Curriculum
Bachelor's to tDPT
International tDPT Curriculum (Bachelor’s Degree to tDPT). Specially designed curriculum for foreign-trained physical therapists who wish to immigrate/license in the U.S.; or those already working in the U.S. having obtained their initial PT education in a foreign country; and those who desire a U.S. graduate degree as a means of status/career promotion.
| Bachelor's Level Student Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| PHT 7470 Clinical Integration I | 8 |
| PHT 7472 Clinical Integration II | 8 |
| PHT 7473 Clinical Integration III | 8 |
| PHT 7474 Clinical Integration IV | 7 |
| PHT 6035 Professionalism: Legal and Ethical Issues in Physical Therapy | 2 |
| HSC 7200 Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice | 1 |
| IPE 7000 Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies | 3 |
| IPE 7050 Evidence-Based Practice for Health Care Professionals | 3 |
| COM 7100 Professional Communications | 2 |
| PHT 6030 Consultation, Screening, and Delegation | 1 |
| HSC 6031 Cultural Competence | 1 |
| HSC 6034 Metabolic Disorders | 1 |
| PHT 6033 Basic Assessment and Intervention of the Integument | 1 |
| HSC 7300 Imaging for Physical and Occupational Therapists | 3 |
| HSC 7401 Pharmacology | 3 |
| HSC 7400 Differential Diagnosis or | 3 |
| BSC 7001 Foundations of Clinical Orthopaedics | 3 |
| PHT 7496 Capstone Project I and | 1 |
| PHT 7497 Capstone Project II | 4 |
| *Optional Licensure Preparation Course | 0 |
| Total Hours | 60 |
Master's to tDPT
| Master's Level Student Courses | Credit Hours |
|---|---|
| Specialization or non-specialization elective courses | 15 |
| HSC 7200 Information Literacy for Evidence-Based Practice | 1 |
| IPE 7000 Introduction to Interprofessional Scholarly Studies | 3 |
| PHT 7496 Capstone Project I and | 1 |
| PHT 7497 Capstone Project II or | 4 |
| PHT 6498 Clinical Immersion | 5 |
| Total Hours | 24 |
*Disclaimer: The University of St. Augustine (USA) International (Foreign-Trained) tDPT curriculum has been specifically designed to meet the most common areas of academic requirement by foreign-trained/educated physical therapists seeking licensure in the U.S. However, this is not a guarantee that all academic requirements of the FSBPT or state specific Boards of Physical Therapy will be met upon tDPT degree completion.
License Eligibility
The Foreign Credentialing Commission on Physical Therapy (FCCPT) has established the credentialing standards (Coursework Tools – CWT) for U.S. licensure eligibility for the NPTE1. A list of credentialing organizations can be found at the FSBPT website2. In order to become eligible for U.S. licensure, all academic transcripts, including USA tDPT transcripts, must be evaluated and credentialed.
All prospective licensees are required to take (and pass) the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). 1 State specific laws/rules examinations may also be required for licensure once the national exam is complete3. Each state has specific academic requirements for eligibility. The state board of physical therapy in which you wish to practice will have additional details to consider when completing the Degree Completion Plan for the tDPT program.
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). (2017). Non-U.S. Candidates. Retrieved from https://www.fsbpt.org/ExamCandidates/NationalExam(NPTE)/NonUSCandidates.aspx
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). (2017). Credentialing Organizations. Retrieved form https://www.fsbpt.org/FreeResources/CredentialingOrganizationsforNonUSCandidates.aspx
- Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT). (2017). State Licensing Authorities: Contact Information. Retrieved from https://www.fsbpt.org/FreeResources/LicensingAuthoritiesContactInformation.aspx
