The landscape of physical therapy education may be on the verge of a major shift. Recent proposals from the United States Department of Education (ED) could reclassify which graduate programs qualify as “professional degrees” for federal loan and regulatory purposes. And notably, the Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree may not be included.
While these changes are still only proposed and not yet final, the downstream consequences could be significant—for students, universities, the physical therapy profession, and ultimately patients.
As a Senior Faculty member of AAMT and owner of GO Physio, I want to break down what this potential change means, why it matters, and how our profession can adapt.
What Is Changing?
The ED has proposed a new, narrower definition of “professional degree programs”—programs that qualify students for higher federal borrowing limits and certain regulatory protections.
Under the draft criteria, a program must:
- Prepare students for practice in a specific profession
- Require more than a bachelor’s degree
- Include at least six years of academic instruction
- Require licensure
- Be a doctoral degree (with limited exceptions)
- Fall within specific Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) codes tied to an explicit list of professions (medicine, dentistry, law, veterinary medicine, etc.)
The problem?
Physical therapy does not appear on the initial list of included professions—meaning the DPT could lose its federal status as a “professional degree” for loan-eligibility purposes.
This does not change licensure, accreditation, or clinical practice standards.
But it does change the financial and regulatory environment surrounding physical therapy education.
Why This Matters: The Real-World Consequences
1. Reduced Federal Student Loan Access for Future DPT Students
If the DPT is excluded from the “professional degree” category, DPT students may lose access to the higher annual and lifetime federal borrowing caps currently afforded to other professional doctoral students (medicine, law, dentistry, etc.).
This means:
- More students forced into higher-interest private loans
- Greater financial pressure on applicants
- Some prospective PTs being priced out of the profession entirely
Given that DPT tuition has steadily increased over the past decade, this could become the single largest barrier to entering the field.
2. Enrollment Drops and Program Contraction
If students can’t finance the degree, fewer will enroll.
This could lead to:
- Smaller DPT class sizes
- Some universities scaling back programs
- Potential closures of newer or less-resourced DPT programs
And because residencies and fellowships rely heavily on robust DPT pipelines, the effects will cascade.
3. A Perceived “Downgrading” of the Degree
Whether fair or not, the classification of a degree influences public perception.
A federal downgrade could make some question whether the DPT belongs alongside other doctoral-level clinical degrees. This may affect:
- Employer assumptions
- Interprofessional recognition
- Advocacy efforts for scope of practice
- Long-term professional identity
Optics matter—even when training quality remains unchanged.
4. Long-Term Workforce Shortages
Physical therapists already face shortages in many regions.
A financial barrier at the entry point would significantly worsen:
- Access to care
- Wait times
- Availability of advanced clinical services
- The pipeline of PTs pursuing specializations like manual therapy or sports rehabilitation
This could especially impact areas like orthopaedic manual therapy (your Fellowship), sports injury rehab, rural care, and high-performance running injury care.
Could This Lead to Borrower Defense Claims? A New Legal Angle for DPT Graduates
One of the least discussed—but potentially most important—implications of the DPT’s possible reclassification is the question of Borrower Defense to Repayment, a federal loan-forgiveness pathway for students who were misled by their institution.
If the Department of Education ultimately decides that the DPT does not meet the definition of a “professional degree,” despite decades of university marketing claiming otherwise, a new argument may emerge:
Were students encouraged to take on “professional-degree-level” debt for a degree the federal government now says is not professional?
This could open the door to borrower defense claims built on several factors:
1. Universities marketed the DPT as a professional, doctoral-level clinical degree
Most DPT programs explicitly advertise:
- Professional doctoral status
- Parity with other clinical doctorates
- Advanced level of scientific and clinical rigor
- Justification for higher tuition
A federal reclassification could contradict this messaging.
2. Borrower Defense cases often hinge on misrepresentation of value
Historically, successful claims involved:
- Overstated job placement or licensure outcomes
- Misleading claims about degree quality or earning potential
- Misrepresentations about a program’s professional standing
A federal statement that the DPT is not a professional degree could be viewed as evidence that students were misled about the degree’s official status or economic value.
3. Financial harm is clear and measurable
DPT graduates routinely carry $120,000–$200,000+ in debt.
If their degree loses access to professional-level borrowing or repayment protections, some may argue they incurred:
- Excessive debt
- Under misrepresented degree expectations
- With long-term financial consequences
This strengthens the argument of material harm.
4. Potential for collective legal action
While nothing is guaranteed, the ingredients for group claims exist:
- High debt load
- Clear marketing language
- A sudden shift in federal definition
- A legal mechanism intended for misrepresentation cases
Even if claims are ultimately rejected, the conversation itself will influence public perception and policy discussion.
5. Universities may need to revise marketing and recruitment language
If the rule passes, institutions may have to update:
- Program descriptions
- “Professional degree” claims
- Expectations around earnings
- Debt disclosures
This could further reshape how future students view the DPT pathway.
Impact on Clinics and the Future of Movement Health
Fewer PTs entering the field means fewer specialists
Clinics like GO Physio—which depend on highly skilled clinicians in:
- Orthopaedic manual therapy
- Dry needling
- Running and sports injury rehabilitation
could face greater difficulty hiring and retaining top talent.
Higher debt loads may change career choices
Graduates may choose:
- Higher-paying hospital roles over outpatient orthopaedics
- Non-clinical roles to manage debt
- Avoiding advanced training due to additional cost
This could diminish the availability of advanced skill sets in the community.
All of this ultimately affects patient access
Especially for runners, athletes, and individuals with complex musculoskeletal needs—populations that depend on PTs with advanced manual skills.
How the Profession Should Respond
1. Advocate for Inclusion
The APTA, education leaders, and clinic owners should actively participate in the public comment process once the ED publishes the official rule language.
2. Strengthen Transparency and Value
DPT programs may need to provide clearer communication about:
- True cost
- Expected earnings
- Career pathways
- The value of advanced specialization
3. Support Students with More Financial Pathways
This may include:
- Scholarships
- Employer partnerships
- Paid residency/fellowship models
- Loan repayment incentives
4. Innovate Training Models
This change could accelerate:
- Hybrid or lower-cost delivery models
- Shorter pathways from DPT to advanced competencies
- Online and modular specialty training
- Expansion of Fellowship-level education that provides career differentiation
What’s Next?
Nothing is finalized yet.
The Department of Education’s proposal must go through:
- Notice
- Public comments
- Revision
- Implementation
But the direction is clear: federal classifications are tightening, and physical therapy may be left out unless the profession responds proactively.
Final Thoughts
If the DPT loses its designation as a federally recognized “professional degree,” the consequences will stretch far beyond loan limits. It could influence:
- Enrollment
- Workforce supply
- Clinical specialization
- Public perception
- Legal exposure for academic institutions
- The financial stability of an entire generation of physical therapists
But with awareness, advocacy, and innovation, the profession can navigate this challenge.
PTs play an essential role in America’s movement health—especially in orthopaedics, sports, and running injuries. Ensuring that physical therapists continue to enter the field, thrive in the field, and advance the field must remain a top priority.