Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy (tDPT) Program

School of Health Professions and Education

Licensed physical therapists now have the opportunity to earn their post-professional doctoral degree (t-DPT) at Utica College through this innovative program.

The transitional DPT is a program designed for licensed practitioners who have had a traditional physical therapy education below the doctoral level. It builds on the skills, knowledge, and experience of practicing clinicians and entitles graduates to the degree of Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) -- a post-professional clinical doctoral degree that serves as a credential, similar to the MD for medicine, the OD for optometry, and the DPM for podiatry. It does not signify advanced preparation or specialization, but instead reflects the culmination of a comprehensive program and the fulfillment of the highest standards of clinical performance in professional practice.

Why the Doctor of Physical Therapy?

By the year 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.

          - APTA House of Delegates, June 2000

This vision for our profession has evolved over many years, and reflects changes in both physical therapy practice and the structure of our health care system. The most substantial changes for the physical therapist have to do with the extent to which they must be prepared to function as autonomous, efficient, productive, and evidence-based practitioners. To that end, today's clinician must also be prepared to act as consultant, educator, administrator, and clinical scholar, which requires advanced skills in critical thinking in addition to the traditional entry-level preparation of the past.

By 2008, approximately 80% of the entry-level physical therapy programs in the country will have converted to the entry-level doctoral degree. While encouraging the development of a clinical community of professionals, the t-DPT program at Utica College will help establish a leveled playing field with the growing number of entry-level DPT graduates entering the work force.

Program Benefits

• Get the degree. Earn the degree that reflects the level of your clinical practice.
• Take only the courses you need. Individualized educational plan, where clinical and professional experiences are factored into curricular choices for degree completion.
• Do it on your own time. Flexible scheduling (primarily online) developed specifically for the practicing clinician who is looking for a pathway between their current physical therapy degree level (certificate, B.S., MS) and the Doctor of Physical Therapy degree.
• Be taken seriously. Utica College's transitional DPT program capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge and experience that you already have.
• Meet your peers. The transitional DPT program offers excellent networking potential with a diverse group of peers and faculty from around the country.
• Learn from the best. UC offers an excellent faculty who combine academic expertise with real world experience.
• Be assured of quality. UC's transitional DPT program grew out of an outstanding entry-level program which was recently granted a ten year accreditation cycle by the CAPTE.
• Get your degree at an affordable price. UC's transitional DPT program is competitively priced.

Why Utica College?

Utica College's well-established and renowned program in physical therapy is accredited by CAPTE and approved by the New York State Education Department. Courses are all taught by qualified and experienced clinicians, and all courses can be taken on-line. Each applicant to the program will have an individualized analysis of their entry-level education and professional portfolio to determine exactly which courses will be necessary to complete the degree. While a student in the program is welcome to take as many of the course offerings as they wish, our goal is to streamline the process so that the degree can be completed in the most efficient manner possible.

Admission Requirements:

• Proof of graduation (transcript) from a physical therapist degree program accredited by the CAPTE with a GPA of at least 3.0
• Professional portfolio which will be reviewed internally to identify courses that may be waived (up to 5 courses)
• Current state professional license
• Three written recommendations (2 professional, 1 academic)
• Brief essay articulating goals for DPT study

For more information:

Contact the Director of tDPT, Dr. Molly Crist, at transitionaldpt@utica.edu



Program information: The tDPT program was approved by Utica College (May 2004), by the New York State Department of Education (September 2004), and The Middle States Commission on Higher Education (December 2004).

For specific questions regarding qualifications or academic requirements contact the Director of the tDPT Program, Dr. Molly Crist, at transitionaldpt@utica.edu

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