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HPU's inaugural cohort of DPT students is set to complete their education in summer and graduate in December 2024.
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HPU's DPT Honolulu program is the first and only program of its kind in Hawai'i.
HPU is honored to announce that its Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Honolulu program, launched in 2022, has earned full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE), marking a significant milestone for the University and the state of Hawaiʻi. Accreditation underscores the program's commitment to maintaining excellence in curriculum, faculty, facilities, and student outcomes.
DPT students participate in 32 weeks of collaborative clinical education experiences, more than 500 hours of on-campus instruction, and will complete their degrees a full year earlier than most DPT programs.
“This achievement reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students, highlighting Hawaiʻi Pacific University’s mission to provide an outstanding physical therapy education that prepares future clinicians to enhance the physical function, mobility, and health of people within their community,” said HPU DPT-Honolulu Program Director, Mary Jane Rapport, PT, DPT, Ph.D., FAPTA. “Achieving initial CAPTE accreditation is significant because it allows us to offer the DPT degree and qualifies our graduates to sit for their licensure exam. In addition, we are recognized among accredited DPT programs, an achievement that comes after many years of hard work.”
HPU’s DPT Honolulu program is the first and only program of its kind in Hawaiʻi. The program’s inaugural cohort of 93 students is set to complete their education this summer and graduate in December, with a second cohort already underway and the third cohort starting in late-August.
The program is delivered in 24 months using a unique hybrid course delivery, allowing students the flexibility to learn online, while providing ample hands-on experience through on-campus lab immersions. Students participate in 32 weeks of collaborative clinical education experiences, more than 500 hours of on-campus instruction, and will complete their degrees a full year earlier than most DPT programs.
“This accreditation is a testament to our commitment at HPU to continuously innovate and deliver a rigorous healthcare education that is conducive to the schedules of our students’ professional and personal lives. We pride ourselves on offering cutting-edge programs that prepare our students to lead in their fields,” said HPU Dean of the Graduate College of Health Sciences Tricia Catalino, PT, DSc.
“In addition to the Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Honolulu, our Graduate College of Health Sciences also offers the Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD) and Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant (MMS-PA) degrees, both of which are the only programs of their kind offered in Hawaiʻi. We are expanding our reach to the mainland, launching our hybrid OTD program in August and our hybrid DPT program in January in Las Vegas, Nevada. These programs further showcase our dedication to providing diverse and comprehensive healthcare education that meets the evolving needs of our communities."
