Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University's doctor of physical therapy program has been granted candidacy status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, paving the way for the program to enroll students and begin its inaugural class this month.

"The success of the program is the result of a team effort involving physical therapy faculty, clinicians and administrative assistants working in harmony with higher administration at ISU," said Howell Tapley, associate professor and director of the physical therapy program.

"The program is committed to providing high quality education to up-and-coming physical therapists, and prides itself in providing an affordable alternative to doctor of physical therapy education in Indiana," he said. "Indiana residents are favored in the application process, and the program emphasizes training future practitioners to work in rural and/or underserved areas."

Jack Turman, dean of Indiana State's College of Nursing, Health, and Human Services, congratulated those involved in seeking the program's candidacy."A special thanks to Dr. Tapley for managing this process and getting us to this point. I am very appreciative of all his efforts and of the great support of the senior administration," Turman said. "This program is important to our college, university, community and state. It is just one more way we are working to ensure a healthier future for Indiana."

The program submitted an application for candidacy on Dec. 1, then hosted an on-site visit from the accreditation commission in January. The program will submit a self-study report and then host an on-site visit in the fall of 2017. An accreditation decision is expected in the spring of 2018.

Effective (April 29, 2015), Doctor of Physical Therapy Program/Indiana State University has been granted candidate for accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org).

Candidate for accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates that the program is progressing toward accreditation and may matriculate students in technical/professional courses. Candidate for accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

Contact: Howell Tapley, associate professor and director, doctor of physical therapy program, department of applied medicine and rehabilitation, Indiana State University, 812-237-4428 or howell.tapley@indstate.edu.