Why Earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy?
Graduates from Â鶹ӰÊÓ’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program are well-rounded and highly competent clinicians. Thirteen full-time faculty members with diverse clinical backgrounds — along with adjunct faculty — train physical therapy students in the areas of orthopedic, neurologic, and general physical therapy with special attention to the needs of pediatric patients, geriatric patients, and other special populations. Graduates from the program earn an entry-level DPT degree and are well prepared to pass the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). Pacific’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program has consistently achieved outstanding student outcomes that exceed CAPTE standards and national averages, as measured by graduation rates, first time and ultimate NPTE pass rates, and employment rates.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at Â鶹ӰÊÓ is a full-time program of study that is 33 months (over the course of three academic years with summers off). High quality clinical education is critical in developing our students into competent physical therapists. Starting at the end of the first year of study, clinical learning experiences are intermixed with the academic coursework. By graduation, DPT students have spent 39 weeks in full-time clinical learning experiences at clinic sites across 22 states and four countries, with the majority located in the Pacific Northwest.
Strengths of the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Â鶹ӰÊÓ
- Clinically experienced faculty
- Faculty who are easily accessible
- Promotion of a positive learning environment
- Bright, enthusiastic students
- Focus on ethics
- Focus on evidence based practice
- Attention to practice without referral
- 100 percent pass rate on the national licensing exam
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As a part of the College of Health Professions, opportunities exist to interact with students in other healthcare fields
What Can You Do with a DPT Degree?
Pacific Â鶹ӰÊÓs with a DPT degree are prepared to provide physical therapy services in diverse settings. These settings may include hospitals and clinics in large, small, urban, and rural communities, as well as schools, homes, and industrial sites. A DPT degree is the required degree for all of CAPTE-accredited entry-level physical therapist education programs, including Â鶹ӰÊÓ. In addition, Â鶹ӰÊÓs with a DPT degree must pass the NPTE in order to be licensed and practice as physical therapists in the United States. Licensed physical therapists have robust career opportunities as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 17% from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations.
The Collective for Diversity and Social Justice is a group of students, employees and community members associated with the Â鶹ӰÊÓ School of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. Working in collaboration with an alumni advisor, faculty advisor, student members, community youth and program leadership and faculty, The Collective seeks to create a safe and empowering space for minorities in the school, to improve cultural responsiveness of the program, and to serve as role models and support interest in the physical therapy profession among community youth.
"The program at Pacific gave me the tools to enter my career with confidence to be successful in the clinic. I continue to go back to the resources I was provided with at Pacific when I run into an unusual case. I always enjoy hearing and sharing work experiences with my classmates, who became my good friends while in the program. While I will always be learning something new, Pacific gave me a great foundation to grow on in my career!"
— Anne Jeffery '15
Clinical Education
Clinical education, also referred to as clinical experiences or clinical rotations, plays a significant role in physical therapy education. In fact, approximately 40% of a student’s time in Pacific’s DPT program is spent in clinical education experiences. The DPT program has affiliation agreements with over 600 different clinical facilities. These include hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, school districts, and private clinics offering experiences in acute care, outpatient orthopedics, neurological rehabilitation, geriatrics, and pediatrics. Although the majority of the DPT clinical education sites are in Oregon, students also may go to many other states for clinical education experiences, including Washington, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, California, Arizona, Montana, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas, among others. Students may also participate in international clinical education experiences. Pacific’s DPT program currently has affiliation agreements with sites in South Africa, Italy, and Belize. New clinical sites are continuously added in order to provide variety and quality to the students’ clinical experiences.
Evidence-Based Practice
Research is an essential element for the advancement of the profession of physical therapy. Graduates of Pacific’s DPT program are trained to use evidence-based practice through critical analysis and application of research. The DPT program at Â鶹ӰÊÓ provides resources that clinicians and students need in order to integrate the principles of evidence-based practice into patient care management.
Interprofessional Concentration
Pacific’s audiology program provides opportunities for students to explore models of person-centered healthcare and gain the skills to practice in a changing healthcare environment. Students who choose to pursue interprofessional experiences beyond what is required by their degree program can earn the Concentration in Interprofessional Education, offered by the College of Health Professions. This formal recognition is documented on transcripts as a specialization, indicating that students have gained specific competencies in interprofessional education.
Andrea Lybarger | Assistant Director of Graduate and Professional Admissions
503-352-7217 | PT.AT@pacificu.edu
The Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Â鶹ӰÊÓ is accredited by the , 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org; website: . If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 503-325-7377 or email dgerber@pacificu.edu. This program meets the educational requirements for licensure or certification in these U.S. states and territories. View student outcome data. Additional curriculum information is available in the .
