FYI: http://www.recorderonline.com/news/f...ses-three.html

California State University Fresno may begin planning for three Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) pilot programs to launch as early as fall 2012, pending approval by the CSU Board of Trustees at their meeting Jan. 25-26.

CSU Fresno is among the three campuses selected and also is among campuses selected to plan for a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program. “Fresno State is honored to be selected as the lead campus to work with San Jose State to develop the Nursing doctoral programs,” said President John D. Welty. “This selection and the Doctor of Physical Therapy program selection are a tribute to our outstanding faculty in the College of Health and Human Services and recognition of the great need which exists in Central California for health care professionals. We will begin immediately to seek the resources we need to launch the programs.”

The U.S. Bureau of Health Professionals projects California will have a shortfall of more than 100,000 nurses in ten years. A key challenge to closing this projected shortfall has been a limited number of slots available in California nursing programs, which is tied to a limited number of individuals qualified to serve as nursing faculty.

The DPT is particularly relevant to accreditation in CSU physical therapy programs. Physical therapists practicing in California must have graduated from an accredited physical therapy program as well as passed national and state examinations. Beginning in 2015, the National Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education will only grant accreditation to programs awarding doctorates.

With the doctoral programs, the CSU will be able to continue educating physical therapists to meet the state licensure requirements.