Messiah’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program granted CAPTE accreditation

Messiah’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program granted CAPTE accreditation 

The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) has granted accreditation to Messiah University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program.

“Having a CAPTE-accredited program is more than just an indicator of quality, it is essential to obtaining physical therapy licensure,” said Karl Bergmann, Messiah’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program director. CAPTE accredits physical therapy programs to assure the quality­­­ of course work and that programs produce graduates qualified to serve the public.

“Our faculty, staff and administration have worked diligently to develop a DPT program that meets all of the CAPTE standards and is aligned with the Messiah University mission,” said Dr. Rob Pepper, associate provost for graduate and professional studies and university partnerships. “Achieving CAPTE accreditation during the challenges over the past two years due to COVID-19 is a testament to the members of Messiah University who have labored together to build this outstanding program.”

Messiah University’s DPT program is a full-time, residential, 110-credit program designed to prepare physical therapists for careers as practitioners, educators, administrators and consultants in a variety of professional settings including hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, homecare programs, schools and private practices.

“In addition to accreditation, Messiah’s DPT program offers faith integration, faculty with expertise in multiple PT specialties and the opportunity to study and train at Winding Hill,” said Bergmann. Winding Hill is a newly designed education facility customized to the needs of physical therapy students and includes exercise, cadaver, musculoskeletal and pediatric labs as well as dedicated research rooms and a full-size ADL apartment.

Messiah University is the first institution within the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic Region to offer a graduate program in physical therapy. The first cohort of the DPT program graduated in May 2022.

Learn more at messiah.edu/DPT.