Physical Therapy [Postprofessional] (Online), DPT

[Post-professional] Doctor of Physical Therapy

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Arizona School of Health Sciences   Length of Program Tuition Admissions

Graduation Requirements Non-Degree Program - online Curriculum Courses: Descriptions and Credit Values

A.T. Still University’s (ATSU) Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy, often referred to in the United States as a transitional program, is a custom degree program configured around the unique needs of each practicing professional, offering maximum flexibility and a full team of support. Offered through ATSU’s Arizona School of Health Sciences, the online physical therapy degree offers curriculum plans that are personalized and student-centric, based on one-on-one assessments of personal experience. Classes can be completed one-at-a-time, as practice and personal life requires, or doubled-up to accelerate degree completion.

ATSU’s Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program is designed for those who desire to maintain their relevancy while they continue practicing in the discipline of physical therapy. You will accomplish this as standards are elevated to doctoral status per the 2020 vision set forth by the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA).

Length of Program

The Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program is typically completed within 1.5 to 2 years, dependent upon the individual’s plan of study and consists of a blend of advanced and required credits totaling 64 quarter credits. Each quarter credit is equivalent to .67 semester credits.

Tuition

Payment in full is due prior to the start of the program or per the admissions agreement on an installment schedule. Delinquent tuition penalties accrue at 1.5% per month, which is 18% per year. For more information on Student Account Collection, please reference ATSU Policy #50-112 within the Financial Policies  section of this catalog.

Class/Year	Tuition	Student Technology Fee
Degree Seeking	$12,282
Non-Degree Seeking	$565 per credit hour	$38 per credit hour

Admissions

Application Process

Applicants will need to create an account at https://apply.atsu.edu for access to the online application. Instructions are included on how to complete the application and submit all required documentation. If you have any questions regarding the online application, please contact Admissions at 877.469.2878 or by email at onlineinquiry@atsu.edu.

Application Deadline

Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy applications may be submitted at any time during the academic year and are processed on a rolling admissions basis. Applications are processed routinely to ensure that all class openings are filled for the beginning of each quarter.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy online program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Applicants are required to meet all ATSU and ASHS general admission requirements.
2. Minimum physical therapy professional program grade point average of 2.70 on a 4.0 scale.
   1. If a 2.70 GPA is not met, refer to Non-Degree Seeking Pathway.
3. Applicants will have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher in physical therapy from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor.
4. Applicants who have graduated from a university outside the United States or Canada must provide an official physical therapy degree equivalency evaluation for admission or copy of the official letter from the licensing board showing professional deficiencies for the nondegree seeking applicant. This evaluation report must state the physical therapy degree earned abroad is equivalent to the physical therapy degree in the United States or Canada. This evaluation will be paid for by the prospective student. We highly encourage applicants to speak to one of our admission counselors or program representative prior to ordering a credential evaluation report. The following credentialing agencies are accepted by the Post-professional DPT:
   1. Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
   2. International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
   3. International Education Research Foundation, Inc (IERF)
   4. World Education Services (WES)
   5. International Credentialing Associates (ICA)
   6. Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance)
   7. Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)
   8. University of Texas at Austin (non-degree seeking applicants only)
   9. Any credential evaluation service that is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is accepted.
5. Applicants will submit official transcripts from all educational institutions attended where a degree was conferred.
6. Additional transcripts from graduate coursework not leading to a degree may be submitted for advanced credit consideration.
7. Applicants will submit proof of licensure, registration, certificate, or professional recognition of eligibility to practice as a physical therapist.
8. A recommendation letter from a professional colleague must be submitted.
9. The recommendation letters should be addressed to the Admissions Committee and signed by the author of the recommendation letter.
   1. If the recommendation is in email form, a printed copy of the email including where the email originated (the author’s email address) and date sent should be seen on the printed copy.
10. Applicants will submit an Expanded Portfolio. Specific directions on how to complete the portfolio may be found at: https://www.atsu.edu/pdf/transitional-physical-therapy-portfolio-directions.pdf
11. Applicants will fill out the Employer Verification form for their employer to sign. The signed Employer Verification form must be submitted from a current or former employer within the past 10 years. For applicants who are self-employed, a colleague can sign the form.
12. All students are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T. Still University. See the ASHS English Proficiency section for more details.
    1. Option 1: English is your first language.
    2. Option 2: Graduated from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor (minimum BA or BS degree)
    3. Option 3: Demonstrate English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores from International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
       1. IELTS: 6.5
       2. TOEFL paper-based total score = 550
          1. Minimum 56 on Reading Skills
          2. Minimum 61 on Writing Skills
       3. TOEFL computer-based total score = 213
          1. Minimum 22 on Reading Skills
          2. Minimum 26 on Writing Skills
       4. TOEFL internet-based total score = 80
          1. Minimum 21 on Reading Skills
          2. Minimum 24 on Writing Skills
       5.   TOEFL Essentials Overall Score = 8.5
          1. Minimum 8.5 Reading Skills
          2. Minimum 10 Writing Skills

 Advanced Credit

Advanced credit is defined at ATSU-ASHS as credit awarded in professional programs based on a prior learning assessment. Credit will be awarded for specific advanced standing categories or for listed courses in the plan of study. [Post-Professional] Doctor of Physical Therapy applicants must submit requests for advanced credit by submitting a physical therapy professional portfolio.

Advanced credit is determined based on the application material and the program develops an Academic Degree Plan listing which courses students receive advanced credit with rationale.

Non-Degree Seeking Pathway

Non-degree seeking status may be granted to applicants with a cumulative GPA below 2.70. Students who achieve an A or B letter grade in two courses may subsequently apply for admission to the Post-professional DPT program.

Additional requirements are listed on the program website and catalog. Admission is not guaranteed by meeting the requirements above. 

Advanced Standing Admission

See the Advanced Credit section of the ASHS General Admissions Requirements .

International Student Admission

This online program is open to international applicants.

Graduation Requirements

To earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the online postprofessional program, all students must:

1. Complete all prescribed didactic and clinical courses and the capstone project (if required).
2. Pass all courses with a minimum grade of ‘C’ and maintain a 2.70 grade point average on a 4.0 scale.
3. Attending commencement is not required but highly recommended.

Curriculum

The curriculum offers a full spectrum of educational opportunities whose content meets or exceeds that described by the American Physical Therapy Association’s (APTA) Preferred Curricular Guide for the tDPT Program. We offer many courses including, but not limited to, differential diagnosis, radiology and imaging, evidence-based practice, and pharmacology.

Non-Degree Option

This option is designed for physiotherapists who were trained in countries outside the United States and are in the process of completing U.S. licensure requirements or degree equivalency for the first professional degree in the United States. There are many online Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy online courses, which help meet professional deficiencies as determined by one of the approved credentialing agencies:

• Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT)
• International Consultants of Delaware (ICD)
• International Education Research Foundation, Inc (IERF)
• World Education Services (WES)
• International Credentialing Associates (ICA)
• University of Texas at Austin (Credential reviews for Texas only)
• Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators (The Alliance)
• Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools (CGFNS)

*Any credential evaluation service that is a member of National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) is accepted.

Non-degree students may complete a maximum of 18 quarter credits while enrolled in the program.

Clinical internships are not offered.

Non-Degree Program Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the Post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy non-degree online program must meet the following requirements prior to matriculation.

1. Copy of credentialing evaluation for equivalency of degree, or copy of official letter from licensing board showing professional deficiencies.
   1. This is not applicable to those applying to the Non-degree Seeking Pathway of the Post-professional DPT program. See requirements as noted in the Non-Degree Seeking Pathway section.
2. Applicants are required to demonstrate proficiency in English when applying to the Arizona School of Health Sciences, A.T. Still University. Written and spoken proficiency in the English language may be demonstrated by one of the following options:
   1. Option 1 - English is your first language learned.
   2. Option 2 - Graduated from a college or university accredited by a U.S. Department of Education institutional accreditor (minimum BA or BS)
   3. Option 3 - You are demonstrating your English proficiency by submitting acceptable scores from International English Language Testing Systems (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Acceptable minimal scores for ASHS applications are:
      1. IELTS: 6.5
      2. TOEFL
         1. TOEFL Paper based total score = 550
            1. Minimum of 56 on Reading Skills section
            2. Minimum of 61 - 62 on Writing Skills section
         2. TOEFL Computer based total score = 213
            1. Minimum of 22 on Reading Skills section
            2. Minimum of 26 on Writing Skills section
         3. TOEFL Internet based total score = 80
            1. Minimum of 21 on Reading Skills section
            2. Minimum of 24 on Writing Skills section
         4. TOEFL Essentials Overall Score = 8.5
            1. Minumum 8.5 Reading Skills
            2. Minumum 10 Writing Skills 

Non-Degree Curriculum

The Doctor of Physical Therapy non-degree option offers multiple courses that meet educational deficiencies as determined by a credentialing evaluation. The deficiencies are reflective of necessary credit and/or content for specific state or jurisdictional licensing requirements.

Courses