JWU's Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Earns Candidacy for Accreditation

PRESS RELEASE

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — March 18, 2025 – Johnson & Wales University has been granted candidacy for accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) for its new Doctor of Physical Therapy program. The university is currently accepting applications for the program ahead of the first cohort of students starting in June 2025. 

CAPTE awards candidacy for accreditation before the first classes of new programs begin. This indicates that program the is making progress in the accreditation process and is expected to be awarded full accreditation. A student who completes their degree with this distinction is considered to have been in an accredited program.

“We are thrilled to have been awarded candidacy for accreditation,” said program director Adam Thomas, PT, DPT, EdD, SCS, ATC. “Achieving candidacy is a significant step toward providing our students with the high-quality education and clinical training they need to excel in the field of physical therapy. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of excellence as we continue to grow and prepare the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

The 30-month, eight semester program will include 90 hours of Integrated Clinical Experiences (ICE), 40 weeks of full-time Clinical Education, along with service-learning, and a research capstone, allowing students to develop a versatile skillset that can be applied to all facets of PT, including outpatient therapy, inpatient rehabilitation, and home health services.

“The new DPT program, announced in August 2024, joins our nursing, nutrition & dietetics, master of public health, occupational therapy, and physician assistant programs. It continues JWU’s commitment to meeting industry demand by offering top-quality healthcare education,” said College of Health & Wellness Dean Maura Iversen, DPT, SD, MPH.

Learn more about the program here. Interested students are encouraged to contact the program director. Formal applications will be accepted once the accreditation process is complete.  

While achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation.

About JWU

Founded in 1914, Johnson & Wales University is a private, nonprofit, accredited institution with more than 8,000 graduate, undergraduate and online students at its campuses in Providence, Rhode Island and Charlotte, North Carolina. An innovative educational leader, the university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in arts and sciences, business, engineering, food innovation, hospitality, nutrition, health and wellness. It also offers undergraduate programs in culinary arts, dietetics and design. JWU’s unique model provide students with the personalized attention, academic expertise and industry connections that inspire professional success and personal growth. The time students spend at JWU is nothing short of transformative, as demonstrated by career outcomes, expected earnings and economic mobility rankings. The university’s impact is global, with alumni in 125 countries pursuing careers worldwide. 

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