Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT)

Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, 3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100, Alexandria, VA 22305-3085; phone; 703-706-3245; accreditationsupport@apta.org is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states. 

Candidacy is considered to be an accredited status, as such the credits and degree earned from a program with Candidacy status are considered, by CAPTE, to be from an accredited program. Therefore, students in the charter (first) class should be eligible to take the licensure exam even if CAPTE withholds accreditation at the end of the candidacy period. That said, it is up to each state licensing agency, not CAPTE, to determine who is eligible for licensure. Information on licensing requirements should be directed to the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy (FSBPT; www.fsbpt.org) or specific state boards (a list of state boards and contact information is available on FSBPT's website. 

Marian University is seeking accreditation of a new physical therapist education program from CAPTE. On April 30, 2026 the program submitted an Application for Candidacy, which is the formal application required in the pre-accreditation stage. Submission of this document does not assure that the program will be granted Candidate for Accreditation status. Achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status is required prior to implementation of the professional phase of the program; therefore, no students may be enrolled in professional courses until Candidate for Accreditation status has been achieved. Further, though achievement of Candidate for Accreditation status signifies satisfactory progress toward accreditation, it does not assure that the program will be granted accreditation. 

Accreditation Status and Timeline

The Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program at Marian University is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). A decision from CAPTE regarding the program's achievement of candidacy status is expected in November 2026. Graduates of the charter (first) class would be eligible to sit for the licensure examination beginning in January 2030.

State Licensure Information

Graduation from a CAPTE-accredited physical therapist education program is required to be eligible to sit for the National Physical Therapy Examination (NPTE). If the DPT program at Marian achieves CAPTE candidacy status, graduates of the first cohort would be eligible to apply to take the NPTE.

Passage of the NPTE is required for licensure as a physical therapist in all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Licensure is granted by individual state or territorial licensing authorities and may also require additional steps, including, but not limited to:

• Jurisprudence examinations
• Background checks
• Continuing education requirements
• State-specific application processes and fees

Important Student Considerations:

Prospective students should:

• Carefully review the licensure requirements in their intended state or territory of practice.
• Understand that accreditation is not guaranteed, and timelines may change
• Consider the financial and career implications of enrolling in a not-yet-accredited program.

For current accreditation status updates, contact Dr. Stephanie A. Miller smiller1@marian.edu or visit the MU PT Website.

See the Financial Fact Sheet and contact the Financial Aid Office for more information.

Scholarships & Graduate Assistantships

Marian University's Doctor of Physical Therapy program is committed to supporting students in making their education accessible and achievable. Departmental scholarships and graduate assistantship opportunities are available to enrolled students.

Departmental Scholarships: All students admitted to the DPT program are considered for available departmental scholarships. No separate scholarship application is required.

Graduate Assistantships: Graduate assistantship positions offer eligible students the opportunity to contribute to the academic community while gaining professional experience. During the PTCAS application process, applicants will be asked whether they wish to be considered for a graduate assistantship. Students who express interest will receive assistantship application materials in late fall for review and consideration.

Program Goals 

• Promote academic, clinical, and scholarly excellence through support for the delivery of innovative curricula, access to institutional and faculty resources, and growth of collaborative partnerships.  
• Promote curricula grounded in the Marian University Franciscan sponsorship values.  

Graduate and Learner Goals 

• Graduates and learners will demonstrate competence through the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required for adaptive and autonomous physical therapy practice.
• Graduates and learners will incorporate the Marian University Franciscan sponsorship values of dignity of the individual, peace & justice, reconciliation, and responsible stewardship into their professional identity. 
• Graduates and learners will implement evidence-informed practice and collaborative strategies into physical therapist practice to optimize health outcomes.   

Faculty Goal 

• Faculty will exemplify leadership as physical therapy educators and scholars, and through active engagement in their communities.  

Class Profile (Charter, First Class)  

Information on the Charter, First Class, will be updated as it becomes available.  

• Acceptance Rate: TBD
• Matriculation Rate:  TBD
• Class Size: TBD
• First Generation: TBD
• Residence: TBD
• Average Cumulative GPA: TBD
• Average Prerequisite GPA: TBD 

Program Outcomes  

Student outcomes will be provided as they become available.  

• Graduation Rate: TBD
• Licensure Pass Rates on the NPTE 
  • Ultimate Pass Rate: TBD 
  • First-Time Pass Rate: TBD 
• Employment Rate: TBD

Department of Physical Therapy Complaint Policy  

The public or any interested party of the Marian University DPT and/or PTA program (e.g., prospective or enrolled students, volunteers, clinical education sites, employers) have the right to file a complaint with the respective program. A complaint is defined as a concern about an experience with the program or encounter with faculty, staff, or students of the program and fall outside the realm of due process. The program encourages individuals with a complaint to first attempt to resolve the issue directly with the party of interest. If unable to resolve, then submission of formal complaints must include:  

1. Formal complaints must be in writing, signed, and dated 
2. Anonymous complaints will not be accepted 
3. The complaint must be described with supporting evidence, if available 
4. Complaints should be submitted to the respective Program Director via email or regular mail:  

Stephanie A. Miller, PT, PhD 
Program Director, DPT Program
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Rd. 
Indianapolis, IN 46222
smiller1@marian.edu   

Marjorie Britt, PT, DHSc
Program Director, PTA Program
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46222
mbritt@marian.edu

5. If your complaint is with one of the Program Directors, the complaint should be submitted to the Associate Dean via email or regular mail:

Kate E. Huber, OTR, OTD, EdD
Associate Dean of Health Science
Marian University
3200 Cold Spring Rd.
Indianapolis, IN 46222
khuber@marian.edu 

*Complaints by enrolled students, faculty, or staff will follow respective grievance policies and procedures in the Faculty Handbooks. Academic-related complaints by enrolled students will follow respective grievance or appeal policies and procedures in the Student Handbooks. 

The DPT and PTA programs are committed to maintaining the highest standards of professional education, taking any complaint seriously. The process of handling complaints includes:  

1. Timely notification to the complainant that the complaint has been received and is under review.  
2. The complaint will be reviewed with the program administrative team (including Program Director, Director of Clinical Education, and Department Chair, or Designee) 
3. Additional action may include but not limited to further investigation by a designated task force, communication with the complainant or responsible parties, consideration by the core faculty and/or Dean.  
4. The administrative team and/or task force will generate a report, including:  
   • The details of the complaint 
   • Findings that support or refute the complaint 
   • Recommended corrective action, if applicable 
5. Within 30 calendar days of receipt of the complaint, the final determination will be provided to the complainant in writing and will detail the findings of the review and corrective action identified, if applicable.  
   • This response will include the name and contact information for the next level of administration support to allow the complainant to pursue the complaint if they find the response unsatisfactory 
   • If the complaint pertains to a standing committee of the department or program, the final report will be provided to the appropriate committee.  
6. Electronic records of complaints will be confidentially maintained by the respective Program Director for 5 years.  
7. Retaliation against any individual who files a complaint is prohibited.

Alternatively, an individual may also file a confidential, formal complaint directly to CAPTE related to an alleged violation of one or more of the Accreditation Standards and Required Elements or one or more of CAPTE’s expectations related to program integrity. To submit a formal complaint to CAPTE, see the contact information below:    

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) 
3030 Potomac Ave., Suite 100 
Alexandria, VA 22305-3085 
Phone: 703-706-3245 
Email: accreditationsupport@apta.org 
Website: Process of filing a complaint with CAPTE