Physical Therapy — D.P.T. (Entry Level)

Program director
Lawrence E. Chinnock

Directors of clinical education
Henry Garcia
Theresa Joseph

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy (D.P.T.) degree is for individuals who have no previous degree in physical therapy or who have an associate's degree in the field of physical therapy. The D.P.T. degree curriculum lasts for three years. Individuals must have an earned bachelor degree in any field prior to entering the program.

Clinical experience

Supervised experience is obtained in a variety of settings and at different times during the course of study. First-year students complete a one-week clinical experience during the spring module. Second-year students complete a one-week clinical experience during fall module. The major clinical experiences are during the third year. Student are assigned experiences as follows: 6 weeks during summer module, 14 weeks during fall module, and 14 weeks during winter module.

The director of clinical education (or a designee) plans and schedules all clinical assignments. Because of the limited number of local facilities available, assignments cannot be made on the basis of the student's family/marital status or personal preference. Although the department makes an effort to accommodate the student's preference, the student agrees to accept the clinical assignments made by the department at any of the affiliated facilities, whether local or out of state. Students should expect that at least one rotation will be beyond commuting distance from Loma Linda University. Many clinical sites will require the student to have a current flu vaccine if the rotation is during flu season. Therefore, the University requires that all students receive the flu vaccine on a yearly basis.

Program learning outcomes

Upon completion of the degree, the graduate should be able to:

1. Conduct a safe and effective physical therapy practice.
2. Demonstrate compassion and respect during interactions with individuals from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
3. Think critically and integrate evidence-based practice into their clinical decision-making skill set.
4. Apply ethical and legal parameters surrounding the profession of physical therapy.
5. Provide evidence-based clinical care utilizing collaborative relationships among the patient, physical therapist, and other healthcare practitioners.
6. Make use of effective verbal and nonverbal communication with instructors, classmates, and clinical personnel as needed to work effectively as a member of a healthcare team.

Professional association

Students and graduates are eligible for membership in the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA). The objective of the association is to foster development and improvement of service and education. This organization grants student membership at a nominal cost to students in member schools. The student is required to become a member of this association while in the program and is encouraged to read the journal and attend the APTA-sponsored meetings.

Professional registration

Satisfactory completion of the entry-level D.P.T. degree requirements qualifies the student to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination. Information about the state registries of physical therapists can be obtained at the office of the department chair. All states require that a physical therapist pass the National Physical Therapy Examination for license to practice. A California application form and fee are submitted to the Physical Therapy Board of California, 2005 Evergreen Street, Suite 2600, Sacramento, CA 95815; telephone: 916-561-8200; PTBC website.

The entry-level Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Loma Linda University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; telephone: 800/999-2782; email: accreditation@apta.org; CAPTE website.

Admission is based on a selective process. Criteria used include: G.P.A., completion of subject requirements, interview, and recommendations. In addition to Loma Linda University and School of Allied Health Professions admissions requirements, the applicant must also complete the following requirements:

• an earned bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited college or university
• a minimum prerequisite G.P.A. of 3.4
• work/observation experience—A minimum of 80 hours of work /observation experience is required prior to beginning the degree. Of the 80 hours, a minimum of 20 hours must be in an inpatient physical therapy setting and a minimum of 20 hours must be in an outpatient physical therapy setting.

Prerequisite courses

• anatomy and physiology, complete sequence with laboratory
• general chemistry, complete sequence with laboratory
• general physics, complete sequence with laboratory
• two additional biological science courses (e.g. cell biology, microbiology, exercise physiology, upper division anatomy and/or physiology,)
• statistics
• medical terminology
• general psychology
• human growth and development (developmental psychology, child psychology)
• one course in basic communication (speech)

Technology requirement

Students are required to have an iPad that can be brought to class with them as the majority of quizzes and tests are completed on the device.  

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Fulfills service learning requirement

Noncourse requirement

Program completion and eligibility to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) is dependent on successful completion of all coursework and passing a final comprehensive examination.

Normal time to complete the program

Three (3) years (12 academic quarters) — full-time enrollment required