The DPT, while not currently required for PT licensure in the United States, is becoming the preferred professional degree for practicing physical therapists. In June of 2000, the APTA House of Delegates endorsed a vision statement, “Vision 2020,” affirming that:

“By the year 2020, physical therapy will be provided by physical therapists who are doctors of physical therapy, recognized by consumers and other health care professionals as the practitioners of choice to whom consumers have direct access for the diagnosis of, interventions for, and prevention of impairments, functional limitations, and disabilities related to movement, function and health.”

The DPT is a clinical doctoral degree and serves as a credential indicating completion of requirements to enter the profession, similar to the MD for medicine, the OD for optometry, the PharmD for pharmacy, and the DPM for podiatry. The DPT (a clinical doctoral degree) is not a PhD (a doctoral research degree) and does not signify advanced preparation or specialization. On its own it is not the ideal degree for a physical therapist pursuing a career in academics where research is an expectation.  However, completion of the degree will signify completion of coursework to update knowledge in the major areas of PT practice and advance clinical decision making skills commensurate with Vision 2020.