Entry Level Education Concerns about the Proposed Change

This article provides an examination of the APTA proposal to change the entry level educational requirement for physical therapists to a postbaccalaureate degree. Some of the reasons for maintaining the present requirements are cited as financial crises in institutions of higher education, anticipated declines in enrollment, and lack of qualified physical therapy faculty. Other arguments include the anticipated negative effects on the applicant pool and decreased federal health spending, as well as the lack of data on present physical therapy manpower needs and distribution