Recent legal and policy debates have questioned monopolies in professional licensing and accreditation. The James G. Martin Center recently published a report arguing that the American Bar Association (ABA) does not need to accredit law schools, based on legal precedent and economic analysis.
The Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) holds a comparable position in physical therapy education. Most states require applicants for licensure to graduate from a CAPTE-accredited program. Because CAPTE is the only recognized accreditor in the field, its requirement that all physical therapists complete a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program functions as a monopoly.
The DPT program typically lasts three years and costs $108,000 on average for in-state students, with out-of-state tuition around $126,000. Graduates often carry between $116,000 and $142,000 in student loan debt. Median salaries for physical therapists are approximately $89,000 per year, raising questions about the financial balance for many graduates.
Florida is considering changes that could challenge CAPTE’s position. Lawmakers, universities, and other stakeholders are reviewing state licensure rules to allow graduates from regionally accredited or master’s-level programs to qualify for licensure, provided they pass the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE). Advocates argue that no clear evidence links the DPT requirement with better board exam or clinical outcomes.
Workforce shortages support calls for reform. State data show physical therapy vacancies above 18 percent in some public health districts. Economic studies suggest that allowing master’s-level programs could reduce training costs by roughly 40 percent and increase the supply of licensed practitioners.
If Florida moves forward, public universities might revive Master of Physical Therapy (MPT) programs, and private institutions could develop accelerated combined bachelor’s and master’s tracks. Similar challenges may emerge in Texas, Ohio, and other states.
CAPTE and the American Physical Therapy Association defend the current accreditation model by citing quality and safety. Critics see the arrangement as an example of regulatory capture, where a private organization exercises control with little external oversight.
Sources
James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal, “The American Bar Association Needn’t Accredit Law Schools,” July 2025. https://jamesgmartin.center/2025/07/the-american-bar-association-neednt-accredit-law-schools
Texas Public Policy Foundation, Escape Hatches from Higher-Ed Accreditation, 2020. https://www.texaspolicy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Gillen-Escape-Hatches-from-Higher-Ed-Accreditation.pdf
American Physical Therapy Association, DPT cost and debt data: https://www.apta.org/your-career/careers-in-physical-therapy/becoming-a-pt
National Physical Therapy Exam pass rates and licensure information: https://www.fsbpt.org/
NGA Center for Best Practices, The Future of Occupational Licensing Reform, 2023.
No comments:
Post a Comment