How Can I Address My Physical Therapy Educational Deficiencies With Online Courses?
If your physical therapy credential evaluation identifies educational deficiencies, you may be able to address many of them through online university coursework without completing an entirely new physical therapy degree.
Internationally educated physical therapists may receive evaluations identifying missing professional education topics, insufficient academic credits, or other educational requirements.
The most efficient approach is not necessarily to take a separate course for every deficiency. Instead, it is important to review your entire evaluation and identify coursework that may satisfy multiple requirements.
The Strelis PT License Deficiency Navigator helps internationally educated physical therapists explore University of Montana courses that may address their identified academic deficiencies, at no cost for the educational planning service.
Which Physical Therapy Deficiencies Can Be Addressed Online?
Not every educational deficiency can be resolved through online coursework.
| Deficiency Type | Can Online Courses Help? |
|---|---|
| Professional education topic deficiencies | Often, yes. Appropriate university courses may cover missing professional content. |
| Professional education credit deficiencies | Often, yes. Eligible academic credits may contribute toward an identified professional credit shortfall. |
| Overall academic credit deficiencies | Often, yes. Additional eligible university coursework may contribute toward the total credit requirement. |
| General education topic deficiencies | Often, yes. Online general education courses may address missing subjects. |
| Clinical education deficiencies | Generally not through online academic courses alone. Additional supervised, in-person clinical experience may be required. |
The coursework must meet the requirements of your credential evaluation and applicable licensing authority. Online delivery does not automatically establish that a course will be accepted.
Step 1: Review Your Credential Evaluation
Begin by reviewing your completed evaluation from an organization such as FCCPT, IERF, or ICD.
Identify every educational deficiency listed in the report.
Pay particular attention to:
- Missing professional education topics
- Missing general education topics
- Professional education credit shortages
- Overall academic credit shortages
- Clinical education requirements
It is important to distinguish between the total number of credits required and the actual credit deficiency identified by your evaluator.
For example, if your evaluation requires 90 professional education credits and recognizes 75 eligible credits, your professional education shortfall is 15 credits.
The 90-credit figure in this example is illustrative of a particular evaluation standard. Credit requirements vary depending on the applicable Coursework Tool and evaluation requirements.
If you are unsure what your deficiencies mean, read ourGuide to Understanding CWT Deficiencies.
Step 2: Identify Courses That Cover Your Missing Topics
Once you understand your deficiencies, the next step is to identify university courses that provide the required educational content.
Course titles alone may not tell you whether a course addresses a particular deficiency.
For example, a course titled Advanced Clinical Management might include content in diagnostic imaging, differential diagnosis, and clinical decision-making.
The actual course description, learning objectives, and syllabus are important when determining whether the educational content matches your evaluation requirements.
A course should be selected based on the content it provides, not simply because its title sounds similar to the identified deficiency.
Step 3: Look for Courses That Address Multiple Deficiencies
One of the most important opportunities when selecting coursework is identifying areas where a single course may satisfy multiple educational requirements.
For example, suppose your evaluation identifies:
- A deficiency in diagnostic imaging
- A deficiency in differential diagnosis
- A 12-credit professional education shortfall
A three-credit university course that adequately covers both diagnostic imaging and differential diagnosis may address both professional topic deficiencies.
If the credits are also accepted as eligible professional education credits, that course may contribute three credits toward the 12-credit shortfall.
You would then have nine professional credits remaining to address, assuming no other changes to the evaluation.
The same three-credit course is not counted as six credits simply because it covers two educational topics.
This distinction matters because selecting courses without considering overlapping requirements can lead to unnecessary coursework, additional tuition expenses, and longer completion timelines.
The evaluator determines whether a course meets each requirement and how its credits are classified.
Step 4: Determine Whether Individual Courses or a Post-Professional DPT Program Make More Sense
Not every student needs to complete an entire degree to address educational deficiencies.
The most appropriate educational pathway depends on the number and type of deficiencies identified.
Option 1: Individual University Courses
If your evaluation identifies only a few professional topic deficiencies or a relatively small academic credit shortfall, individual university courses may be sufficient.
The University of Montana offers online courses that eligible students may take as nondegree-seeking students.
This approach may be appropriate when you need selected coursework rather than an entire degree program.
Option 2: Post-Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
If your evaluation identifies a substantial professional education credit shortage along with multiple professional topic deficiencies, a post-professional DPT program may be worth considering.
The University of Montana offers an online, asynchronous post-professional Doctor of Physical Therapy program for eligible physical therapists.
Depending on an applicant's prior education, the University of Montana offers pathways including a 30-credit bachelor's-to-DPT program and a 20-credit master's-to-DPT program.
The 30-credit bachelor's-to-DPT pathway may be especially relevant for individuals who have significant professional credit deficiencies and are also interested in earning a DPT degree.
Some courses in the program may address identified professional topic deficiencies while contributing eligible academic credits toward a professional education shortfall.
However, completing a 30-credit DPT program does not automatically mean that every applicant's deficiencies will be resolved. The actual contribution depends on the courses completed, the applicant's existing educational record, and the evaluator's requirements.
Step 5: Compare Free Course Planning With FCCPT PLAN
Before choosing courses, it helps to understand the planning options available.
The Navigator is a free planning service. It reviews your identified deficiencies and recommends University of Montana courses that may address them, looking for courses that cover several requirements at once. Because the plan focuses on one university, you compare a single set of courses, credits, and costs rather than piecing together options from several institutions.
FCCPT also offers paid planning through its Planned Learning and Assistance Network (PLAN). At the time of writing, PLAN Standard costs $670 and PLAN Plus costs $1,440, according to the FCCPT fee schedule.
PLAN offers things the Navigator cannot:
- Course pre-approval: PLAN Plus includes pre-approval of the courses in your plan, so you know before enrolling that FCCPT will accept them for the deficiencies they target. The Navigator cannot guarantee acceptance.
- A broad course list: PLAN identifies courses from many institutions that may meet each deficiency, not only one university's courses.
- A re-evaluation: PLAN Plus includes one re-evaluation after you complete your coursework.
A broader list also means more work for you: comparing courses across several universities, working out which courses cover which deficiencies, and estimating the total cost and time. The Navigator does that comparison for University of Montana courses and shows the most efficient combination it finds.
Many applicants start with the free Navigator plan and then decide whether pre-approval is worth the cost for them. Neither service is required to enroll in university coursework.
A Navigator recommendation is not official course pre-approval. Your credentialing organization and applicable licensing authority determine whether completed coursework satisfies their requirements.
Step 6: Complete Your Coursework and Submit the Required Documentation
Once you have selected an educational pathway, you can enroll in the appropriate university courses.
University of Montana post-professional physical therapy courses are delivered online and asynchronously within academic semesters.
After successfully completing coursework, you may need to provide your credentialing organization with an official university transcript and any additional documentation it requests.
Your evaluator may then review the completed coursework to determine whether it satisfies the identified deficiencies.
The state licensing board makes the final determination regarding your eligibility for physical therapy licensure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete all my physical therapy educational deficiencies online?
Not necessarily. Many professional education topic deficiencies and academic credit deficiencies may be addressed through online university coursework. Deficiencies requiring supervised clinical education generally cannot be satisfied through online academic courses alone.
Do I need to complete an entire DPT program?
No. Some internationally educated physical therapists can address their deficiencies through individual university courses. Others may benefit from a post-professional DPT program, particularly when they have substantial professional credit deficiencies.
Can one online course address multiple CWT deficiencies?
Potentially. One university course may provide content relevant to multiple professional education topics. Its eligible credits may also contribute toward an academic credit shortfall. The evaluator determines whether the course satisfies those requirements.
How long does it take to complete my deficiencies?
The timeline depends on the number of courses required, their availability, academic semester schedules, and whether your evaluation also identifies clinical education deficiencies.
How much does a Navigator educational plan cost?
The Navigator provides its University of Montana educational deficiency planning service for free. University tuition and any applicable credential evaluation, licensing, or third-party planning fees are separate.
Do I need FCCPT PLAN before enrolling in university coursework?
Not generally. FCCPT PLAN is an optional paid planning service for eligible applicants and includes course pre-approval through certain service options. Pre-approval may reduce uncertainty, but it is not generally required simply to enroll in coursework. Specific state or evaluation requirements should still be confirmed.
Will the University of Montana courses be accepted by my evaluator?
Acceptance is determined by your credentialing evaluator based on the educational content, credits, documentation, and applicable requirements. the Navigator helps identify potentially appropriate coursework but cannot guarantee acceptance.
Get Your Free Physical Therapy Deficiency Course Plan
Have you received a credential evaluation identifying missing physical therapy coursework or academic credit requirements?
The Navigator can help you understand your options before committing to additional education.
Upload your completed evaluation to explore:
- University of Montana courses that may address your missing professional education topics
- Opportunities for courses to address multiple deficiencies
- Coursework that may contribute toward professional or overall academic credit deficiencies
- Whether individual courses or a post-professional DPT pathway may be appropriate for your situation
Your educational planning analysis is free.
the Navigator provides educational planning assistance focused on University of Montana coursework. Recommendations do not constitute official course pre-approval or guarantee credential equivalency or state licensure.