alright so i have been thinking about getting a bachelors lately.

i have been working at an ortho/sports clinic for about 2 months. there are 5 PTs, 1 PTA (me), and 5 ATCs.

i'm thinking about getting one in exercise science and here are my reasons:

1. i feel like the ATCs know more about exercises than i do, and would like more edu on exercise.

2. if i ever decide to go for PT i need a bachelors and exercise science would probably be a good undergrad

3. i may in the future decide to work/teach in a pta program, so i would need a bachelors for that..and i could then teach therex and whatever

4. i'm not looking for a salary increase, but it would  be nice to say that i do have a bachelors in exercise and i am a pta. i think it would make me  a little more respectable. more so to the patients. i mean i'm 20 and when i say i have an associates i get this wierd vibe from them

anyway so my question is:

Do you think i should get a bachelors?

and if i do do you think exercise science would be a good route?

Exercise science or Kinesiology (may be the same thing depending on the school) would be great. If your looking for credibility with your patients, I think any science based degree would be good. Either degree would be helpful in PT school. I went to school with mechanical engineers and english majors. You get a leg up in some classes with the science degree. If you're only looking for credibility with your patients, I would say no. If you're looking to go to PT school, I would say yes. Hope this helps.

I got a BS in exercise science and cardiac rehab thinking it would help me in my profession....it did not. I don't think the patients care and the PT's especially do not. I did it thinking that if they ever did a bridge program, I would need the BS to do it. So far it has not helped me at all but, I do feel better about myself having finished a degree program. If your doing it for you, just because you feel a little short with an associate's degree, then by all means GO FOR IT! But if you are looking for validation, forget about it and don't waste your time or money. No pay increases and no recognition.

hi laura!

Im michael, a PT student here in the philippines. for me its a good choice to get a bachelors degree in PT rather than to be a PTA. its an advantage in your part because you already been in the field of healthcare . hehehe! just follow your heart. salary and everything is just a secondary choices, what is important is service! stay cool!