Physical Therapy programs

What is the entry level program in physical therapy?1,2,3
Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) is the entry level program in physical therapy. In 2002, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) was no longer accredits baccalaureate programs. The Bachelor degree is no longer offered in the USA and changed to Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). The professional (entry-level) DPT degree is the current degree conferred physical therapist professional programs upon successful completion of a three-year post-baccalaureate degree program that prepares the graduate to enter the practice of physical therapy. Admission requirements for the program include:

• Completion of an undergraduate degree or complete set of prerequisite coursework in biology, chemistry, physics, statistics, psychology, and human anatomy and physiology
• completion of a standardized graduate examination (eg, GRE),
• letters of financial grantee
• personal goals statement,
• Passing the national licensure examination and meeting the requirements of the state(s) in which the physical therapist practices.

The physical therapy curriculum consists of:

• Foundational sciences (ie, anatomy, cellular histology, neuroscience, kinesiology, physiology, exercise physiology, pathology, pharmacology, radiology/imaging, medical screening)
• Behavioral sciences (communication, social and psychologic factors, ethics and values, law, business and management sciences, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice)
• Clinical sciences (cardiovascular/pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, gastrointestinal and genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular)
• Physical therapist practice (patient/client management model, prevention, wellness, and health promotion, practice management, management of care delivery, social responsibility and advocacy, and core values).

In addition, learning under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, engage in full-time clinical practice by managing patients/clients with a variety of conditions to master physical therapy knowledge and skills.

History of Doctor of Physical Therapy DPT:1

• 1992 – First post-professional “transition” DPT program at USC
• 1993 – First entry-level DPT program (first graduates in 7/96) at Creighton University.
• 1998- Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) published new accreditation standards requiring PT education to culminate in the awarding of a post- baccalaureate degree.
• 2000 – House of Delegates (HOD) endorsed Vision 2020; specific reference to “doctors of physical therapy” reflecting support for the clinical doctorate as the preferred professional degree in 2020.
• 2002 - Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) no longer accredits baccalaureate programs.
• Effective December 31, 2015, the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) will no longer accredit Master's professional programs.

The DPT degree is a clinical degree, also termed a professional degree, whereas other doctoral degrees, like Doctor of philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Science (DSc) and Doctor of Education (EdD) are academic degrees not limited to any one discipline.

There are 4 current main discipline programs
1. Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). (Entry level)
2. Transitional or post-professional Doctor of physical Therapy (DPT). This is a Transitional degree and it is for those who are already have a bachelor or a master of physical therapy and want to earn a DPT degree.
3. Master degree
4. Academic doctoral degree such as Doctor of philosophy (PhD), Doctor of Science (DSc) and Doctor of Education (EdD)

Definition of the academic doctoral degrees:

1. Doctor of philosophy (PhD). Click here.
2. Doctor of Science (DSc). Click here.

References:

1. American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)
2. Physical Therapist (PT) Education Overview
3. Wikipedia