seeking professional advise

Our user asked: "Long story short lost my job recently and I'm looking to pursue a real career which requires me going to college. I will be 24 in may. I love helping people and making people happy. I'm a very athletic person and several people have said I should be a personal trainer but I know you don't make good money. Being an assistant takes 4 years but being a full real deal physical therapist looks like I will need a masters plus a doctoral so I'm looking at 7 years. I'm trying to figure out if it's worth all of it or can I work my way up from an assistant? What's your best advise cause I'm thinking if I get crazy enough to do this what am I going to do for a part time job cause 7 years is going to cost me a shoot load of money and maybe my insanity. But I hear you make good money and I'm tired of living paycheck to paycheck and I'm tired of struggling and having no future."

Ask a PT Response: "Becoming a physical therapist requires a doctoral degree now. The doctoral programs are usually 3 years long. In most cases that will mean you will need an undergraduate degree and meet prerequisite courses for each school you may be applying to. A PTA degree is an associate degree and usually requires 2 years for completion. As far as your question in regards to what you should do, I can't answer that for you. You will have to closely analyze your situation and your goals and determine what would be best for you. Keep in mind that PT school admission is very competitive and application doesn't guarantee admission. Nevertheless, I feel both professions are rewarding."