BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2382
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 6, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Marty Block, Chair
AB 2382 (Blumenfield) - As Introduced: February 19, 2010
SUBJECT : California State University: Doctor of Physical
Therapy degrees.
SUMMARY : Authorizes the California State University (CSU) to
award the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree, as
distinguished from the doctoral degree programs at the
University of California (UC).
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Double-referral : This bill is double-referred to
the Assembly Business and Professions Committee. Therefore,
this analysis will focus only on the higher education issues
related to this bill.
Background : According to the United States Bureau of Labor
Statistics, demand for physical therapists (PTs) will increase
by 30% from 2008 to 2018, driven by the increasing elderly
population, the aging baby boom generation, and changes in
insurance reimbursement rates for PT services. Simultaneously,
the Commission on Accreditation for Physical Therapy Education
(CAPTE), which has sole responsibility for accrediting PT
education programs in the United States, revised its
accreditation standards last October to require the DPT as the
terminal degree instead of the Master's degree, requiring PT
Master's degree programs to convert to DPT programs by December
30, 2015. Programs that do not meet this criterion by that date
will be required to come into compliance no later than December
31, 2017, or lose accreditation.
What is CAPTE ? CAPTE is comprised of members of the American
Physical Therapy Association-a professional organization whose
mission is to represent and promote the PT profession, among
other things. Prospective PTs must have graduated from a
CAPTE-accredited program in order to sit for the National
Physical Therapy Examination, which is required for licensure.
Master Plan : One of the major features of the Master Plan for
Higher Education is the differentiation of functions among the
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public postsecondary segments. One of the advantages of this
structure is that it focuses limited state resources on a few
key responsibilities in each of the three public sectors.
Specifically, UC is given exclusive jurisdiction in public
higher education for doctoral degrees (although CSU can award
joint doctorates), with the exception of the Doctor of Education
(Ed.D) degree. CSU was granted the authority to offer the Ed.D
degree because data indicated that California lagged behind the
nation in Ed.D degrees per K-12 students, and UC did not offer
Ed.D programs.
Existing DPT programs : As of January 2010, there were 203 DPT
programs (96%) and only nine Master's programs (4%) accredited
nationally. There are currently nine private DPT programs in
California and one public program-a joint DPT between San
Francisco State University and UC San Francisco. The programs
average about 40 students, take approximately three years, and
cost $27,000 to $40,000 per year. CSU operates four PT Master's
programs at its Fresno, Northridge, Long Beach, and Sacramento
campuses. CSU Fresno does offer a nine-month DPT option upon
completion of a Master's degree in partnership with UC San
Francisco. According to the author, the existing DPT programs
cannot accommodate the demand, and the void is being filled by
private proprietary institutions, such as National University,
which is establishing a program in Los Angeles.
Need for this bill : Without legislation, four of CSU's PT
Master's programs will lose their accreditation by the end of
2017. The sponsor, the California Physical Therapy Association
(CPTA), points out that CSU's Master's degree programs in
audiology faced a similar situation a few years ago when the
national accrediting body for audiology increased the terminal
degree requirement to the doctorate. As a result, CSU's
audiology programs lost accreditation and are no longer offered.
CPTA also argues that CSU would provide a more affordable
option for students seeking at DPT that existing private
programs or joint programs with UC.
Difference between the DPT and Master's degrees : Master's
degree programs typically are two to two and one-half years in
length, while doctoral degree programs last three years.
Doctoral programs include a more robust clinical education and
diagnostic education.
What's the cost ? Doctoral degree programs are more costly to
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operate than baccalaureate or master's level programs. However,
representatives from the existing CSU Master's degree programs
maintain that their current curriculum is equivalent to a DPT,
and no additional funds will be needed for program planning,
facilities, or faculty growth. Staff suggests the following
language, consistent with existing law that authorizes CSU to
provide the Ed.D, to clarify costs as follows:
Funding on a per full-time equivalent student (FTES) basis
for each new student in the degree program shall be within
the California State University's enrollment growth levels
as agreed to in the annual Budget Act. Enrollments in the
degree program shall not alter the California State
University's ratio of graduate instruction to total
enrollment, and shall not diminish enrollment growth in
university undergraduate programs. Funding provided from
the state for each FTES shall be at the agreed-upon
marginal costs calculation that the California State
University receives for graduate enrollment.
California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) approval :
Current law generally requires colleges to seek and receive
approval by CPEC prior to commencing new programs of study. It
is unclear if CSU DPT programs authorized by this bill are to be
subject to or exempted from this process. As the process serves
to improve the quality of programs, avoid duplication, and
ensure best use of state resources, staff recommends that this
bill be amended to clarify that although this bill authorizes
CSU to offer DPT degree programs, such programs are not exempted
from any existing review and approval processes.
Definition of DPT : Staff recommends this bill be amended to
define the DPT degree.
Statewide evaluation : Staff recommends that CSU work with the
Department of Finance
and the Legislative Analyst's Office to jointly conduct a
statewide evaluation of the new programs implemented under this
article, providing data consistent with that provided on the
implementation of the Ed.D, as appropriate. The results of the
evaluation shall be reported, in writing, to the Legislature and
Governor on or before January 1, 2015.
Larger issue : This bill represents a larger issue facing
California and future professionals: national associations
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setting their own standards and then requiring schools to teach
to those standards or lose their accreditation. Shouldn't the
schools play a role in determining their educational standards?
The state must choose between allowing the private sector to
provide this education (at a high cost to students) or funding
public education program to comply with increased degree
requirements. Students must pay for additional education and
delay their entry into the workforce, and the economy could
suffer as the time and costs associated with increased education
requirements serve as a disincentive for students to enter the
profession. Should the state undertake a review of these
professional programs with accreditation increases on the
horizon and develop options instead of waiting for its existing
programs to face the loss of accreditation?
CSU position : CSU is neutral on this bill.
Related legislation : AB 867 (Nava) of 2009, pending in the
Senate Appropriations Committee, would grant CSU the authority
to award the Doctor in Nursing Practice degree. AB 724 (Scott),
Chapter 269, Statutes of 2005, authorized CSU to award the Ed.D,
DPT and the Doctor in Audiology degree. The latter two
provisions were removed due to objections by UC.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Hospital Association
California Physical Therapy Association
53 individuals
Opposition
California Medical Association
California Orthopaedic Association
Analysis Prepared by : Sandra Fried / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960