The student loan debt burden faced by many physical therapists and physical therapist assistants can feel overwhelming. APTA is providing new resources that may help members take more control over their financial futures.

Now available at APTA.org: the APTA Financial Solutions Center, an online resource that offers members opportunities to help deepen their financial knowledge and potentially refinance student debt at a discounted interest rate. The center features 2 new offerings created in partnership with outside providers:

The APTA Financial Education Program, powered by Enrich
This customizable online financial education platform uses videos, articles, webinars, quizzes, online communities, live chats, and more to create a personalized experience in financial and debt education. Best of all, it's free.

The APTA Student Loan Refinancing Program, provided by Darien Rowayton Bank (DRB)
This loan refinancing solution offers eligible APTA members a 0.25% discount off the competitive interest rate, with an additional 0.25% discount available on electronic funds transfers.

In addition to the Enrich and DRB offerings, the solutions center also offers links to APTA's "Red Hot Jobs" career center as well as to webpages that provide information on scholarship opportunities and discounts associated with APTA membership, with more resources to come. The new services are in response to a 2016 APTA House of Delegates charge to help address the financial burdens often associated with becoming a PT or PTA.

"The resources now available expand the benefits of membership and are an excellent start in addressing a complex issue, but there's more to be done," said Justin Moore, PT, DPT, chief executive officer of APTA. "PTs and PTAs work hard to achieve their degrees, and they deserve to enter into our profession without feeling overwhelmed by debt. We're continuing to look at ways to engage education programs, students, and others to help make this possible."