Doctor of Physical Therapy
Encyclopedia
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) or Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPhysio) is a post-baccalaureate three-year degree conferred upon successful completion of a professional (entry-level) clinical doctoral level professional or post-professional (transition) physical therapist education program for the licensed physical therapist. The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree
is conferred by 206 of the nation's 213 US accredited professional physical therapist degree programs. This degree signifies completion of post-baccalaureate requirements needed to enter the profession and represents the completion of a comprehensive 3-year program and the fulfillment of high standards of clinical internship.
As a part of its vision, the American Physical Therapy Association
(APTA) passed in 2000, Vision 2020 that states: "By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health."
, that prepares the graduate to enter the practice of physical therapy. Admission requirements for the program include completion of an undergraduate degree that includes fulfillment of specific prerequisite coursework, volunteer experience or other exposure to the profession, completion of a standardized graduate examination (e.g., GRE
), letters of reference, personal goals statement, passing the national licensure
examination and meeting the requirements of the state(s) in which the physical therapist practices. Typical prerequisite courses usually include two semesters of anatomy and physiology with labs, 2 semesters of physics with labs, 2 semesters of chemistry with labs, a general course in psychology, another course in psychology usually abnormal or developmental psychology, statistics, two semesters of biology and one or two specific courses required by specific schools. The physical therapist curriculum consists of foundational sciences (i.e., 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) and clinical sciences (cardiovascular/pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, gastrointestinal and genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular), and 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, learners under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, engage in full-time clinical practice by managing patients/clients with a variety of conditions across the lifespan and with an expectation of providing safe, competent, and effective physical therapy.
, Bond University
and Latrobe University in Australia are now offering doctor of physiotherapy degrees as postgraduate degrees in physiotherapy.
, Isra College of Rehabilitation Sciences (Isra University Hyderabad),Isra School of Rehabiliattion sciences[ISRS],Islamabad Campus[www.isra.edu.pk/islamabad campus],offering DPT & PPDPT, only university have three campuses in Pakistan offering these degrees Mayo Hospital Lahore( King Edward Medical University, Lahore), Sargodha University and the University of Faisalabad. Azra Naheed medical college(superior university Lahore). , Sargodha university, also started DPT in Pakistan are currently offering a doctor of physical therapy degree as a first professional degree
in physical therapy.
also Baqai Medical university's institute of physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. KMU Institute of physical medicine and Rehabilitation (IPM&R) is the only institute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which offers DPT .
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
is conferred by 206 of the nation's 213 US accredited professional physical therapist degree programs. This degree signifies completion of post-baccalaureate requirements needed to enter the profession and represents the completion of a comprehensive 3-year program and the fulfillment of high standards of clinical internship.
As a part of its vision, the American Physical Therapy Association
American Physical Therapy Association
A Historical PerspectivePhysical therapists formed their first professional association in 1921, called the American Women's Physical Therapeutic Association. Led by President Mary McMillan, an executive committee of elected officers governed the Association, which included 274 charter members...
(APTA) passed in 2000, Vision 2020 that states: "By 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function, and health."
Professional degree (the entry-level)
The professional (entry-level) DPT degree is the current degree conferred by 96% of physical therapist professional programs upon successful completion of a three-year post-baccalaureate degree program in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, that prepares the graduate to enter the practice of physical therapy. Admission requirements for the program include completion of an undergraduate degree that includes fulfillment of specific prerequisite coursework, volunteer experience or other exposure to the profession, completion of a standardized graduate examination (e.g., GRE
GRE
GRE may refer to:* Gecko , used by Mozilla web browsers* GRE , a Japanese multinational radio and electronics equipment manufacturer...
), letters of reference, personal goals statement, passing the national licensure
Licensure
Licensure refers to the granting of a license, which gives a "permission to practice." Such licenses are usually issued in order to regulate some activity that is deemed to be dangerous or a threat to the person or the public or which involves a high level of specialized skill...
examination and meeting the requirements of the state(s) in which the physical therapist practices. Typical prerequisite courses usually include two semesters of anatomy and physiology with labs, 2 semesters of physics with labs, 2 semesters of chemistry with labs, a general course in psychology, another course in psychology usually abnormal or developmental psychology, statistics, two semesters of biology and one or two specific courses required by specific schools. The physical therapist curriculum consists of foundational sciences (i.e., anatomy, cellular histology, neuroscience
Neuroscience
Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system. Traditionally, neuroscience has been seen as a branch of biology. However, it is currently an interdisciplinary science that collaborates with other fields such as chemistry, computer science, engineering, linguistics, mathematics,...
, kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
, physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
, exercise physiology
Exercise physiology
Exercise physiology is the study of the acute responses and chronic adaptations to a wide-range of physical exercise conditions. In addition, many exercise physiologists study the effect of exercise on pathology, and the mechanisms by which exercise can reduce or reverse disease progression...
, pathology
Pathology
Pathology is the precise study and diagnosis of disease. The word pathology is from Ancient Greek , pathos, "feeling, suffering"; and , -logia, "the study of". Pathologization, to pathologize, refers to the process of defining a condition or behavior as pathological, e.g. pathological gambling....
, pharmacology
Pharmacology
Pharmacology is the branch of medicine and biology concerned with the study of drug action. More specifically, it is the study of the interactions that occur between a living organism and chemicals that affect normal or abnormal biochemical function...
, radiology/imaging, medical screening), behavioral sciences (communication, social and psychologic factors, ethics and values, law, business and management sciences, clinical reasoning, evidence-based practice) and clinical sciences (cardiovascular/pulmonary, endocrine and metabolic, gastrointestinal and genitourinary, integumentary, musculoskeletal, neuromuscular), and 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, learners under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, engage in full-time clinical practice by managing patients/clients with a variety of conditions across the lifespan and with an expectation of providing safe, competent, and effective physical therapy.
Transition degree
The post-professional DPT (Transitional) degree is conferred upon successful completion of a post-professional physical therapist education program. The "transition" DPT is intended for licensed physical therapists that hold the bachelor, master, or certificate degrees at the professional (entry-level) level. This program is designed to provide contemporary knowledge and skill for licensed physical therapists associated with evidenced-based and best clinical practice. This program enables licensed physical therapists to obtain knowledge that is commensurate with current professional DPT graduates in the United States. Much of the core curricular content is consistent among post-professional DPT programs including, but not limited to, pharmacology, radiology/imaging, medical screening and diagnosis, evidence-based practice, administration and management, and professionalism and ethics. There are more than 70 physical therapist programs that offer post-professional DPT (Transitional) degree programs through classroom instruction, distance learning, or a combination of both.Advanced clinical science degree
The "advanced clinical science" doctorate (e.g., DPTSc or DScPT, DHSc, ScDPT) is one of several degrees conferred by academic institutions upon successful completion of a post-professional physical therapist education program. This program is intended to provide an experienced clinician with advanced knowledge, clinical skills, and professional behaviors, usually in a specific specialty practice area. These programs typically culminate work that contributes new knowledge to clinical practice in the profession. Completion of these advanced clinical science doctoral programs may include credentialed clinical residencies and lead to ABPTS clinical specialization or other advanced certifications.Australia
The University of MelbourneUniversity of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, Bond University
Bond University
Bond University is a private university located in Robina, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is also the first private university established in Australia...
and Latrobe University in Australia are now offering doctor of physiotherapy degrees as postgraduate degrees in physiotherapy.
United Kingdom
Some UK universities now offer a DPT as a post-professional qualification, the qualifying degree remains Bachelor or Master of Science, Physiotherapy (with honours). The Doctor of Physiotherapy in the UK differs from a US clinical doctorate in that it is a 5-year post-professional Physiotherapy specific research programme, which is offered at the University of Sussex in Brighton. Other UK institutions prefer to offer a generic ProfD (Professional Doctorate) as this is recognised across many professions from veterinary medicine to pharmacy. It is soon to be a convention for all UK physiotherapy consultants to have earned a post-professional doctorate (PhD, DHSc, ProfD, DPT etc.) although the ever-changing NHS landscape makes it difficult to predict where the profession will be in 10 years.Pakistan
There are 6 Institutes offering DPT in Pakistan: The Isra Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences-Karachi,Isra University (two years Post Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy PP-DPT)and 5 year entery level DPT program,the Riphah International UniversityRiphah International University
Riphah International University is located at Islamabad, Pakistan. It was established on February 27, 2002 by the Islamic International Medical College Trust . The IIIMCT was established in 1995 by Major General Muhammad Zulfiqar Ali Khan and is a non-profit, non-political, non-sectarian welfare...
, Isra College of Rehabilitation Sciences (Isra University Hyderabad),Isra School of Rehabiliattion sciences[ISRS],Islamabad Campus[www.isra.edu.pk/islamabad campus],offering DPT & PPDPT, only university have three campuses in Pakistan offering these degrees Mayo Hospital Lahore( King Edward Medical University, Lahore), Sargodha University and the University of Faisalabad. Azra Naheed medical college(superior university Lahore). , Sargodha university, also started DPT in Pakistan are currently offering a doctor of physical therapy degree as a first professional degree
First professional degree
A professional degree prepares the holder for a particular profession by emphasizing competency skills along with theory and analysis. These professions are typically licensed or otherwise regulated by a governmental or government-approved body...
in physical therapy.
also Baqai Medical university's institute of physical therapy and rehabilitation medicine. KMU Institute of physical medicine and Rehabilitation (IPM&R) is the only institute in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa which offers DPT .