Overview
Physical Therapists Allow Clients to Optimize Movement and Function.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
- Inaugural Cohort Applications: Applications are still open until December 6, 2024. Classes are scheduled to begin on January 21, 2025, pending the CAPTE decision.
- Cohort 2 Applications: Applications for the second cohort, with classes starting on January 20, 2026, are now open.
All applications for the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø DPT Program should be submitted through the .
As a physical therapist you will be trained and licensed to perform a broad range of activities including the evaluation and treatment of individuals recovering from injury or disease, and in programs for maintaining wellness and fitness for those without apparent disease or injury. Physical therapists provide patients and clients with services that restore function, enhance mobility, relieve pain, prevent or limit physical disability, and promote health and well-being. These may include, but are not limited to, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, providing treatments or interventions based on their evaluation, and providing health and wellness interventions and education.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy program at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø will prepare graduates to pass the physical therapy licensure examination required to practice as a physical therapist in Illinois and across the nation. Through innovation and integration of education, scholarly activities, service, and clinical care, at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø you will learn to optimize movement and function across the lifespan in diverse populations, communities, and individuals. You will become a reflective, ethical, culturally informed, socially responsible, and innovative clinician who will lead and work collaboratively in the ever-evolving healthcare field. Faculty, graduates, and students at °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø will use movement to improve the human condition.
Career Outlook
Employment of physical therapists is projected to grow 17 percent from 2021 to 2031, much faster than the average for all occupations according to the . Demand for physical therapy is expected to come from aging baby boomers who are staying active later in life, and people who are susceptible to chronic health conditions.
DPT Curriculum
°µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø DPT students will be uniquely educated to be innovative human movement specialists. Graduates will be critical thinkers, who practice with integrity, autonomy, inter-professional skills, in contemporary evidence-based practice as innovators, health advocates, and global citizens.
- 112 semester credit hours
- 7.5 semesters
- Classroom experiences in foundational sciences, professional topics, clinical sciences, evidence-informed practice, and research/innovation experiences.
- 32 weeks of Clinical Education
Classroom Experiences: The curriculum offers a dynamic, in-person program that seamlessly integrates traditional lectures and hands-on laboratory experiences with the enriching elements of case studies, interprofessional collaborative education, and team-based learning. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the finest aspects of diverse curricular models.
Clinical Education: Students in the DPT program will have a variety of clinical experiences which are representative of those in which physical therapy is commonly practiced. Four 8-week clinical experiences will include the areas of orthopedics, neurorehabilitation, acute care, and niche areas of practice such as pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.
Complaints
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Complaints to the Accrediting Body (CAPTE)
Anyone wishing to register a complaint concerning what appears to be the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø DPT Program's failure to meet an evaluative criterion can follow the instructions available on the CAPTE website () or contact the Department of Accreditation of APTA at 703.706.3245.
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General Complaints
Any issues related to faculty, staff, or students, including those concerning discrimination, harassment, academic integrity, or grading disputes, must follow the protocols outlined in the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø Campus Student Handbook (for students) and the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø Employee Handbook (for faculty and staff), both available on mylewis.edu. °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø strictly prohibits any form of retaliation against individuals who raise concerns or submit complaints in good faith.
External parties who wish to file a complaint related to the °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø DPT Program may do so without fear of reprisal. Complaints should be directed to Dr. Arvie Vitente, the DPT Program Director, at 815.836.5702 or via email at avitente@lewisu.edu. Dr. Vitente, in collaboration with the Chair of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, will review and determine the appropriate course of action.
In cases where a conflict of interest is evident or suspected, involved individuals may recuse themselves from the proceedings to ensure a fair resolution. If the concern or complaint involves the Program Director, the matter should be escalated to Dr. Daisy Sherry, Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, at SherryDa@lewisu.edu or by phone at 815.836.5249.
Program Outcomes
First data will be available in 2028-29.
ACCREDITATION
Effective October 29, 2024, °µºÚ±¬ÁÏÍø Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (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 Dr. Arvie Vitente, Program Director at 815-836-5702 or email avitente@lewisu.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; ) or specific state.
Key Dates:
- CAPTE site visit scheduled for the penultimate term (Spring 2027) of the inaugural cohort.
- Graduation of the inaugural cohort in August 2027.
- First licensure examination available to graduates in October 2027.
- CAPTE accreditation decision expected in Fall 2027.
Questions?
Contact the Office of Graduate Admission at grad@lewisu.edu or (815)836-5610.
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