OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Open search box
Learn more about the program, meet faculty and ask questions at an upcoming virtual open house or connect session.
The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at OSU-Cascades will prepare you for a rewarding career as a physical therapist. You'll study at a top research university in state-of-the-art classrooms and labs, and then apply what you learn in the world-class physical therapy clinics of Bend, Oregon and throughout the state. Above all — you'll help people of all ages move more easily and lead better lives.
The Only DPT Program in Oregon at a Tier 1 Research University
Where Hands-On Means Hands-On
The doctor of physical therapy program is housed in a brand-new academic building with classrooms and laboratories custom-made for the program.
Christine Pollard is the director of the doctor of physical therapy program at OSU-Cascades. She founded the undergraduate kinesiology degree program at OSU-Cascades in 2011 and the FORCE biomechanics lab in 2013. Prior to joining OSU-Cascades she taught at the University of Southern California’s top-ranked Doctor of Physical Therapy program and California State University Long Beach’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Jordon Zardinejad | Academic Program Coordinator, Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
541-322-3118 | jordon.zardinejad@osucascades.edu
Effective July 13, 2021, Oregon State University - Cascades has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (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 541-322-3118 or email DPT@osucascades.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.
CAPTE Timing and the Licensing Exam.
The DPT program will be evaluated for full-accreditation status in the third year of the first cohort (2023/2024). Accreditation is anticipated to be received the spring of 2024 prior to graduation of the first cohort which will be June 2024. Based on Rule 7.2 (see below), graduates of the first cohort will be able to take the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) as early as July 2024.
New Rule: 7.2 Definition of Candidate for Accreditation
Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status, awarded prior to enrollment of students in the technical (PTA programs) or professional (PT programs) phase of the program, which indicates that the physical therapy education program is progressing toward accreditation. All credits and degrees earned and issued by a program holding candidacy are considered to be from an accredited program.