Nursing or Licenced PTA

[mary777]

I've been waiting too long to get into nursing school. I've been pretty depressed lately because of it, so I knew I had to do something about it.

I recently inquired some information from a private college for a PTA(physical therapy assistant) program. Well, I was interviewed and accepted after taking their test in order to get in the program. I start classes this August. I wanted to know if any one knows about this career. Pros and cons, salary, and level of satisfaction(like nursing). I went to career builder and their starting salary for entry level in Miami & Ft. Lauderdale is $52K.

At http://www.salary.com Licenced PTA's in Hialeah Nursing homes make $43K-50K. From your experience is this pretty accurate.

[Daytonite, BSN, RN]

There is a big difference between a licensed phyical therapy assistant and a physical therapy aide. The PT aides make minimum wage or slightly above. PTA's are normally licensed by the state and the wages you saw are probably correct. There is usually a lot of competition to get into physical therapy courses. You are lucky to have qualified.