Transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program

The t-DPT program is designed for practicing clinicians and offers a didactic augmentation of clinicians’ professional education to meet current and future expectations for physical therapy practice. Our first cohort of students matriculated in January 2005 and we are pleased to report that 115 students will have completed the program as of May 2008. More than 100 students are currently enrolled.

Upon successful completion of the 15-21 credit post-professional program of study, students will have knowledge, skills and behaviors at a level consistent with the current professional (entry-level) DPT standards and will be given the DPT degree. The t-DPT program will provide practicing therapists with a mechanism to attain degree parity with more recently trained therapists who hold the professional DPT by addressing the key differences between their professional baccalaureate or master’s degree PT education and the current professional DPT degree education. The curriculum is designed for full-time practicing clinicians to complete through part-time study in one to three years. We are using primarily distance-based course formats (Internet, CD-ROMs, etc.), but at least two or three weekend visits to campus are required.

Currently accepting applications

We are currently accepting applications from new students to matriculate in August 2008. Please contact Dixie H. Bowman, PT, DPT, EdD at dhbowman@vcu.edu for more information.

Program highlights

• Scholarship program for VCU clinical instructors.
• Advanced standing status (e.g., fewer required courses) for students who have a master’s degree in physical therapy.
• Curriculum designed to help fulfill continuing education licensure requirements.
• Opportunity to take some individual courses without formally matriculating into the program.

What our graduates are saying about the program

“This program allowed me to take my practice to the next level. I'd always attended continuing education and participated in clinical education of students, so I thought I was 'up to par' with the profession. I read journals, but not as much for critical analysis as for information, which many times left me wondering the validity of the study. I now have the tools to evaluate the evidence to make better judgments about PT intervention.”

“This program definitely helps prepare clinicians, at all levels of professional development, to establish best clinical practices based on the evidence.”

“VCU makes the program user-friendly for the working professional. On-campus sessions were conveniently scheduled over weekends to avoid work schedule conflicts. The classes were relevant and easily applicable to the clinic.”

“The distance-based format allowed me to complete the program while having a full-time job and a family. I now feel that I have the coursework that new grads are receiving and am not feeling that I am 'behind' even though I have more clinical experience.”