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The profession and practice of physical therapy is rapidly changing. The demands imposed upon a physical therapist today are very different from those of even five or 10 years ago. These demands often go beyond the formal education provided in more traditional entry-level programs. Therapists increasingly are required to justify their practice patterns based on research evidence, to take on consulting and supervisory roles, and to provide administrative expertise and leadership.
Offered completely online, this program gives practicing clinicians easy access to make their formal education congruent with students graduating from entry-level DPT programs. The program’s goal is to educate clinicians to achieve practice consistent with the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Vision 2020 and beyond. Graduates will function with a high degree of professionalism and possess the requisite knowledge, skills and behaviors to practice physical therapy in a truly scientific manner (i.e., using evidence-based practice).
Graduates will demonstrate the ability to do the following:
This is a program for practicing professionals who want to learn from and interact with nationally recognized faculty and exceptional peers. The program is highly interactive and capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge clinicians bring with them.
REGISTER FOR COURSES PRIOR TO ADMISSION
US-educated therapists must complete a graduate application and include the following items:
Foreign-educated therapists must complete a graduate application and include the following items:
In addition, all applicants must meet the following requirements:
A student accepted into the Transitional Physical Therapy program is expected to abide by the regulations set forth by Arcadia University, as explained in the Graduate Student Handbook.
Withdrawing from Classes: Requests to withdraw from a class must be submitted to the Registrar and the program administrator by the withdraw deadline (end of the fourth week of classes for a seven-week class, end of the eighth week of classes for 15-week class). Requests submitted after this deadline will only be considered in extenuating circumstances. Students may withdraw from a maximum of two courses during the program.
Prior to acceptance into the program, all students will be billed on a per-credit basis. The current tuition rate is $810/credit. Each course in the curriculum is 2 credits. More information can be found on our Tuition and Fees for Graduate Students page.
Upon matriculation into the program, students may choose one of two payment options:
Full semester (January 17 - April 29):
PT702 Case Analysis
Session 1 (January 17 - March 4):
PT505 Clinical Decision Making
PT656 Neuromuscular Tissue and Motor Control
PT706 Neurological PT (prerequisite: PT505)
PT707 Cardiopulmonary PT (prerequisite: PT505)
Session 2 (March 14 - April 29):
PT508 Medical Screening
PT528 Health Care Systems (internationally-trained students)
PT547 Health Promotions
PT708 Geriatric PT (prerequisite: PT505)
Full semester (May 9 - August 19):
PT702 Case Analysis
Session 1 (May 9 - June 24):
PT503 Ethics and Law (internationally-trained PTs)
PT504 Teaching Methods
PT505 Clinical Decision Making
PT556 Diagnostic Imaging
PT656 Neuromuscular Tissue and Motor Control
PT709 Pediatric PT (prerequisite: PT505)
Session 2 (July 5 - August 19):
PT547 Health Promotions
PT555 Pharmacology
PT705 Orthopaedic PT (prerequisite: PT505)
Full semester (August 29 - December 9):
PT702 Case Analysis
Session 1 (August 29 - October 14):
PT503 Ethics and Law (internationally-trained PTs)
PT504 Teaching Methods
PT505 Clinical Decision Making
PT556 Diagnostic Imaging
Session 2 (October 24 - December 9):
PT528 Health Care Systems (internationally-trained PTs)
PT508 Medical Screening
PT555 Pharmacology
PT705 Orthopaedic PT (prerequisite: PT505)
Offered every session
PT686A – Documentation and Delegation
This online, asynchronous course is designed to discuss the essential components of documentation to assist the physical therapist to create meaningful documentation that serves as an adjunct to clinical practice. A clinical reasoning process for how documentation is formed utilizing the Elements of the Physical Therapist Patient Management Model and International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) model terminology is common throughout the lessons in this course. The principles guiding effective documentation and delegation of physical therapist practice to physical therapist assistants, aides and students will be discussed in the context of clinical scenarios that require self-reflection which will serve to facilitate the development of clinical-decision making skills.
PT686B – Wound Care
This online, asynchronous course will discuss the role of physical therapy in the management of chronic dermal wounds. Topics will include the anatomy and function of skin, the physiology of wound healing, and the assessment and management of wounds of differing etiologies, including pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and vascular ulcers. Wound management principles will be discussed in the context of patient cases to facilitate the development of clinical decision making skills.
PT686C – Community Reintegration
This online, asynchronous course will discuss the role of physical therapy in the reintegrating individuals with disabilities into the community. Topics will include assessment of the home and work environment, assistive devices and environmental modifications to facilitate independence, workplace ergonomics and task assessment, adaptive task modification and proper body mechanics to allow task performance, accessibility standards for home and public environments, and community resources for reintegration. These topics will be discussed in the context of patient cases to facilitate the development of clinical decision making skills.
You can register for any of the courses mentioned above using the Register button below.
Foreign-educated Physical Therapists (current students, alumni, and students not enrolled in our program) may take these courses for credentialing purposes. The cost is $405/course not including other applicable University fees.
Note: All TDPT students can take these elective mini-courses; however, these mini-courses are not included in the program package price. There will be an additional cost (listed above).
Please email TDPT@arcadia.edu for more information. These courses are offered every session.
Michael A. Tevald, PT, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Kshamata Shah, PT, Ph.D., Assistant Professor
Our TDPT program is fully online; there is no requirement to be on campus.
We accept students with entry-level PT education at the bachelor’s and/or master’s degree level.
The program is 18 credits for U.S.-educated therapists and 22 for foreign-trained PTs. However, students may apply to waive up to 6 credits. The minimum number of credits required for degree completion are 12 credits for U.S.-trained therapists and 16 credits for foreign-trained PTs.
Yes, for some courses. But, course waiver requests are evaluated on the specific portfolio review criteria (available when you are accepted to the program). You will be charged an additional fee for review of your portfolio. Please note that course waiver is not guaranteed.
There is some elective coursework that you can take for orthopedic, cardiopulmonary, neurology, pediatrics, or geriatrics (one out of these), but we do not offer a specific track at this point. Please check our website for updates.
It will take about one and a half to three years to complete the required coursework.
Each semester is broken up into two 7-week sessions. In most cases, students can take up to 3 classes, or 6 credits, per semester. Students can NOT take all three courses in one session. Additionally, students should discuss with an advisor prior to taking the capstone course at the same time as another course.
We have rolling admission; thus you may apply whenever you are ready. Review of the application may take up to 6 weeks. Further, most courses are 2 credits and run in 7 week units, so the wait time to start a course after registration may be 1–7 weeks. Since many of our courses run synchronously, you will only be able to register for courses that are offered in each semester. Visit the Schedule tab for details about the courses offered in each semester.
In general, every course is structured differently based on the content area that is taught. We use a variety of tools such as multiple choice questions, quizzes and self-reflection assignments to test students. Most classes also require synchronous (“live” class discussion) and asynchronous (discussion board) participation. We have many clinicians from the U.S. and around the world representing a vast amount of expertise you can all benefit and learn from. This program is based on principles of adult learning. Adult learning is a lot like what you do in your role as a clinical professional. You cannot learn passively any more than our patients can get stronger with passive exercise!
You will be awarded a “Doctor of Physical Therapy” degree when you graduate from the program. Words like “online”, “transitional” and/or “distance learning” are not included on the degree certificate.
Visit the Expenses tab on the TDPT program site for details about expenses and payments. Cost of textbooks and materials is not included in our package price. Also, the University charges an additional fee each semester which is not included in the package price.
At this point, we do not offer an I-20 to students in our post-professional program.
Yes, currently, you may register for up to three courses pre-licensure for credentialing purposes. Please note: acceptance into a course does not guarantee admission into the program.
Yes! We welcome applications from all students. Our TDPT program is fully online. The program is highly interactive and capitalizes on the wealth of knowledge clinicians bring with them.
No! Beginning Fall 2019, we will have limited seats available for foreign-educated physical therapists who are not currently licensed to practice in the US, provided they meet the admissions criteria listed on our website (see admissions criteria page).
CAPTE, the accrediting body for Physical Therapy programs, does not provide for accreditation of post-professional programs. However, our entry-level DPT program is accredited.
While the courses in our TDPT program may help in fulfilling educational deficits, the program does not directly qualify you for US PT licensure. All foreign-educated PTs must follow the steps listed by The Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy.
Only a credentialing agency that issues work certificates (Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT), CGFNS International Inc.) or United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can determine if the program fulfills their requirements. Since our entry-level DPT is CAPTE-accredited, we believe our TDPT will be accepted by FCCPT/CGFNS, but individuals should check with the respective agencies.
Please visit our TDPT website for admissions criteria for all students, including criteria for foreign-trained. In particular, for foreign-trained students, we will need:
Unfortunately, due to the recent increase in the spread of the coronavirus, GRADUATION CEREMONIES FOR THE TRANSITIONAL DPT PROGRAM ARE HEREBY POSTPONED UNTIL MAY.
Contact Enrollment Management
1-877-ARCADIA (1-877-272-2342)
admiss@arcadia.edu
Contact us at tdpt@arcadia.edu.
Michael A. Tevald, PT, Ph.D.
Director of Post-Professional Programs, Associate Professor of Physical Therapy
Kshamata M. Shah, PT, Ph.D.
Director, Education for International Physical Therapists, Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy