No DPT? Look in the Mirror...

As you know, part of Vision 2020 involves our transitioning to a doctoring profession. I don't know what the exact percentages are, but I suspect about 50% of programs have converted by now. So, a logical question might be whether any states have taken steps toward changing the regulatory designation for licensees from “PT” to “DPT.” Unfortunately, the answer to this question is apparently no.

As you may recall, there was a motion at the 2005 House of Delegates that eventually led to an exploration of the various aspects of what goes into changing the regulatory designation. I was not there to hear the debate, but I am virtually certain it went something like this..."It's not fair if someone else gets a regulatory DPT when I worked so hard to get my academic DPT (hear the usual PT whining tone). That would mean I spent all that money for nothing (because remember, it's not about the training [wink, wink]...it's about the initials) (again, more whining tone implied)." I suspect the questioning went on about how dare we grandfather PTs who didn't get an academic DPT (again, life is more unfair to PTs than anyone else on the planet).

I don't know what stars will have to align before the states shift the regulatory designation to DPT, but I do know that the major barriers to our being a DPT profession are mostly self-inflicted (remember, we are our own worst enemies). Why in the world we don’t simply agree to wake up in the morning and be DPTs is beyond me. Who knows...we just might start acting like it. So, if you're curious why we haven't changed the regulatory credential to DPT, look in the mirror. Thoughts?

John