to earn money on the higher end of this scale as a PT in California? Is this too much money for such a program? Do PT get mainly part time work? I have read that the level of PT degree is not as important as experience but the DPT is now becoming the standard. I live in San Diego and I can t move (family etc). There is only one PT school in the whole damn city/county - very lame. I just wanted to get a realistic opinion about this issue. Thanks so much.|::::|That is the debate in the PT world. I have a DPT but I have been a PT almost 20 years. I originally got a BS in PT and then got a DPT in 2005. I love what I do. It is a profession htat you treat the whole body and the lifespan. You can treat and infant in a neonatal care unit, an athlete, a back injury, a trauma victim, a total knee replacement, a stroke, and geriatrics and much much more. You can work in a hospital, school, outpt clinic, aquatic facility, nursing home, research center, home care, and much much more. You learn differential diagnosis, cardiology, pulmonology, orthopedics, neurology, pediatrics, radiology, integument, research, education, clinical science, kinsiology, neural science, motor learning, pharmacology, business, law and ethics, and again much much more. Unfortunately, you did not make this decision as a freshman. Many school offer a 3+3 program. 6 years total. Many state schools offer a DPT which is definately cheaper. You can still get a MS in PT but it is getting harder and harder to find as the professional organization has mandated that all school become DPT by 2020. Most schools have already started the conversion. PT work full time. Many work a part time job as well esp as a new grad. Because of the shortage of PTs, many facilites are oftering sign on bonuses and loan forgiveness. Most clinical professionals have gone the doctorate route--chiropratic, pharmacy and PT. OT will eventually go there as well I believe. Best wishes|::::|I totally understand what you are going through. I am currently enrolling to become a COTA. But with that in mind my schooling I dont have to go to a private college if I dont want to I have the option of going to a OTA certified schools such as even community college for COTA program. I know you probably have your mind set on being DPT, but since cost seems to be an issue, have you looked into becoming a PTA instead or even considered OTR or COTA for that matter? Think about it and see your options before you decide to take on the school for DPT. PTs dont get only part time work you can go per diem or even full time and depending on your experience you can become a DOR. Also you have such choices as working in Peds, outpatient, nursing homes, home health... in the states of CA and NY you do need to have a DPT licensure. Try and consider becoming OTR you may have better options in schools. Or then become a PTA they too make good money. And since you do have a family... did you want to work full time?