Program Mission

The Physical Therapy program at Johnson & Wales University will prepare its graduates for professional practice as Doctors of Physical Therapy. Graduates will communicate and engage effectively with a diverse group of patients, caregivers and other providers during the provision of physical therapy services in a contemporary clinical environment as general practitioners of physical therapy. To accomplish this, students and graduates must demonstrate a commitment to self-directed lifelong learning, professionalism, empathy and service to others.

Program Goals

JWU’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program will:

1. Provide the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to prepare competent physical therapists for contemporary practice.
2. Cultivate reflective practitioners committed to lifelong learning and service to others.

Student Goals

DPT students will:

1. Demonstrate professional behaviors in all interactions in learning environments and with the clinical education community.
2. Demonstrate entry-level competence in didactic and clinical preparedness, including effective engagement with patients, caregivers and providers.

Graduate Goals

DPT graduates will:

1. Provide evidence-based, patient-centered care as entry-level practitioners of physical therapy in contemporary clinical settings.
2. Demonstrate professional behaviors consistent with the American Physical Therapy Code of Ethics for the Physical Therapy Profession.

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DPT Graduate Outcome Data

JWU’s Physical Therapy program begins in June 2025, with the first cohort graduating in May 2028. Matriculated student data will become available as follows:

• Graduation rate: N/A; First cohort graduates in May 2028
• First time pass rate on the NPTE: N/A; First cohort graduates in May 2028
• Overall pass rate on the NPTE: N/A; First cohort graduates in May 2028
• Employment rate: N/A; First cohort graduates in May 2028

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As part of the accreditation process, the program will submit a self-study and undergo a site visit in summer semester of 2027. CAPTE will then use this information in the Fall of 2027 to determine the program’s accreditation status. Students from the 2027 cohort are anticipated to graduate from the program on or around December 18, 2027. They will be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) in January of 2028. While not published at this time by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT), it is anticipated that the January NPTE will be conducted on or around January 26-27 of 2028, assuming FSBPT continues per its current scheduling format.