Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) has a new doctor of physical therapy (DPT) program that has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE).
This milestone affirms that the program meets CAPTE’s rigorous standards and is authorized to begin enrolling students into professional coursework, according to an SCU press release.
SCU’s DPT program was intentionally designed to prepare practice-ready physical therapists. The program’s distinctive features include:
- Accelerated completion – Students earn a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree in as little as 24 months through a streamlined, high-quality curriculum.
- Hybrid learning model – Online coursework provides flexibility, while immersive on-campus labs allow students to master hands-on skills in SCU’s state-of-the-art facilities.
- Whole health integration – Consistent with SCU’s institutional mission, the DPT program emphasizes whole-person, movement-based health, encouraging students to consider lifestyle, cultural, emotional and environmental factors in patient care
- Interprofessional education – Students learn alongside peers in complementary programs such as chiropractic, Ayurveda, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, physician assistant, and occupational therapy, gaining experience in team-based care reflective of real clinical environments.
- Practice-ready preparation – The curriculum is designed and taught by experienced faculty who bring decades of clinical expertise, ensuring graduates enter the field with strong clinical reasoning, patient communication and hands-on competencies.
“Achieving candidacy status is a tremendous milestone for our program and for the future of physical therapy education at SCU,” said Craig Ruby, Program Director for the Doctor of Physical Therapy program. “This designation reflects the dedication of our faculty and leadership team to building a rigorous, innovative curriculum that prepares practice-ready clinicians committed to whole-person care.”
What candidacy status means for students
Candidacy is a significant step in the program development process. While it does not guarantee initial accreditation, CAPTE’s designation confirms that SCU’s DPT program is functioning at a level consistent with accredited programs.
Students enrolled during candidacy are considered by CAPTE to be graduating from an accredited program, meaning they are expected to be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE) upon graduation, even if CAPTE ultimately withholds initial accreditation. However, eligibility is determined by each state’s licensing agency.
The university will continue through CAPTE’s multi-year review process as students progress through the curriculum, culminating in a full accreditation evaluation in 2027.
For more information, visit scuhs.edu.
About Southern California University of Health Sciences
Southern California University of Health Sciences (SCU) is one of the world’s only integrative, whole health universities—teaching students to blend the best of conventional medicine with proven complementary approaches, and to treat the whole person (body, mind and spirit). Founded in 1911, SCU has been challenging convention and pushing healthcare forward for more than 100 years. Today, the institution offers graduate, undergraduate and certificate programs in a wide range of disciplines, including Chiropractic, Sports Medicine, Physical & Occupational Therapy, Genetic Counseling, Genetics & Genomics, Medical Science, Physician Assistant, Ayurveda, Acupuncture & Chinese Herbal Medicine, Clinical Psychology, Whole Health Leadership and beyond. Learn more at scuhs.edu.
