June 24, 2010
The Honorable
Appropriations Committee
California Senate
Sacramento, CA
Dear Senator
I am writing to urge your support for AB2382.
I ask you to support continuing physical therapy education in the CSU system. Physical therapy education will soon require a doctorate in order for graduates to obtain licensure and practice in the field in California or any state. Currently, 98% of physical therapy programs across the country are awarding the DPT. All programs must offer the DPT by 2015. All CSU physical therapy curricula are fully accredited and meet the same rigorous criteria as all of the programs currently awarding the DPT but cannot offer the DPT because of the Donohoe Act.
The CSU physical therapy programs educate 38% of California’s physical therapists and physical therapy is the 10th fastest growing occupation in California. Closing CSU schools because they cannot offer the DPT will produce a tremendous shortage of graduates at a time when the need is expected to increase 30% by 2020.
Granting the CSU authority to offer the DPT will actually allow CSU to continue to meet the mission and intent of the Donohoe Higher Ed Act. That act, passed in 1960, states that one of the primary functions of the state colleges is the provision of instruction in applied fields and in the professions.
The CSU programs have the infrastructure in place and curricular expertise to continue to provide their successful programs. The DPT in the CSU system will be cost neutral to the state because of implementation of professional fees for the programs. At CSULB, the MPT curriculum requires students to take 98 units (this includes prerequisites that students must take at CSULB and clinical affiliations after graduation). The proposed DPT program only will add 12 additional units.
Thank you for your leadership in the legislature in California. I am hopeful you will strongly support AB2382 to serve the people of the state.
Sincerely,