Tufts’ Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Boston earns accreditation
Effective November 24, 2022, Tufts University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Boston program completed the accreditation process and received full accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
CAPTE is the accrediting agency for physical therapist and physical therapist assistant education programs and is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
Receiving full accreditation means that the Tufts DPT-Boston program meets the standards of quality set by the physical therapy profession and grants graduating students the eligibility to sit for the licensing exam.
“The accreditation process is rigorous and detailed to ensure that we have met the education standards for the physical therapy profession,” said Megan Donaldson PT, PhD, Tufts DPT Boston program director. “We have an incredible team in Boston with exceptional faculty and staff that helps to ensure we can provide a Tufts-quality education and experience for our DPT students. We are currently in our second year of teaching physical therapy students and believe we have built something special here in Boston. Receiving accreditation allows us to continue to meet our mission while ensuring that the students can graduate and seek licensure in the state they wish to work.”
The accreditation process for new programs happens in stages, the application for candidacy, becoming a candidate for accreditation, and receiving accreditation. The DPT Boston program became a candidate for accreditation May 2020, enrolled its first class—which will graduate this December—in January 2021, and is now accredited.
“I am very proud of the Tufts DPT-Boston’s successful accreditation outcome—though not surprised, said Aviva Must, MD, MPH, dean of public health and professional degree programs, and chair of public health and community medicine. “Dr. Donaldson, inaugural program director, amassed an extraordinary team laser-focused on developing excellent clinicians for the physical therapy workforce. We are delighted that our first cohort of students will graduate from a fully accredited program.”
Tufts’ DPT programs follow a hybrid, accelerated model, which is delivered through a combination of online courses, on-campus clinical skills labs, and transformative clinical education experiences. Students graduate in seven semesters without needing to relocate. The Phoenix program, which launched in 2022, is projected to receive its accreditation in 2024.
Learn More About Tufts’ DPT Programs