DPT Program Receives 5-Year Accreditation

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) has granted five years of accreditation to West Coast University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program. This outstanding news follows more than three years of preparation for accreditation and comes right before the inaugural cohort graduates in December.

“We are so grateful for all our associates and colleagues who worked tirelessly to ensure our DPT program meets and exceeds the highest standards for a doctor of physical therapy program,” Co-President, Academics and Chief Learning Officer Jeb Egbert, Ph.D., shared. The accreditation granted by CAPTE allows WCU doctor of physical therapy students to sit for their licensure exam to become licensed physical therapists, which is critical as they begin their career.

“Our students and faculty believed in the vision we had for a world-class doctor of physical therapy program beginning more than three years ago, and today we’re able to honor that commitment by showing we are a fantastic and accredited program,” DPT program director and associate professor Teressa Brown, PT, DPT, PhD, OCS shared. “It takes a village to receive accreditation from CAPTE and it could not have been achieved without the collaboration between our faculty, clinical faculty, students and departments within administration.”

The inaugural cohort is in the home stretch of their DPT program and will receive their official graduation hoods at a ceremony on Dec. 8. Dr. Brown added that the cohort would be eligible to sit for the first board exam to become licensed physical therapists in January 2018.

“Receiving accreditation, and for five years, is such a great feeling and now our students have that extra boost heading into their final exams, presentations and board preparation,” Dr. Brown added.

Congratulations to the WCU DPT program on this accreditation milestone!


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