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Doctor of Physical Therapy

Doctor of Physical Therapy

Total Credits Required: 113 Credits

The 24-month, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program (DPT) prepares graduates with the necessary skills to meet the demands of clinical practice in the current century. Using a hybrid learning model, the curriculum combines online learning activities and interaction, hands-on laboratory immersion sessions, and collaborative clinical education experiences. The DPT program delivers a contemporary and evidence-based curriculum using faculty and contributors that are dedicated educators, clinicians, researchers, and leaders in the professions.

DPT Program Mission: Hawai‘i Pacific University innovative Doctor of Physical Therapy program develops movement specialists who provide evidence-informed, collaborative, and empathic care. We are committed to building a professional ‘ohana of diverse and open-minded leaders who anticipate and respond to the needs of the global community.

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

  1. Students demonstrate safety, professional ethics, initiative, and effective communication to understand and motivate patients/clients and enhance clinical outcomes.

  2. Students demonstrate effective performance and knowledge related to physical therapy examination, evaluation, diagnosis/prognosis, and interventions to enhance clinical outcomes.

  3. Graduates are prepared for professional leadership roles, post-professional learning opportunities, and clinical specialization.

ACCREDITATION

Effective November 2, 2021, Hawaiʻi Pacific University has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706- 3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 808-544-0803 or email dpt@hpu.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website.