What the heck's a DPT?

"So you've graduated. Now what?"

You might think that the above question would be the question I am most tired of answering. 

It isn't. 

(Mostly because that is a question for which I do not have an answer.)

The question I am actually the most tired of answering is, 
"So is a DPT the same thing as a PhD?"

To which the answer is simply: "No."

However, rarely does that satisfy the inquisitive conversation starter.

So by way of blog, I hope to defer all of these people who seem oh so interested in my educational career choice but cant seem to comprehend what I've been up to for the past 7 years.

Example:

Question: "So is a DPT like a PhD?"

Answer: "No. Please go to www.RecumbentDNA.Blogspot.com for clarification."

(By the way, if you have found your way here by way of deferment...awesome. My diabolical scheme worked.)

Alright here we go. 

Lets just say, for all intents & purposes, that instead of accidentally tripping over Lil' Wayne & tumbling into a career requiring no actual talent, Nicki Minaj had instead, gone through 7 years of school to become a DPT, her name would read:

Nicki Minaj, DPT

An individual who sports DPT at the end of his or her name is a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Or if you're feeling fancy you can also say he or she has a "Doctorate in Physical Therapy."

In contrast...

By definition, someone who rocks a PhD is a Doctor of Philosophy of (insert whatever subject you want here as long as you could get some educational board somewhere to back it).

(as of now a PhD in physical therapy does not exist; however... never mind this is boring.)

DPT ≠ PhD


I can already see the words starting to take shape in your brain, 
"Sooo it's an MD then?"


No again. Hey do you remember that part when I didn't go to medical school for the last 3 years? And then I was in physical therapy school?


DPT ≠ MD

So I bet now you're thinking, "Ohhh, I get it. Its a Master's Degree."

Wrong.

DPT ≠ Master's Degree. 

Actually, if you understand what a Master's Degree is all about, feel free to make a blog about it because I really have no idea other than it involves extra school & you may still not get a job when you're done with it.

DPT, when broken down, literally means, "I am a super awesome expert at physical therapy." 

Going back to the Nicki Minaj example, her name (if she were a DPT instead of a robot barbie) could also technically read:

Nicki Minaj, 

Super Awesome Expert at Everything Related to Physical Therapy

Ok here. You know how dentists have DDS or DMD at the end of their names but aren't medical doctors? 


Its sortof like that. 

Lady Gaga, DDS

Just to help clarify, here are a few extra examples of how medical professionals use letters at the end of their names to let you know what theyre really good at. 

Dr. Evil, DE*

* Doctor of Evil (DE)

 Dr. Andre Nowzick, MD, FACS**

**Medical Doctor (MD); Fellow American College of Surgeons (FACS)

AND

 Dr. Phil, DDB***

***Doctor of Douche Bagetry (DDB)

Nevertheless (seriously, how often do you get to use that word? I'm not even totally sure i used it correctly, but it felt right so i just went with it) anyone who has a DPT has gone through 4 (or more) years of undergrad & then 3 years of PT school & are legally allowed to do a whole smorgasbord of really interesting stuff (see Table 1): 

Table 1

In conclusion, I hope this blog post has helped you understand the role of a DPT. 


I would like to thank you for taking this time to educate yourself. You are a much more well rounded person for it & will help make society a better place for the rest of your life. 
(I stole that from a fortune cookie).