Physical Therapy

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

BGSU School of Physical Therapy is committed to establishing a diverse community of students, educators, and staff. We value all dimensions of diversity and actively pursue recruitment, admissions, and retention practices that enhance the representation of minoritized groups within physical therapy.  We respect the values, beliefs, and opinions of all community members.  We understand that a diverse community is a stronger community for the public good. 

Our Learning Model: Accelerated + Hybrid

Accelerated Defined

This approach allows completion of the DPT degree requirements in two years (versus the traditional three) while still meeting the established timing and content standards set by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).

Hybrid Defined

BGSU DPT students experience the benefit of living anywhere in the country while still being a part of the BGSU community. The accelerated, hybrid DPT program infuses contemporary learning technologies and experiences into modern professional training for aspiring physical therapists. By combining the best practices of distance learning with live, face-to-face immersive lab experiential sessions, the student is prepared to grow through clinical experiences both in their respective community as well as at nationally recognized centers of health care.

How Hybrid?
Students come to campus to learn psychomotor skills in lab immersions, six times (two weeks each) the first year while concurrently engaging with faculty and classmates in virtual synchronous and asynchronous course activities. During the second-year students begin to participate in clinical education internship experiences and come to campus for two lab immersions. See our sample academic calendar. This learning style is highly collaborative, engaging, and rigorous; the accelerated, hybrid curriculum requires the student to be a self-starter, highly organized, motivated and open to learning in new ways.

Learn more about pursuing your doctor of physical therapy at BGSU

Accreditation Information

Bowling Green State University has obtained approval from the Ohio Department of Higher Education and regionally through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) to offer the DPT degree.

Effective May 10, 2022, the Bowling Green State University Doctor of Physical Therapy Program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, Virginia 22305-3085; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). If needing to contact the program/institution directly, please call 419-216-0002 or email dpt-admissions@bgsu.edu. Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Candidate for Accreditation is an accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates the program may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status does not assure that the program will be granted Initial Accreditation.

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org)  or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website.

For more information about CAPTE standards, decisions and the accreditation process as it relates to developing programs in the pre-accreditation/candidacy status phase, please refer to the CAPTE Rules of Practice and Procedures, Sections 13.4.B and 13.4.C, re: Status of Enrolled Students (in the event of an adverse action).

National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) information for prospective students

Below is the U.S. Dept of Education (USDE) rule change which allows students enrolled in institutions with Candidate for Accreditation or "pre-accreditation" status to sit for the licensure exam immediately upon graduation. Further, because of this rule change, initial accreditation status is no longer required to sit for the exam. Additionally, cohort number two (2025 graduating class) may complete the program and take the exam if initial accreditation is not granted, due to the reconsideration and appeal processes (a year-long process).

From US Department of Education. Effective July 01, 2020: "All credits and degrees earned and issued by an institution or program holding pre-accreditation from a nationally recognized agency are considered by the Secretary to be from an accredited institution or program."

From CAPTE Changes in the Rules. April 2020. "Per USDE regulations, all credits and degrees earned and issued by a program holding candidacy are considered to be from an accredited program."